Mr Karl Jonsson

Who was Karl Jonsson?

Karl Jonsson was a 25 (twenty-five) year-old Swedish third-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic who survived the infamous disaster. Born on May 12, 1886, in Loushult, Kristianstad, Sweden, Jonsson embarked on a journey that would forever change his life and become a part of one of history’s most tragic maritime events.

Early Life and Background

Karl Jonsson came from a large Swedish family, with his parents Johan Nilsson and Ingrid Nilsson raising him alongside numerous siblings. His father worked as a railway worker, which may have influenced Karl’s later career choices.

Family Roots

Father: Johan Nilsson (born December 15, 1850)
Mother: Ingrid Nilsson (born August 3, 1854)
Siblings: 10 known siblings, including:
- Blenda Sofia (born September 20, 1878)
- Emil (born May 18, 1880)
- Ida (born December 9, 1881)
- Otto Viktor (born August 15, 1883)

Pre-Titanic Life

In 1906, at around 20 years old, Karl left his hometown of Loushult and settled in Malmö. There, he found work as a railway brakeman, following in his father’s footsteps in the railway industry. This experience would later prove valuable in his post-Titanic life.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ill-Fated Ship

Karl Jonsson embarked on the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. He had purchased his ticket (number 350417) in Copenhagen for £7 17s 1d. Jonsson was not alone on this journey; he traveled with companions including P\u00e5l Edvin Andreasson, Albert Augustsson, Nils Johansson, and his sister-in-law Olga Elida Lundin.

What was Jonsson’s intended destination?

While the American Senate list initially gave Huntley, Illinois as his destination, Jonsson’s actual plan was to work at the C. A. Smith Sawmill in Camden, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interestingly, he had also harbored dreams of heading to Alaska for a mining adventure.

The Fateful Night

How did Karl Jonsson survive the Titanic disaster?

Karl Jonsson’s survival story is both dramatic and, at times, contradictory. In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune on May 1, 1912, he recounted his harrowing experience:

“I heard nothing of the ship striking. I was sound asleep in my birth and was awakened by the water when it flooded the bed. I jumped out and waded to the upper deck. The ship was sinking fast. The bow was down and the stern was high in the air.”

Jonsson described a chaotic scene of separation from his companions and a desperate struggle in the freezing water. He claimed to have floated on a large door for six and a half hours before being rescued.

Conflicting Accounts

Interestingly, Jonsson provided two different versions of his rescue:

He stated that Mrs. Astor reached out her hand to help him into a lifeboat.
In the same interview, he claimed to have fought with men on a collapsible boat, eventually grabbing onto someone’s leg until daylight.

These contradictions have led to speculation about the exact method of his survival, with possibilities including:

Swimming to collapsible boat A or B
Being rescued by a functioning lifeboat
A combination of these scenarios

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Jonsson’s life?

Upon arriving in New York aboard the Carpathia, Jonsson was given $25 by The Woman’s Relief Committee. He then made his way to Minneapolis, where he found immediate employment with the C. A. Smith lumber company.

Community Support

The Swedish community in Minneapolis rallied around Jonsson. On May 20, 1912, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that well-wishers had organized a fundraiser, surprising him with a $100 donation at the Swedish Brothers’ Hall.

Later Years

Karl Jonsson’s life after the Titanic was marked by:

Possible marriage to Jenny Ingram in 1920 (later divorced)
Work as a head brakeman on logging trains in Oregon
Settlement in Blachly, Lane County, Oregon
Employment with the Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative until retirement

Legacy and Final Years

How did Karl Jonsson remember the Titanic?

Even in his later years, Jonsson was known for recounting his Titanic experience to friends and neighbors. With his thick Swedish accent, he would often say:

“Ja, it vas turrible, turrible! I shall nev-er forget it!”

A Life Comes to an End

Tragically, Karl Jonsson suffered a nervous breakdown in the final months of his life. He passed away on May 14, 1956, in Eugene, Oregon, just two days after his 70th birthday. He was laid to rest at an IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) Cemetery, likely in Junction City, Oregon.

Karl Jonsson’s life, from his humble beginnings in Sweden to his dramatic survival of the Titanic and his quiet later years in Oregon, serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.