Fang Lang

Who was Fang Lang?

Fang Lang, also known as Wing Sun Fong, was a remarkable Titanic survivor whose life story spans continents and cultures. Born on June 21, 1894, in Taishan, Guangdong Province, Imperial China, he was just 17 (seventeen) years old when he embarked on the fateful journey aboard the RMS Titanic. His survival and subsequent life in America make him a unique figure in the annals of Titanic history.

Early Life and Journey to the Titanic

A Young Seaman’s Adventure

Fang Lang began his maritime career as a fireman aboard the Donald Line’s Annetta. In April 1912, he and seven colleagues embarked on a journey that would change their lives forever. Contrary to some misconceptions, they were not stowaways but legitimate third-class passengers on the Titanic.

The Titanic Voyage

Lang and his companions boarded the Titanic at Southampton, sharing ticket number 1601, which cost £56 9s 11d. This detail dispels the myth of their being stowaways and highlights the often-overlooked diversity among the Titanic’s passengers.

The Fateful Night and Miraculous Rescue

A Brush with Death

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Fang Lang found himself fighting for survival in the freezing North Atlantic waters.

Rescue from the Brink

In a dramatic turn of events, Lang was reportedly rescued by the occupants of lifeboat 14. Eyewitness accounts suggest he was found clinging to a wooden door or sideboard, an image reminiscent of iconic Titanic survival stories. This rescue was a pivotal moment, not just for Lang, but for the narrative of Chinese passengers on the Titanic, long overlooked in popular retellings.

Life After the Titanic

The Immediate Aftermath

After being rescued by the Carpathia, Lang and the other Chinese survivors were transferred back to the Annetta, which departed for Cuba on April 20, 1912. This quick transfer highlights the complex social and political realities faced by Chinese immigrants at the time.

A Life at Sea and Wartime Relocation

Lang spent the next few years working on ships in the Caribbean. With the outbreak of World War I, he relocated to Europe, finding work on ships operating out of Le Havre, France. This period of his life demonstrates the global impact of world events on individual survivors of the Titanic disaster.

Building a Life in America

Immigration and Early Career

On September 15, 1920, Fang Lang legally entered the United States as an immigrant. He initially settled in Chicago, trying his hand as a merchant before starting a laundry service. Later, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked as a waiter at Lotus, a Chinese restaurant on 3rd Street.

Becoming an American Citizen

In June 1956, at the age of 62 (sixty-two), Lang achieved a significant milestone by becoming a U.S. citizen. Official records described him as a waiter standing 5'6" tall, with black hair, brown eyes, and weighing 147 lbs.

Personal Life and Cultural Challenges

Marriage and Family

Lang’s personal life took a new turn when he returned to Asia in the 1950s. On February 6, 1957, he married Ah Fon Tom, a much younger woman from Guangdong Province. The couple returned to the USA in February 1959, and their son Tom was born on December 12 of that year.

Cultural Clash and Divorce

Unfortunately, the marriage faced challenges, likely due to cultural differences and the significant age gap. In 1966, Marie (as Ah Fon Tom was known in America) filed for divorce, citing cultural practices that were deemed unacceptable in American society. This personal struggle highlights the broader challenges faced by immigrants in reconciling their traditional values with their adopted country’s norms.

Later Years and Legacy

A Quiet Life in Chicago’s Chinatown

After his divorce, Lang returned to Chicago, settling in the Chinatown area. He became an active member of the local Chinese community, involved in civic and political matters. His brother’s bakery, Quon Yick, became a familiar part of his life.

A Silent Survivor

Interestingly, Lang rarely spoke about his Titanic experience to his American family. It wasn’t until years after his death that his son Tom learned of his father’s incredible survival story, underscoring the complex ways in which trauma and cultural differences can shape family narratives.

Final Years and Rediscovery

Wing Sun Fong passed away on January 21, 1986, at the age of 91 (ninety-one) in Chicago. He was buried in Mt Auburn Cemetery under a modest plaque bearing his name in Chinese. The rediscovery of his Titanic connection by his son Tom years later has brought renewed interest to the often-overlooked stories of Chinese Titanic survivors.

Fang Lang’s life journey from a young Chinese seaman to a Titanic survivor and eventually an American citizen encapsulates a unique slice of 20th-century history. His story challenges our understanding of the Titanic’s passenger diversity and highlights the complex immigrant experiences that followed one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.