Mr Karl Albert Midtsjø

Who was Karl Albert Midtsjø?

Karl Albert Midtsjø was a 21 (twenty-one) year old Norwegian farmer who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on August 4, 1890, in Krøkstad, Ski, near Christiania (now Oslo), Norway, Midtsjø was one of the fortunate third-class passengers who escaped the disaster and went on to build a life in the United States.

Early Life and Background

Karl Albert Midtsjø came from a farming family in Norway. He was one of eight (possibly eleven) children born to Johan Hansen and Marie Midtsjø. Life was not easy for the Midtsjø family:

• They worked hard to earn a living as farmers
• Several of Karl’s siblings died during childhood
• Karl started working at an early age to support the family

Despite the challenges, Karl Albert, like many of his contemporaries in Norway, dreamed of a better life in America. This dream would lead him to embark on a journey that would change his life forever.

The Titanic Journey

How did Karl Albert Midtsjø come to be on the Titanic?

On March 30, 1912, Karl Albert purchased a ticket from Christiania to Chicago at the Elster agency. The total cost of his journey was 238 Norwegian Kroner, which included:

• A train ticket to Chicago
• Approximately 87 NKr (£4 15s 6d) for the Titanic passage

Karl’s journey to the Titanic began on April 3, 1912, when he traveled from Christiania to Hull on the Wilson Line Steamer Oslo. From there, he made his way to Southampton, where he boarded the RMS Titanic as a third-class passenger.

What was Karl Albert’s experience on the Titanic?

Once aboard the Titanic, Karl Albert was quartered towards the bow of the ship, possibly sharing accommodations with fellow Norwegian passenger Johan Nysveen. Like many passengers, Karl felt safe and enjoyed the amenities of the grand ship, unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead.

The Fateful Night

How did Karl Albert Midtsjø survive the sinking?

When the Titanic struck the iceberg on April 14, 1912, Karl Albert and Johan Nysveen made their way to the deck. In a poignant moment, Johan, realizing at 61 years old that he might not survive, gave his coat and watch to Karl Albert.

Karl Albert’s survival can be attributed to a fortunate turn of events:

1. He was given permission by First Officer Murdoch to board a lifeboat
2. He climbed down the tackle and into Lifeboat 15
3. He was one of only about 100 third-class passengers to be saved

After the Disaster

What happened to Karl Albert Midtsjø after the Titanic sinking?

Upon arriving in New York, Karl Albert was sent to St. Vincent’s Hospital. From there, he wrote a heartfelt letter to his brother on April 19, 1912:

I have now arrived in New York and I have been placed in a hospital. We have been billeted here by some higher authority. It is not that I am ill, but I don’t think they had anywhere else to put us up. I was lucky with the Titanic. It is pure chance that I survived, because things were quite chaotic.

In his letter, Karl Albert vividly described the harrowing experience:

• The chaos of the sinking
• The clear, starry night as they sat in lifeboats
• The cries for help he could still hear

After his recovery, Karl Albert traveled to Chicago, where he was interviewed by the Norwegian-American newspaper “Skandinavian” on April 26, 1912.

A Gesture of Honor

In a touching act of respect, Karl Albert traveled to Cummings, North Dakota, to return Johan Nysveen’s coat and watch to his relatives. He stayed with them for several weeks, sharing the story of Johan’s last days on the Titanic.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience shape Karl Albert’s life?

Despite the trauma of the Titanic disaster, Karl Albert went on to build a life in America:

• On September 15, 1913, he married Anna Christine Paulson from Wittenberg, Wisconsin
• Their son, Marvin Gilbert Midtsjø, was born on January 5, 1915
• The family moved to Evanston, Illinois in 1917, where Karl worked as a caretaker

Karl Albert’s life after the Titanic was marked by several moves and career changes:

Legacy and Final Years

Karl Albert Midtsjø suffered from hereditary heart disease throughout his life. He passed away on January 25, 1939, in Maywood, Illinois, at the age of 48 (forty-eight).

His legacy lives on through:

• His son, Marvin, who changed his name to Marvin Midland and lived in Denver, Colorado until his death on April 26, 1997
• The memories shared by his nephews and nieces, who were invited to the premiere of the movie “Titanic” in Norway in 1997

Karl Albert Midtsjø’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the lasting impact of that fateful night on the lives of those who lived to tell the tale.