Gertrude Mabelle Thorne

Who was Miss Gertrude Mabelle Thorne?

Miss Gertrude Mabelle Thorne was a 37-year-old (thirty-seven) American first-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born as Gertrude Mabelle McMinn on January 26, 1875, in San Francisco, California, she led a life marked by personal tragedy, romance, and adventure, ultimately becoming a witness to one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Early Life and Family

A Childhood Marked by Change

Gertrude’s early years were shaped by family upheaval. She was the daughter of William C. McMinn and Emma Amanda McGee, and had two sisters:

• Maude Bernice (later Mrs. Thomas Costigan)
• May Beatrice (later Parker)

By 1878, Gertrude’s father had abandoned the family, leaving her mother to navigate single parenthood. However, Emma soon found love again, marrying Samuel Abraham Wayne on Christmas Day, 1878, in Lake County, California. This new family unit was recorded in the 1880 U.S. census, residing in Davisville, California.

Marriage and Widowhood

A Brief Union

On June 16, 1899, Gertrude married Harry Thorne in Santa Clara, California. However, their union was not destined to last. By 1910, the U.S. census listed Gertrude as Maybelle Thorne, a widow living in Manhattan with a boarder named Charles L. Cohe. This period of her life remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, raising questions about the circumstances of her first husband’s passing.

The Titanic Journey

A Clandestine Voyage

Gertrude’s connection to the Titanic is both tragic and intriguing. She boarded the ill-fated ship at Cherbourg as a first-class passenger, holding ticket number 17585, which cost a substantial £80 4s. However, her journey was far from ordinary.

A Secret Affair

Gertrude was traveling as the mistress of George Rosenshine, a successful businessman. To conceal their relationship, they boarded under the assumed names of George and Gertrude Thorne. This deception adds a layer of intrigue to their presence on the Titanic, highlighting the social constraints and expectations of the era.

The Night of the Disaster

When the Titanic struck the iceberg on that fateful night of April 14, 1912, Gertrude and George’s lives were forever altered. In the chaos that ensued, Gertrude managed to secure a place on the last lifeboat, Collapsible D. Tragically, George Rosenshine did not survive the sinking.

Messages from the Carpathia

Once aboard the rescue ship Carpathia, Gertrude sent two poignant Marconigrams on April 18, 1912:

1. To Mr. J. Rosenshine (George’s brother):

   “Am safe - Pray God George was rescued by another boat with rest of men. Arrive Carpathia. Mabelle Thorne.”

2. To Mrs. J. Costigan (her sister Maude):

   “Am safe. Arrive on Cunard Carpathia. Gertrude.”

These messages not only confirm her survival but also reveal her desperate hope that George might have been rescued, unaware of his tragic fate.

Life After the Titanic

A New Beginning

Just over a year after the Titanic disaster, on July 12, 1913, Gertrude married Richard Centennius Yanke in Stanford, Connecticut. This union marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one filled with travel and adventure.

Globe-Trotting and Settled Life

The 1920 U.S. census shows Gertrude and Richard living in Manhattan with a maid, indicating a comfortable lifestyle. The couple traveled extensively, with Gertrude often claiming various ages on passenger lists – perhaps a reflection of the societal pressures women faced regarding age.

Eventually, Gertrude and Richard settled in Paris, embracing the expatriate lifestyle that was popular among Americans in the interwar years.

Final Years and Legacy

A Parisian Twilight

In her later years, Gertrude lived in Paris with her widowed sister Maude Costigan. This period of her life was likely one of reflection and companionship, as the two sisters shared their twilight years in the City of Light.

A Quiet Farewell

Gertrude Mabelle McMinn Yanke passed away on November 19, 1947, in Nice, France, at the age of 72 (seventy-two). The cause of death was recorded as a cerebral hemorrhage. She was laid to rest at Cimetière de L’Est in Nice, far from her San Francisco birthplace but close to her final home.

Her sister Maude Costigan remained in France until her own passing in 1956, continuing the sisters’ shared European journey.

Gertrude Mabelle Thorne’s life story encapsulates the drama and societal changes of the early 20th century. From a childhood marked by familial upheaval to her survival of one of history’s greatest maritime disasters, and her subsequent life as an American expatriate in Europe, Gertrude’s journey reflects the tumultuous and transformative nature of her era. Her tale serves as a poignant reminder of the personal stories behind the grand narrative of the Titanic disaster, and the resilience of those who survived to build new lives in its wake.