Carla Christine Nielsine Andersen (Jensen)

Who was Carla Christine Nielsine Andersen (Jensen)?

Carla Christine Nielsine Andersen (Jensen) was a 19-year-old (nineteen-year-old) Danish survivor of the Titanic disaster. Born on February 13, 1893, in Pederstrup, Eskildstrup, Odense, Denmark, she embarked on a journey to America that would forever change her life and make her a witness to one of the most famous maritime tragedies in history.

Early Life and Family

Carla was born into a complex family situation. Her mother, Karen Sofie Andersen, had her out of wedlock with Niels Peter Hansen. Karen Sofie had previously had another child, Jens Peder Andersen, born in 1889. Later, Karen married Hans Christian Jensen, a butcher, who became Carla’s stepfather.

Growing up in Denmark, Carla worked as a maid in Eskildstrup, where her stepfather operated his butcher business. This early work experience likely prepared her for the challenges she would face in her journey to America.

The Fateful Journey

Why did Carla decide to travel to America?

Carla, like many young Europeans of her time, sought new opportunities in America. With her parents’ permission, she planned to settle in the United States. Her uncle, Niels Rasmus Jensen, a carpenter living in Portland, Oregon, agreed to lead a small group that included Carla, her brother Svend Lauritz Jensen, and her fiancé Hans Peder Jensen.

What was Carla’s Titanic experience?

Carla’s Titanic journey began in Southampton, where she boarded as a third-class passenger. Her ticket number was 350046, and she paid 7 pounds and 17 shillings for her passage. Carla’s cabin was located in the stern of the ship, while her male companions were housed in the stem due to gender segregation policies.

On the night of April 14, 1912, Carla’s life changed forever. In her own words:

“I shared the cabin with three young girls, two English and a Swede and we had turned in early because the passengers in 3rd class had instructions to be below deck before 22 hours. We felt a bump a half hour later, but after the first shock, we went back to sleep again. We had confidence in Titanic, the other 3 girls would never wake again!”

The Sinking and Rescue

How did Carla survive the Titanic disaster?

Carla’s survival can be attributed to a combination of luck and the “women and children first” policy. She was placed in one of the last lifeboats to leave the ship, likely Lifeboat 16. As she entered the boat, she recalled men joking that she might reach New York faster than them.

Her account of the sinking is harrowing:

“Then the catastrophe happened. Before anyone expected it. With fright we heard an incredible crash and it was as if a scream from 1000 voices came from the lit giant ship, when it broke in two and both parts rose into the sky and sank. We sat like stone figures and saw it all happen. What was even worse than the screams were the deadly silence that came after… it was frightful.”

Carla and the other survivors were later picked up by the Cunard steamer Carpathia. The experience on the rescue ship was traumatic, with many passengers in shock and grief.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Carla’s life?

After arriving in New York, Carla was quartered in a hospital where she occupied herself by sewing. She received $200 from the Women’s Relief Committee. Despite her original plans to settle in America, Carla’s father instructed her to return home immediately upon learning of her survival.

White Star Line provided her with a second-class ticket on the Adriatic to return to Liverpool. By May 13, 1912, Carla was back in Eskildstrup, Denmark, and she never traveled outside of Denmark again.

Family Life and Legacy

On November 5, 1913, Carla married Frederik Ferdinand Pedersen, a farmer. They had three children:

Laurits (born June 5, 1915)
Ellen (later Barkholt)
Bente

The family lived in various locations in Denmark, including Nørre Lyndelse and Søllinge.

What was Carla’s life like in her later years?

After her husband’s death, Carla moved to an old people’s home in Ferritslev, Fyn, Denmark. She kept the nightdress she wore on the night of the Titanic sinking throughout her life, a tangible reminder of her extraordinary experience.

Carla Jensen passed away on March 14, 1980, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven). In a poignant tribute to her survival and the impact the Titanic had on her life, she was buried in the nightdress she wore on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. She rests alongside her husband in Sønder Nærå graveyard on the island of Fyn, Denmark.

Carla Christine Nielsine Andersen (Jensen)’s story serves as a remarkable testament to survival, resilience, and the enduring impact of historical events on individual lives. Her firsthand account of the Titanic disaster provides valuable insights into one of the most famous maritime tragedies, ensuring that the memory of that night lives on through her experiences.