Mrs Martha Evelyn Stone

Who was Martha Evelyn Stone?

Martha Evelyn Stone was a 61 (sixty-one) year old American first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on January 29, 1851, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, she survived the tragic sinking and lived to tell her harrowing tale of that fateful night.

Early Life and Background

A Massachusetts Native

Martha was born into a working-class family in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Her parents were:

• Father: Stephen Hayden Stone (born 1816), a truckman
• Mother: Mary Ann Emerson (born 1820)

She had two older brothers:

• Albert (born 1845)
• Charles (born 1847)

Career and Marriages

Martha’s early adult life was marked by her career and two marriages:

1. In 1880, she worked as a bookkeeper while living with her parents in Everett, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
2. On October 15, 1884, she married John H. Harrington, a clerk from Chelsea, Massachusetts. Tragically, John passed away on June 12, 1885, less than a year after their wedding.
3. On October 30, 1888, Martha remarried George Nelson Stone, an executive at Cincinnati Bell telephone company.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Martha Stone on the Titanic?

Mrs. Stone boarded the Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912, traveling first-class with her maid, Rose Amélie Icard. They occupied cabin B-28, with Martha holding ticket number 113572.

“Mrs Stone boarded the Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 and was travelling in first class with her maid Amelie Icard. She occupied cabin B-28.”

The Night of the Disaster

Martha’s experience on the night of April 14-15, 1912, was both terrifying and chaotic:

1. She was awake in bed when the Titanic struck the iceberg.
2. Initially, a crewmember assured her there was no danger.
3. The persistent roar of steam led her to dress and investigate further.
4. She was eventually alerted to the danger by another passenger’s daughter.
5. Martha and her maid managed to board lifeboat 6.

Survival and Rescue

What was Martha’s role in the lifeboat?

In lifeboat 6, Martha played a crucial role:

• She stood on the plug for seven hours, helping to keep the boat from taking on water.
• Another woman waved the boat’s only lantern for the same duration.
• There were approximately 20 women and two men in the lifeboat.

Martha was critical of how the Titanic’s crew handled the emergency, noting the lack of order in loading the lifeboats.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic impact Martha’s later years?

Following her rescue, Martha returned to her residence at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. She lived there until her death on May 12, 1924, at the age of 73 (seventy-three).

Legacy

Martha Stone’s final wishes reflected her appreciation for those who stood by her:

• She was buried in Cincinnati, Ohio, beside her second husband, George Nelson Stone.
• In her will, she bequeathed a significant sum of money and personal possessions to her maid, Amelie Icard, who had survived the Titanic disaster with her.

Martha Evelyn Stone’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human experiences behind the Titanic tragedy, showcasing both the terror of that night and the bonds formed in its aftermath.