Artur Karl Olsen

Who was Master Artur Karl Olsen?

Master Artur Karl Olsen was a 9-year-old (nine-year-old) Norwegian-American boy who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on February 6, 1903, in Brooklyn, New York, Artur’s life was forever changed by the tragic events of April 15, 1912, when he became one of the youngest survivors of the ill-fated ship.

Early Life and Family

A Transatlantic Childhood

Artur Karl Olsen was born to Norwegian parents, Karl Siegwart Andreas Olsen and Ragna Nilsen, on Henry Street in Brooklyn. His early years were marked by significant changes:

In 1906, at the age of 3 (three), Artur’s mother passed away.
Following his mother’s death, Artur’s father took him to Trondheim, Norway, to live with his grandmother, Anna Andersen.
In 1910, Artur’s father remarried to Ester Novell, an American of Swedish parentage, in the United States.
Artur gained a half-brother, Charles Ernest, born on August 29, 1911, in Brooklyn.

The Journey That Changed Everything

In 1911, after the death of Artur’s grandmother, his father decided to bring him back to New York. This decision led to their fateful journey on the Titanic:

They were originally booked on the Philadelphia but were transferred to the Titanic.
Artur and his father boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers.
Their ticket number was 17368, costing £3, 3s, 5d.
They likely shared a cabin with family friend Fridtjof Madsen.

The Titanic Disaster

A Child’s Perspective on Tragedy

Artur’s experience on the night of April 14-15, 1912, was harrowing:

He was asleep when the Titanic struck the iceberg.
His father woke him and quickly dressed him.
They found water knee-deep in the companionways as they tried to escape.
Artur witnessed distressing scenes, including a distraught woman with a baby.
He reported seeing a man who was bleeding, possibly from a gunshot wound.

Separation and Survival

In a heartbreaking moment, Artur’s father ensured his son’s survival:

Mr. Olsen approached a young woman, asking her to look after Artur.
Before placing Artur in the lifeboat, his father embraced him and said, “It may be a long time before I see you. Be a good boy, Artie.”
Artur was placed in Lifeboat 13, which successfully evacuated the sinking ship.
His father, Karl Siegwart Andreas Olsen, did not survive the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

Reunion and Relief

Artur’s arrival in New York was marked by confusion and eventual reunion:

He was initially cared for by Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt.
On April 19, 1912, he met his stepmother Ester for the first time.
Tragically, his half-brother Charles died on May 16, 1912, aged just nine months.

Financial Support and Education

The tragedy’s aftermath brought some financial relief:

Artur received £3,175 in a settlement made in England to support his education.
He lived with his stepmother and her new family in Brooklyn for several years.

Adult Life and Career

A Life at Sea

Artur, now known as Arthur, continued to have a connection with the ocean:

From 1922 to 1926, he served as a United States Navy seaman.
He survived another maritime incident when the cruiser Omaha lost both masts in a typhoon.
From 1927 to 1929, he worked as a bell boy aboard the Leviathan.

Diverse Career Path

Arthur’s professional life took various turns:

By 1938, he was superintending three apartment buildings in Manhattan.
In 1942, he was working at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, Connecticut.
Later, he worked as a house painter in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Personal Life and Legacy

Marriage and Later Years

Arthur married Alice Gendron, but the marriage was childless and ended in divorce in 1946.
He spent his final years in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Arthur Olsen passed away on January 1, 1975, at the age of 71 (seventy-one). He was buried at Royal Palms Cemetery in St. Petersburg, leaving behind no immediate relatives but a remarkable story of survival and resilience in the face of one of history’s greatest maritime disasters.