Who was Mrs Anna Lydia Amanda Hämäläinen?

Mrs Anna Lydia Amanda Hämäläinen was a 23-year-old Finnish passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1889, she was traveling with her infant son Wiljo as second-class passengers on their way to Detroit, Michigan. Her harrowing experience during the disaster and subsequent rescue made her a notable Titanic survivor, whose story offers a glimpse into the human drama that unfolded on that fateful night.

Early Life and Family

Anna Lydia Amanda Hämäläinen, née Wartiainen (or Martiainen), was born around 1889 in Finland. Her mother was believed to be Helena or Amanda (possibly Amanda Helena) Wartiainen. Little is known about her early life, but her Finnish heritage played a significant role in shaping her journey.

Journey to America and Life Before the Titanic

Why was Anna traveling on the Titanic?

Anna was embarking on a journey from Kiihtelsyvaara, Finland, to join her husband John in Detroit, Michigan. John, born around 1879 in Finland, was working as a metal beater at 389 Clay Avenue in Detroit. This voyage was likely part of a larger trend of Finnish immigration to the United States in the early 20th century.

It’s worth noting that Anna may have previously visited the United States as early as 1904. Records show that in 1910, she and John were living on Main Street in Merrimac Town, Essex, Massachusetts, where John worked as a copper worker at an auto factory.

The Titanic Voyage

What were Anna’s travel arrangements on the Titanic?

Anna boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger. Her ticket number was 250649, and she paid a fare of £14 10s (equivalent to about £1,700 or $2,100 in 2021). She was traveling with her infant son Wiljo and another Finnish passenger, Martta Hiltunen.

The Night of the Disaster

Anna’s account of the Titanic’s sinking provides a vivid and poignant description of the events that unfolded. In her own words, as reported by the Detroit Free Press on April 21, 1912:

“As the water came nearer to us, we began to realize that the ship was doomed. The crowd along the rail was thicker, but there was no panic. Some were crying and others were perfectly calm. We were all sort of dazed. The officer who was superintending the loading of the boat looked around and saw me, with the baby in my arms. I don’t know whether he said anything or not; anyhow, he shoved me into the boat and it was let down to the water. We were only a short distance away when the ship sank.”

How did Anna and her son survive?

Anna and her son Wiljo were fortunate to be placed in one of the last lifeboats to leave the sinking ship. Tragically, their traveling companion Martta Hiltunen did not join them and was lost in the disaster. Anna recounted:

“As one of the passengers in the last boat… I heard some shots once, but don’t know what they were. Only at one time did men try to get into our boat, and the officers forced them back… Martha was there just a little while before we left, but there was a crowd and so much excitement that we became separated.”

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster affect Anna’s life?

The aftermath of the Titanic disaster brought significant changes to Anna’s life:

1. Divorce: Anna and John divorced within a few years after the disaster. John later married Jennie White in 1917.
2. Remarriage: On September 22, 1917, Anna married Frank Arvid Sarlin, an auto worker in Detroit, Michigan. Frank was born on April 14, 1888, in Tammerfors (Tampere), Finland.
3. Relocation: The Sarlins lived in various places, including Elkhart, Indiana (1930) and Baltimore, Maryland (1940).

Anna’s Later Years and Legacy

Anna Sarlin (née Wartiainen, formerly Hämäläinen) passed away on December 28, 1945, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was 55 (fifty-five) years old at the time of her death. Her final resting place is at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.

What happened to Anna’s family after her death?

• Her widower, Frank Sarlin, remarried on December 27, 1947, to Anna Wallen in Detroit, Michigan. He passed away on April 13, 1968, in Florida.
• Anna’s first husband, John Hämäläinen (also known as John Hamlin), may have been the individual born on March 13, 1880, in Finland, who died on August 18, 1968, in Los Angeles.

Anna Hämäläinen’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the profound impact the disaster had on their lives. Her eyewitness account provides valuable insights into the human experience of one of history’s most infamous maritime tragedies.