Mrs Mary Eloise Smith

Mrs Mary Eloise Smith was a young American first-class passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on August 7, 1893, she was just 18 (eighteen) years old when she embarked on the ill-fated voyage with her newlywed husband, Lucian Philip Smith.

Early Life and Political Background

Mary Eloise Hughes, as she was known before her marriage, came from a prominent political family in West Virginia. Her father, James A. Hughes, was a Congressman, while her mother, Belle Vinson Hughes, belonged to the influential Vinson family. This political connection meant that Eloise spent a significant portion of her childhood in Washington, D.C., exposed to the corridors of power from an early age.

A Debutante’s Whirlwind Romance

In January 1912, Eloise made her debut in society, quickly catching the eye of 24-year-old Lucian Philip Smith, a notable resident of Morgantown, West Virginia. Their courtship was swift, leading to a wedding described by local newspapers as “one of the most brilliant wedding functions the city ever witnessed.” The ceremony took place on February 8, 1912, at the Central Christian Church in Huntington.

The Honeymoon Journey

Following their nuptials, the Smiths embarked on an extensive honeymoon that took them across the globe. Their itinerary included:

Egypt
The Middle East
Various European destinations

An Unexpected Turn of Events

What was meant to be a prolonged journey took an unexpected turn when Eloise discovered she was pregnant. This news prompted the couple to cut their trip short and make arrangements to return to the United States. In a letter home, Eloise wrote:

“Lucian is getting so anxious to get home and drive the car and fool around on the farm….We leave here Sunday… By boat to Brindisi [Italy], by rail to Nice and Monte Carlo, then to Paris and via Cherbourg either on the Lusitania or the new Titanic….I will love so much to tell my Sunday School class when I get home…”

The Titanic Voyage

The Smiths chose to book their return passage on the RMS Titanic, joining the ranks of first-class passengers on the ship’s maiden voyage. Key details of their journey include:

Embarkation Point: Cherbourg, France
Date of Boarding: April 10, 1912
Cabin: C31
Ticket Number: 13695
Fare: £60

The Night of the Disaster

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Eloise had already retired to their cabin when the Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 PM. Lucian, who had been playing cards with three Frenchmen in the Café Parisian, woke her with what seemed like a calm demeanor. He informed her:

“We are in the north and have struck an iceberg. It does not amount to anything, but will probably delay us a day getting into New York. However, as a matter of form, the Captain has ordered all ladies on deck.”

How Did Mary Eloise Smith Survive the Titanic?

Mary Eloise Smith’s survival can be attributed to the “women and children first” policy enforced during the evacuation. Despite her plea to Captain Smith to allow her husband to accompany her, Eloise was ushered into Lifeboat 6 without Lucian. This lifeboat, under the command of Quartermaster Robert Hitchens, was one of the first to be lowered from the ship.

The Aftermath and Rescue

After the Titanic sank, Eloise was among the survivors picked up by the RMS Carpathia. In a touching display of solidarity among survivors, she was given the cabin of fellow newlyweds Mr. Charles Hutchison and his wife Emma for the journey to New York.

Legacy and Later Life

The sinking of the Titanic had a profound impact on Mary Eloise Smith’s life. Here are some key events that followed:

November 29, 1912: Birth of Lucian Philip Smith II, her posthumous child
August 18, 1914: Marriage to fellow Titanic survivor Robert Williams Daniel
1923: Divorce from Robert Williams Daniel
Post-1923: Two more marriages before reverting to the surname Smith

Contribution to the Titanic Inquiry

Eloise’s experience aboard the Titanic became part of the official record when her affidavit was read before the U.S. Senate committee investigating the disaster. In her statement, she described the tragedy as seeming to be “a moneyed accident,” providing valuable insight into the perceptions of the disaster.

Final Years and Death

Mary Eloise Smith’s life came to an early end on May 3, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of 46 (forty-six), she passed away in a sanitarium, with her death attributed to a heart attack. She was laid to rest in the Vinson family plot at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, West Virginia, bringing her remarkable life full circle to her roots in West Virginia.

Mary Eloise Smith’s story remains a poignant reminder of the personal tragedies behind the Titanic disaster, showcasing the resilience of survivors who carried on with their lives in the shadow of an unforgettable catastrophe.