Mrs Miriam Kantor: A Titanic Survivor’s Journey

Who was Miriam Kantor?

Mrs Miriam Kantor was a 24 (twenty-four) year-old Russian-Belarusian woman who survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on August 10, 1887, in Vitebsk, Belarus (then part of the Russian Empire), Miriam’s life took an unexpected turn when she boarded the ill-fated ship as a second-class passenger with her husband, Sinai Kantor.

Early Life and Background

A Jewish Family in Vitebsk

Miriam Kantor came from a Jewish family in Vitebsk, a city now located in modern-day Belarus. Her parents were:

• Father: Woolf Sternin
• Mother: Sara Murinson

Little is known about her early life or whether she had any siblings. However, her background would play a significant role in shaping her future experiences and connections.

Education and Aspirations

Both Miriam and her husband were believed to be university graduates, indicating a strong emphasis on education in their lives. Interestingly, the Red Cross recorded that Miriam intended to pursue studies in dentistry once she arrived in the United States, showcasing her ambition and desire for professional growth.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the “Unsinkable” Ship

On April 10, 1912, Miriam and Sinai Kantor embarked on the Titanic at Southampton, England. They were among the many hopeful passengers seeking new opportunities in America. The couple purchased ticket number 244367 for £26, equivalent to approximately £3,100 in today’s currency.

Did you know? The Kantors likely traveled with Israel Nesson, as his ticket was numbered consecutively with theirs.

A Second-Class Experience

As second-class passengers, the Kantors would have enjoyed comfortable accommodations on the Titanic, though not as luxurious as the first-class suites. Second-class on the Titanic was comparable to first-class on many other ships of the era, offering:

• Shared bathrooms between cabins
• Access to a smoking room and library
• Meals in a dedicated dining saloon

Fate During the Disaster

The Night of April 14, 1912

When the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, Miriam’s life changed forever. In the chaos that ensued, she managed to secure a place on a lifeboat, while her husband, unfortunately, did not survive the disaster.

Rescue and Survival

Mrs Kantor was rescued by the RMS Carpathia, though the exact lifeboat she boarded remains unknown. Some sources suggest she may have been in either Lifeboat 10 or 12, but this information is not definitively confirmed.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in New York

After her rescue, Miriam’s exact movements upon arriving in New York are unclear. She may have joined her family at their intended address on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, or she might have gone to her uncle, Mr. Berman, in Boston, Massachusetts, as indicated on the Carpathia immigration list.

Becoming an American Citizen

Miriam’s journey as an immigrant in America is well-documented:

• June 24, 1912: Declared her intention to become a U.S. citizen
• August 1, 1918: Officially became a U.S. citizen

During her naturalization process, Miriam was described as:

A New Career and Life

After settling in the United States, Miriam pursued a career as a pharmacist. She never remarried, focusing instead on her professional life. The 1920 census shows her working as a pharmacist and living as a boarder on South 9th Street in Brooklyn, in the home of storekeeper Jacob Tickman and his family.

What Challenges Did Miriam Face in Later Life?

Despite her initial success in establishing a new life in America, Miriam Kantor faced significant challenges in her later years. For at least the last decade of her life, she was a patient in a psychiatric institution. She appears on both the 1940 and 1950 U.S. census records as an inmate in Rockland State Hospital in Orangefield, New York.

Legacy of a Titanic Survivor

Miriam Kantor’s life came to an end on August 26, 1950, at the age of 63 (sixty-three). She was laid to rest in Wellwood Cemetery in West Babylon, New York (Section 3, Block 45-C, Row 6, Grave 11L).

While her later years were marked by difficulties, Miriam’s story of survival and resilience in the face of one of history’s most famous disasters continues to fascinate. In 2018, her late husband’s Hebrew pocket watch, a poignant reminder of their ill-fated journey, was offered for auction, reportedly by a ‘direct descendant’, ensuring that the Kantor family’s connection to the Titanic lives on in tangible form.