Mlle Berthe Antonine MAYNÉ

Who was Berthe Antonine Mayné?

Berthe Antonine Mayné was a 24 (twenty-four) year-old Belgian cabaret singer and first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on July 21, 1887, in Brussels, Belgium, Mayné’s life was marked by her artistic career, a romantic liaison, and her miraculous survival of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Career

A Rising Star in Brussels

Berthe Mayné, known professionally as Bella Vielly, made a name for herself in the entertainment circles of Brussels. Her talent as a cabaret singer brought her into contact with the city’s elite, as noted by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws:

“She was well known in Brussels in circles of pleasure, and was often seen in the company of people who like to wine and dine and enjoy life.”

Romantic Entanglements

Before her fateful Titanic journey, Mayné’s life was already colorful:

• She had a liaison with Fernand de Villiers, a French soldier who joined the foreign legion
• In the winter of 1911, she met Quigg Baxter, a young Montreal hockey player, while performing in Brussels
• Baxter and Mayné became lovers, leading to her journey on the Titanic

The Titanic Journey

Embarkation and Accommodations

Berthe Mayné boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, under intriguing circumstances:

• She traveled under the pseudonym “Mrs. de Villiers”
• Quigg Baxter arranged for her to have her own first-class stateroom, C-90
• Her ticket number was 17482
• The fare for her journey was £49 10s

A Clandestine Voyage

Mayné’s presence on the Titanic was shrouded in secrecy. Baxter had persuaded her to return to Montreal with him, arranging separate accommodations to maintain propriety. This decision would ultimately play a role in saving her life.

The Night of the Disaster

How did Berthe Mayné survive the Titanic sinking?

When disaster struck on April 14, 1912, Berthe Mayné’s survival was due to quick thinking and persuasion:

1. Quigg Baxter rushed her to Lifeboat 6
2. She wore only a nightdress covered by a long woolen overcoat
3. Mayné initially resisted leaving without Baxter
4. She wanted to return to her cabin for jewelry
5. Maggie Brown, a fellow passenger, convinced her to stay in the lifeboat

Mayné’s rescue in Lifeboat 6 ensured her place among the Titanic survivors, while her lover, Quigg Baxter, tragically perished in the sinking.

Life After the Titanic

Return to Europe and Continued Career

Following the disaster, Berthe Mayné’s life took several turns:

• She stayed with the Baxter family in Montreal for several months
• Eventually, she returned to Europe
• Mayné resumed her singing career in Paris
• She never married

A Quiet Retirement and Unbelieved Tale

In her later years, Berthe Mayné:

• Retired to a comfortable house in Berchem-Ste-Agathe, a suburb of Brussels
• Attempted to share her Titanic story with her nephew, but was not believed
• Passed away on October 11, 1962, at the age of 75 (seventy-five)

Legacy and Revelation

The Truth Uncovered

The veracity of Berthe Mayné’s Titanic experience was only confirmed after her death. Among her personal belongings, a shoebox containing clippings, letters, and photographs provided irrefutable evidence of her incredible journey and survival.

Berthe Antonine Mayné’s story serves as a testament to the diverse and often hidden histories of Titanic passengers. Her journey from Brussels cabaret singer to Titanic survivor, and the subsequent decades of silence, illustrate the profound and lasting impact of the disaster on individual lives.