Miss Maria Kink

Who was Maria Kink?

Miss Maria Kink was a 23 (twenty-three) year-old Austrian passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in 1889, she was a third-class passenger traveling from Southampton to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when tragedy struck on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Background

Where did Maria Kink come from?

Maria Kink was born in 1889 in Mahrensdorf, Austria. Her early life was marked by tragedy, as her father passed away in the same year she was born. After the death of her mother in 1911, Maria and her brother Vinzenz joined their brother Anton in Zürich, Switzerland. This move would set the stage for their fateful journey to America.

What was Maria’s occupation?

Maria worked as an unmarried maid before embarking on her journey to the United States. This occupation was common for young women of her social class during that era.

The Titanic Journey

How did Maria Kink come to be on the Titanic?

Maria Kink boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. She was traveling with a group of relatives, including:

• Anton Kink, her brother
• Vincenz Kink, her brother
• Luise Kink-Heilmann, her sister-in-law
• Luise Gretchen Kink-Heilmann, her niece

The family’s destination was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they hoped to start a new life.

What were the details of Maria’s Titanic ticket?

Maria’s journey was meticulously planned:

• Ticket Number: 315152
• Ticket Price: £8 13s 3d (340 Swiss francs)
• Ticket Agent: Kaiser & Cie., Basel
• Cabin: R190 (shared with her sister-in-law and niece)

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Maria Kink when the Titanic sank?

Tragically, Maria Kink did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. As a third-class passenger, her chances of survival were significantly lower than those in first or second class. The chaos and confusion of the disaster, combined with the limited access to lifeboats for third-class passengers, likely contributed to her unfortunate fate.

Maria Kink died in the sinking. Her body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Impact

How was Maria Kink remembered after the disaster?

While Maria’s life was cut short, her memory lived on through her surviving family members:

1. Her brother Anton received her death certificate in July 1912.
2. As Maria’s only surviving relative, Anton was awarded compensation of 262.50 Swiss francs.

Maria’s story, like many others from the Titanic disaster, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the tragedy. Her journey, which began with hope for a new life in America, ended in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.

Who were Maria’s connections on the Titanic?

Apart from her immediate family, Maria Kink had connections with other passengers on the Titanic:

• Josefine Arnold-Franchi
• Aloisia Haas

These connections highlight the complex web of relationships among passengers, particularly within the third-class community.

Maria Kink’s Final Journey

Maria Kink’s story is a testament to the dreams and aspirations of many European immigrants of her time. At just 23 years old, she embarked on a journey that promised a new beginning but instead became her final voyage. Her tale, intertwined with those of her family members and fellow passengers, continues to captivate and move us over a century later, ensuring that the memory of Miss Maria Kink and her fellow Titanic victims lives on.