Who was Amy Zillah Elsie Stanley?

Amy Zillah Elsie Stanley was a 24-year-old English woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was a third-class passenger traveling to New Haven, Connecticut to work as a children’s maid. Stanley’s remarkable story of survival and her detailed account of the disaster provide valuable insights into the experiences of Titanic passengers.

Early Life and Family

Born on January 4, 1888, in Oxfordshire, England, Amy was the only daughter of Thomas James Stanley and Eliza Agnes Margetts. Her father ran a general store in Upper Wolvercote, a village north of Oxford. Amy grew up with five brothers in a household that was deeply rooted in the local community.

Career Before the Titanic

Before embarking on her fateful journey, Amy had pursued various occupations:

Helped in her family’s grocery store on Green Road
Worked as a dressmaker in Oxford
Apprenticed at Harold Brown’s in Woodstock Road
Employed at Bull’s and later at Morton’s in Cornmarket Street
Entered domestic service in Wallington, Surrey

The Titanic Journey

Amy purchased a third-class ticket through Thomas Cook & Son in London. She boarded the Titanic at Southampton, narrowly making it onto the ship. Her journey was initially delayed due to a coal strike, a circumstance that would ironically save her life.

Cabin Mates and Experiences

During the voyage, Amy shared a cabin with:

A nurse named Elizabeth Dowdell
A young girl, Virginia Ethel Emanuel (mistakenly referred to as “Elizabeth” by Amy)

The Night of the Disaster

Amy’s firsthand account of the Titanic’s sinking provides a vivid and harrowing picture of the events:

She was writing a postcard when the ship struck the iceberg at about 11:30 p.m.
Despite being ordered back to bed by a steward, Amy helped her cabin mates dress and went to the deck
Two men she had befriended at meals helped her into a lifeboat
As the boat was being lowered, a man jumped in, nearly landing on top of Amy
She heard a pistol fired, likely to deter men from rushing the lifeboats

Survival and Rescue

Amy was rescued by the Carpathia along with other survivors. During the rescue operation, she demonstrated remarkable strength and composure:

She helped secure ropes around women as they were pulled onto the Carpathia
Amy assisted Rosa Abbott, another survivor who had lost her two sons in the disaster
She reunited with her cabin mates, Elizabeth Dowdell and Virginia Emanuel, on the Carpathia

Life After the Titanic

Following her arrival in America, Amy’s life took several significant turns:

Received $200 from the American Red Cross
Married Eugene Sheldon Tanner Sr. on November 1, 1918, in Brooklyn, NY
Had two sons: Alfred Stanley Tanner Sr. (born 1921) and Eugene Sheldon Tanner Jr. (born 1926)
Settled in Providence, Rhode Island

Legacy and Death

Amy Tanner (née Stanley) passed away on April 21, 1955, in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 67 (sixty-seven). She was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Cranston, R.I. Her obituary noted her as a Titanic survivor, ensuring that her extraordinary experience would be remembered.

Throughout her life, Amy’s survival story remained a testament to her resilience and the profound impact of the Titanic disaster on its survivors. Her detailed accounts, including her letter to her parents and her recollections of fellow passengers, continue to provide valuable historical insights into one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.