Bertha Lehmann

Who was Bertha Lehmann?

Miss Bertha Lehmann was a 17-year-old Swiss survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on March 31, 1895, in Lotzwil, Switzerland, she embarked on a journey that would change her life forever. As a second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, Bertha’s story is one of survival, resilience, and a life transformed by a historic tragedy.

Early Life and Family

Bertha Lehmann was born into a Swiss family, the daughter of Johann Lehmann and Elise Kupferschmied. She grew up with three known siblings:

• Friedrich (born 1885)
• Marie (1889-1926, later Mrs. Charles Karl Zumbrunnen)
• Ida (later Sägesser)

Before her fateful voyage, Bertha lived in Bern, Switzerland, where she worked as a waitress. This young woman’s life was about to take an unexpected turn that would lead her across the Atlantic and into the pages of history.

The Titanic Journey

A Surprise Voyage

Bertha’s journey on the Titanic was not originally planned. Her brother and sister, Friedrich and Marie, who were already living in the United States, had gifted her a second-class ticket for a May voyage. However, Bertha, eager to surprise her siblings, decided to travel earlier to Central City, Iowa.

Departure and Premonitions

On Easter Sunday, 1912, Bertha left her home, accompanied by her father to the railway station in Basel. In a poignant moment that would prove eerily prophetic, her father bid her farewell with words that would haunt her:

“I suppose, I won’t see you again. Bertha, every time you come along with me I have some sort of bad luck, and I feel now like something is going to happen to you.”

Boarding the Titanic

Bertha’s journey took her through Paris and then to Cherbourg, where she boarded the RMS Titanic on April 10, 1912. Her ticket, number SC 1748, cost 330 Swiss francs (equivalent to £12), and was provided by the agent Im Obersteg of Basel.

Life Aboard the Titanic

During the initial days of the voyage, Bertha suffered from seasickness and remained confined to her starboard cabin until Saturday, April 13. On that day, feeling better, she ventured to the dining saloon where she had a memorable encounter with Michel Navratil and his two children. Unbeknownst to Bertha, Navratil had abducted the children from his estranged wife.

The Night of the Disaster

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Bertha retired to her cabin around 11:30 PM. She was awakened by the collision, which she later described as feeling like a train “grinding to a very sudden stop.” Initially, she saw nothing but stars through her porthole and returned to bed. However, loud voices in the adjacent cabin prompted her to dress and go outside.

Rescue and Survival

On the boat deck, Bertha encountered Roger Bricoux of the ship’s orchestra, who helped her put on a life preserver and led her to safety. She boarded lifeboat 12, which was lowered at 1:30 AM. From the lifeboat, Bertha witnessed the final moments of the Titanic, recalling three loud reports before seeing the ship break apart.

Life After the Titanic

Immediate Aftermath

After arriving in New York, Bertha was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital. The American Red Cross provided her with clothing and $50. During her recovery, she was photographed with other Francophone survivors, including Mathilde Weisz, Antoinine and André Mallett, and Juliette Laroche and her daughters.

First Marriage and Loss

On August 12, 1913, Bertha married John Rudolph Zimmerman in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They had a son, Elmer Edward, born on March 21, 1914. Tragically, this marriage ended in separation, and John Zimmerman later died in France during World War I on November 12, 1918.

Second Marriage and Family Life

In 1917, Bertha married Carl Luhrs, a dairy farmer from Jersey City, New Jersey. They settled in North Dakota before moving to Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, where they ran a farm. Bertha and Carl had several children:

• Wilhelm Johan (born May 6, 1917)
• Ethel (born July 4, 1919)
• Leone Lucile (born 1921)
• Elva Eleanora (born 1926)
• Jimmie (1927-1927)
• Helen (1928-1928)
• Gloria Grace (1930-1930)
• Pearl Alma (born 1931)

Later Years and Legacy

In the summer of 1965, at the age of 70, Bertha was gifted a plane ticket to return to Switzerland. This journey allowed her to reunite with her sister Ida Sägesser-Lehmann in their birthplace of Lotzwil, bringing her life full circle.

Bertha Lehmann Luhrs passed away on December 5, 1967, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd, Minnesota. She was 72 years old. Her life, spanning from the tragedy of the Titanic to her final days as a mother and grandmother, is a testament to human resilience and the enduring impact of historical events on individual lives.

Bertha’s story continues through her descendants. Her son from her first marriage, Elmer, lived to the remarkable age of 97, passing away on June 16, 2011, in North Manchester, Indiana, carrying the legacy of his mother’s extraordinary life into the 21st century.