Hedwig Turkula

Who was Mrs Hedwig Turkula?

Mrs Hedwig Turkula was a 64-year-old (sixty-four-year-old) Finnish widow and Titanic survivor who embarked on a life-changing journey from her homeland to reunite with her children in America. Her remarkable story of survival and resilience in the face of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters captivated the public imagination and left an indelible mark on Titanic lore.

Early Life and Family

Hedvig Solomontytär (Salomonsdotter) Turkula was born on June 5, 1848, in Jalasjärvi, Vasa, Finland. She was the daughter of Salomon Jonaes (Jonasson) Kivikko and Anna Britta Samuelsdotter. Hedvig was christened on June 7, 1848, in the Lutheran Church tradition.

Her family was quite large, consisting of several siblings:

• Samuel (born March 20, 1845)
• Jonas Valentin (born July 13, 1850)
• Salomon (born March 14, 1853)
• Maria (born July 8, 1855)
• Anna Lovisa (born August 20, 1858)
• Susanna Gustava (born March 15, 1860)
• Hilma (born May 2, 1862)

Marriage and Children

Around 1870, Hedvig married Isak Juhonpoika (Johansson) Kujala Turkula, who was born on June 11, 1846, in Jalasjärvi. Their union produced eight children:

1. Susanna Josefina (born October 27, 1871)
2. Anna Matilda (born September 24, 1873)
3. Lempi Maria (born August 26, 1876)
4. Johan Gregorius (born April 7, 1879)
5. Fia Hedvig Serafina (born April 7, 1881)
6. Hilma Elina (born September 3, 1883)
7. Eliina Justiina (born May 19, 1886)
8. Isak Felix (born January 6, 1889)

Tragically, Hedvig became a widow when her husband passed away on March 16, 1902, in Jalasjärvi.

The Decision to Emigrate

Why did Mrs Turkula decide to leave Finland at such an advanced age?

As the turn of the century approached, most of Hedvig’s children had emigrated to Minnesota, USA. Her son Johan (John) had been the first to make the journey around 1900, establishing a homestead in the new world. He was soon followed by his siblings Susanna, Hedwig, Hilma, Felix, and Sameli. Only Lempi remained in Finland with her family.

With the majority of her children now in America, it was decided that Hedwig would join them in Minnesota. Her sons John and Felix arranged for her passage, originally intending for her to sail on a Cunard ship from Helsinki. However, due to a misunderstanding or perhaps the ongoing coal strike, her ticket was rerouted to the White Star Line in Liverpool.

The Titanic Journey

Mrs Turkula began her fateful journey from Jalasjärvi on April 3, 1912. She boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a third-class passenger. Her ticket, number 4134, cost £9, 11s, 9d.

During the voyage, she shared a cabin with five younger Finnish women and a child:

• Anna Turja
• Kristina Sofia Laitinen
• Sisters Katriina and Maria Jussila
• Helga Hirvonen and her young daughter Hildur

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, Mrs Turkula and her cabin mates were awakened by commotion outside their cabin. In the ensuing chaos, she was guided to the upper decks by a fellow Finn, Eino Lindquist, who was the brother of her cabin companion Helga Hirvonen.

Mrs Turkula vividly described the scene on the upper decks:

“… shouts, imprecations, prayers, sobs and screams…”

She witnessed Mr Lindquist being forced back at gunpoint by an officer as panic spread. Eventually, she was helped into a lifeboat by a “minor officer” whom she believed was intoxicated.

Survival and Rescue

What was Mrs Turkula’s experience in the lifeboat?

While the exact lifeboat number is unclear, Mrs Turkula described it as being only two-thirds full, primarily with women. She noted that it could have comfortably accommodated more people. Three crewmen and one brave woman worked the oars.

From the relative safety of the lifeboat, Mrs Turkula watched the tragic events unfold:

1. She heard cries coming from the ship
2. She witnessed Titanic’s lights gradually disappear before being extinguished
3. After the sinking, she heard the fading cries of those left in the water
4. She and other survivors huddled together for warmth and prayed
5. As dawn broke, she saw other lifeboats and finally spotted the rescue ship Carpathia on the horizon

Arrival in America and Later Life

Upon reaching the Carpathia, the elderly Mrs Turkula had to be hauled up the ship’s side, being too frail to use the ladders. She was overjoyed to be reunited with Eino Lindquist on deck.

After being treated for a slight cold at St Vincent’s Hospital in New York, Mrs Turkula was released on April 23 and placed on a train to Minnesota. She wore a large green label around her neck, identifying her as a Titanic survivor and requesting special consideration from train staff.

Mrs Turkula arrived in Hibbing, Minnesota on April 25, 1912. She was interviewed by the Duluth News Tribune, which noted her traditional Finnish peasant attire. She spent one night as a guest of Mr and Mrs William Lundquist in Hibbing, where she received numerous visitors eager to meet a Titanic survivor.

Final Years

How did Mrs Turkula spend her remaining years?

Hedwig spent her final decade living with family