Who was Anton Kink?

Anton Kink was a 29-year-old (twenty-nine-year-old) Austrian-Swiss passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. He was traveling with his family as a third-class passenger and made a dramatic escape by jumping into a lifeboat at the last moment.

Early Life and Family

Anton Kink was born on March 7, 1883, in Mahrensdorf, Styria, Austria. In 1906, at the age of 23 (twenty-three), he moved to Switzerland for work and to start a new life. Two years later, on May 5, 1908, he married Luise Heilmann, a 22-year-old woman from Enzberg, Germany. Just four weeks before their wedding, the couple had welcomed their daughter, also named Luise.

Career and Life in Switzerland

During his time in Switzerland, Anton Kink worked as a magazineer (storekeeper). The family resided at 66 Hornbachstrasse in Zürich until March 31, 1912, shortly before their fateful journey on the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

Why did the Kink family board the Titanic?

The Kink family, along with Anton’s siblings Maria and Vinzenz, decided to emigrate to the United States, specifically to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They saw the maiden voyage of the Titanic as an opportunity to start a new life in America.

Ticket and Accommodation Details

• Ticket Number: 315153
• Ticket Price: £22 0s 6d (equivalent to 780 Swiss francs)
• Class: Third Class
• Cabin: E58 on F-Deck

Anton and his brother Vincenz shared cabin 58 in section E on F-Deck with several other passengers, including Albert Wirz, Josef Arnold, Leo Zimmermann, and likely Wenzel Linhart.

The Night of the Sinking

On the night of April 14, 1912, Anton Kink’s life changed forever. Here’s a timeline of the events:

1. Anton was asleep when he was suddenly awakened.
2. His brother Vinzenz ran out of the cabin, and Anton followed him to the welldeck.
3. They clearly saw the iceberg that the Titanic had struck.
4. Returning to their cabin, they dressed, packed, and put on life preservers.
5. Anton woke his wife and other women, informing them of the situation.
6. The Kink family managed to reach the Boat-Deck, losing Anton’s brother and sister in the crowd.
7. Anton’s wife and daughter entered Lifeboat 2, but he was initially left behind.
8. As the boat was being lowered, Anton made a daring jump into it after his family cried out for him.

Rescue and Aftermath

The Kinks were among the first survivors to be rescued by the RMS Carpathia. Upon arrival in New York, the family spent four days at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Anton’s uncle, Alois Hofer, sent money from Milwaukee to help them purchase train tickets to Wisconsin.

Financial Compensation

On June 3, 1912, Anton Kink received significant financial compensation:

• 2,217 Swiss francs from the Swiss Emigration’s Office
• £30 from the Lord Mayor’s Fund for his brother’s death
• $500 from the American Red Cross
• $250 from other funds
• Refund of the “head tax” for Maria and Vinzenz (20 Swiss francs each)

Life After the Titanic

Anton Kink’s life took several turns after surviving the Titanic disaster:

1. He initially found work in a factory in Milwaukee.
2. Later, he leased a farm after earning enough money.
3. In 1919, Anton divorced his wife Luise.
4. He returned to his homeland of Graz, Austria.
5. In 1920, he remarried Josefa Stranzel, who was 22 years old at the time.
6. The couple had a son, Fritz, born on June 27, 1921.
7. Until 1924, they ran a food shop in Austria.
8. The family then emigrated to Brazil, where they faced illness and financial ruin.
9. In 1939, they returned to Graz, Austria.

Legacy and Final Years

Anton Kink’s remarkable story of survival and resilience continued to captivate people long after the Titanic disaster. He passed away in Graz, Austria, in 1959 at the age of 76 (seventy-six). His widow, Josefa, lived until January 9, 1984, while their son Fritz died on February 18, 1985.

Anton Kink’s life serves as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome tragedy and build a new life in the face of adversity. His journey from Austria to America, through the Titanic disaster, and back to Europe, encapsulates the tumultuous nature of early 20th-century immigration and the lasting impact of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.