Miss Marion Wright

Who was Marion Wright?

Marion Wright was a 26 (twenty-six) year-old English woman who survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on May 26, 1885, in Reading, Berkshire, Marion’s journey on the Titanic was meant to be the beginning of a new chapter in her life, as she was traveling to America to marry her fiancé, Arthur Woolcott.

Early Life and Background

What was Marion Wright’s family life like?

Marion Wright was born to Thomas Wright and Jane Taylor. Her early years were marked by significant changes:

• Moved to Yeovil, Somerset with her family at a young age
• Father remarried Ada Frances Huntley in the late 1880s after being widowed
• Took on the role of caregiver for her three stepsisters
• Lived at The Park, Yeovil in 1912

How did Marion meet her future husband?

In the late 1900s, Marion’s life took a romantic turn:

• Met Arthur Woolcott during a visit to a friend in West Park, Yeovil
• Arthur had emigrated to America in 1907, working as a draughtsman
• He purchased an 80-acre fruit farm in the Willamette Valley near Cottage Grove, Oregon
• Their engagement was announced after extensive correspondence
• Plans were made for the wedding to take place in America

Titanic Journey Details

What was Marion’s experience aboard the Titanic?

Marion boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger. Her journey was filled with notable experiences:

• Ticket number: 220844
• Fare: £13 10s
• Shared a starboard cabin with Mrs. Bessie Watt and her daughter, Miss Bertha Watt
• Made friends with Kate Buss and Alfred Pain
• Sang solos at a hymn service led by Rev. Ernest Carter on April 14, 1912

“The stopping of the engines on an ocean liner creates such a calm, such a painful silence, that it inspires passengers that something is not exactly right.” - Marion Wright

Fate During the Disaster

How did Marion survive the Titanic’s sinking?

Marion’s survival story is both harrowing and miraculous:

1. Described the collision as a “huge crash of glass”
2. Went on deck and witnessed passengers hurriedly putting on lifebelts
3. Guided to a lifeboat (likely lifeboat 9) by Alfred Pain
4. Estimated about 35 people were in her lifeboat
5. Watched the Titanic sink and claimed to hear the band play “Nearer, My God, to Thee”
6. Rescued by the Carpathia around 6:30 AM

In a letter written aboard the Carpathia, Marion vividly recounted the tragedy:

“It was terrible and is terrible and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it… The ‘Titanic’ must have had her bottom nearly taken away by the iceberg, from the first class to the steerage, for she went down gradually, bit by bit. When she broke in two, which she did a few moments before she sunk, going down with a huge explosion, the cries of the people left on board were heart-rending.”

What happened after Marion’s rescue?

The aftermath of the disaster brought both relief and challenges:

• Reunited with Arthur Woolcott in New York
• Described as thoroughly exhausted upon arriving in Cottage Grove
• Recuperated at the home of Mr. Curtis Viatch
• Wrote to her family in Yeovil on April 25, expressing her grief and gratitude

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience impact Marion’s life?

Marion’s survival of the Titanic disaster led to a new chapter in her life:

• Married Arthur Woolcott shortly after the disaster
• Settled in Cottage Grove, Oregon
• Ran a successful farmstead with her husband
• Had a 53-year marriage
• Became mother to three sons: John, Russ, and Bob
• Welcomed eight grandchildren

What was Marion’s legacy?

Marion Wright Woolcott’s story became an integral part of Cottage Grove’s history:

• Shared her Titanic experience with local church groups
• Received a silver purse from her new neighbors in recognition of her ordeal
• Never returned to England due to financial constraints
• Passed away on July 4, 1965, at the age of 80 (eighty)
• Memorialized in the Cottage Grove museum
• Buried alongside her husband in the Cottage Grove, Oregon cemetery

Marion Wright’s incredible journey from Titanic survivor to beloved Cottage Grove resident serves as a testament to her resilience and the enduring impact of the Titanic disaster on individual lives. Her story continues to captivate those interested in the human stories behind one of history’s most famous maritime tragedies.