Ella Holmes White

Who was Mrs Ella Holmes White?

Mrs Ella Holmes White was a wealthy 55-year-old American widow and Titanic survivor who gained fame for her remarkable experience during the ship’s sinking, particularly for using her electric cane to provide light in her lifeboat. Born in 1856 to a prosperous family involved in the early electrical industry, Ella led an eventful life marked by tragedy, luxury, and a notable place in Titanic history.

Early Life and Family Background

A Privileged Upbringing

Ella Bertha Holmes was born on December 18, 1856, in Boston, Massachusetts. She came from a family deeply involved in early electronics and telecommunications:

Her father, Edwin Holmes, was an inventor and entrepreneur who purchased the patent for the electromagnetic burglar alarm in 1849.
Edwin Holmes established the Holmes Electric Protective Company, which became highly successful in the burglar alarm business.
In 1878, her father became president of the newly established Bell Telephone Company.

Family Tragedy and Business Success

The Holmes family experienced both loss and prosperity:

Ella’s brother Frank died tragically at age 17 in 1870 after falling from barn rafters.
The family moved to Brooklyn in 1859, where Edwin Holmes’s business flourished.
By 1880, the Holmes Electric Protective Company had expanded to Philadelphia and Boston.
Edwin Holmes amassed a considerable fortune through his various electrical ventures.

Marriage and Widowhood

A Short-Lived Union

Ella’s marriage was brief but apparently happy:

On December 12, 1894, at age 37, Ella married John Stuart White in Manhattan.
The wedding was described as “surprising” by contemporary media.
Sadly, John Stuart White died less than three years later on May 19, 1897, at age 52.

Life as a Wealthy Widow

After her husband’s death, Ella embraced a luxurious lifestyle:

She maintained a summer apartment at Briarcliff Manor in Westchester, New York.
Ella became a permanent resident of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 1914.
She enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the USA and abroad.

Companionship with Marie Grice Young

A Fateful Meeting

In 1910, Ella’s life took an interesting turn:

She met Marie Grice Young, a younger woman and well-connected music teacher, in Atlantic City.
The two women formed an instant connection and began living together.
Their relationship was close, though its exact nature remains subject to speculation.

Travel Partners

Ella and Marie became inseparable companions:

They frequently traveled together both domestically and internationally.
In April 1912, they decided to return to New York after an extended winter vacation in Rome.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ship of Dreams

Ella and Marie’s Titanic experience began in Cherbourg:

They boarded as first-class passengers, sharing ticket number 17760, which cost £135, 12s, 8d.
Ella’s maid Nellie Bessette and manservant Sante Righini accompanied them.
The women had purchased expensive live poultry in Europe, which was stowed in the ship’s cargo.

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912:

Ella was nursing an injured foot sustained while boarding the ship.
She felt the collision while sitting on her bed, describing it as “a slight jar and a motion as if we had went over about a thousand marbles.”
Ella, Marie, and Ella’s maid evacuated to Lifeboat 8, while her manservant Sante Righini was left behind and perished.

Lifeboat 8 and the Electric Cane

In the lifeboat, Ella’s quick thinking proved invaluable:

She noted the poor conduct of some crew members assigned to their boat.
Ella used her electric walking cane to provide light when the lifeboat’s lamp failed.
She witnessed the Titanic’s final moments, reporting four explosions and the ship breaking in two.

Life After the Titanic

Return to Luxury

Following the disaster, Ella resumed her opulent lifestyle:

She and Marie continued to live together at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel until 1929.
They later moved to a luxurious apartment at the Plaza Hotel.
The pair continued to travel extensively and entertain guests.

Final Years and Legacy

Ella Holmes White’s remarkable life came to an end:

She died on January 31, 1942, at age 85 in her Plaza Hotel apartment.
Her personal items were willed to Marie Young, along with a monthly payment of $250 for life.
In 2019, Ella’s electric cane from the Titanic appeared at auction, valued at over $100,000.

Mrs Ella Holmes White’s story serves as a fascinating glimpse into the lives of wealthy Titanic survivors and the enduring legacy of that fateful night in 1912.