Francis Rice

Who was Master Francis Rice?

Master Francis Rice was a 2-year-old American boy who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born on September 13, 1909, in Spokane, Washington, Francis was the youngest of five surviving sons of William Rice and Margaret Norton. His short life was marked by international travel and family tragedy, culminating in the infamous maritime disaster that claimed his life and those of his entire family.

Early Life and Family Background

A Family Spanning Two Continents

Francis Rice was born into a family with roots in both England and Ireland. His father, William Rice, was a British soldier from Surrey, England, born in 1876. His mother, Margaret Norton, was born in 1872 in Athlone, Ireland, where she worked as a factory worker before meeting William.

The couple married on June 18, 1898, in Ireland, where William was stationed. Their union produced six sons:

William (1898-1898)
Albert (b. 1902)
George (b. 1903)
Eric (b. 1905)
Arthur (b. 1907)
Francis (1909-1912)

Tragedy Strikes Early

The Rice family’s story was marked by tragedy from the beginning. Their firstborn son, William, died in 1898 at less than two months old, choking on his pacifier. This heartbreaking event occurred after the family had moved to London, England, for a brief period.

The Rice Family’s Journey

From Europe to North America

The Rice family’s quest for a better life led them on a journey across continents:

Ireland to England: Initial move after marriage
England to Canada: Settled first in Montréal, then Ontario
Canada to USA: Crossed the border in January 1909
Settled in Spokane, Washington, where Francis was born

Life in Spokane and Another Tragedy

The family made their home in Hillyard, Spokane, where William found work as a laborer on the Great Northern tracks. However, tragedy struck again on January 24, 1910, when William was crushed by an engine. He later succumbed to his injuries at the Sacred Heart Hospital.

Return to Ireland and Fateful Decision

A Brief Stay in the Emerald Isle

After William’s death, the 1910 US census shows Francis, his mother, and siblings living at 435 Sheridan Street, Hillyard, Spokane. However, the family soon returned to Ireland, appearing in the 1911 census at Castle Street in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

The Decision to Return to America

The stay in Ireland was not intended to be permanent. The family, along with several others from their locality, made plans to return to Spokane. This decision would lead them to book passage on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

Ticket and Boarding Details

Ticket Number: 382652
Ticket Cost: £29, 2s, 6d
Class: Third Class
Port of Embarkation: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland

Fellow Passengers from Athlone

The Rice family was not alone in their journey. Other passengers from the Athlone area included:

Eugene Daly
Bridget Mulvihill
Margaret Daly
Bridget Henry

The Night of the Sinking

A Mother’s Last Stand

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic was sinking, a poignant scene was witnessed by fellow passenger Bridget Mulvihill. She reported seeing Mrs. Rice standing on either the boat deck or A-deck, clutching her youngest son (presumably Francis) to her breast, with her other boys holding onto her skirts.

The Fate of the Rice Family

Tragically, the entire Rice family was lost in the sinking. Only Mrs. Rice’s body (#12) was recovered by the Mackay Bennett and identified. Francis, at just 2 (two) years old, perished along with his brothers and mother in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

Legacy and Mistaken Identity

For many years, there was speculation that an unidentified child’s body recovered from the Atlantic might have been Francis Rice. The recovery team, moved by the sight of the young boy, paid for a monument to be erected for his burial in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

However, this theory was later disproven when the unknown child was identified as another third-class passenger, Sidney Goodwin. This mistaken identity serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster and the enduring impact it has had on our collective memory.

Master Francis Rice’s short life, ending so tragically on the Titanic, serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the disaster. His story, intertwined with those of his family members, continues to captivate and move Titanic historians and enthusiasts over a century later.