Ramon Artagaveytia
Mr Ramon Artagaveytia
Who was Ramon Artagaveytia?
Ramon Artagaveytia was a 71 (seventy-one) year-old Uruguayan businessman who tragically lost his life as a first-class passenger on the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on July 14, 1840, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Artagaveytia’s life was marked by a previous maritime disaster that would haunt him until his final voyage.
Early Life and Maritime Heritage
A Family Steeped in Seafaring Tradition
Ramon Artagaveytia was born into a family with deep connections to the sea. According to family legend, his grandfather bestowed upon Ramon’s father an oar with a powerful message:
“Knowing how to use it, you will never be hungry. Your ancestors have always survived thanks to the sea. This is your destiny. Follow it!”
This maritime heritage would play a significant role in shaping Artagaveytia’s life and, ultimately, his fate.
The America Disaster: A Haunting Memory
How did the sinking of the America impact Artagaveytia’s life?
On December 24, 1871, Ramon Artagaveytia survived a harrowing maritime disaster that would leave an indelible mark on his psyche. The ship America caught fire and sank near the shore of Punta Espinillo, Uruguay. Artagaveytia managed to escape by jumping into the sea and swimming for his life. This traumatic experience left him emotionally scarred and plagued by nightmares for years to come.
Life Before the Titanic
In the years following the America disaster, Artagaveytia sought to build a life on land:
- 1905: Took over a farm in Guaminí, Argentina
- 1912: Traveled to Europe to visit his nephew, head of the Uruguayan Consulate in Berlin
- Planned a visit to the United States before returning to Argentina
The Titanic Journey
A Hopeful Departure
On April 10, 1912, Ramon Artagaveytia boarded the RMS Titanic in Cherbourg, France. He traveled as a first-class passenger, having purchased ticket number PC 17609 for £49 10s 1d.
Artagaveytia’s Titanic Experience
During his brief time aboard the Titanic, Artagaveytia documented his impressions:
April 11, 1912:
- Described the ship as “huge”
- Noted his comfortable cabin with electric heating
- Mentioned meeting a Mexican diplomat and Mr. Amingo de Diaz
April 12, 1912:
- Explored the ship’s corridors and rooms
- Admired the green chairs and wooden furniture
- Observed the coast of Ireland
The Fateful Night
What happened to Ramon Artagaveytia during the Titanic’s sinking?
On the night of April 14-15, 1912, Artagaveytia was seen on deck with two fellow Uruguayan passengers, Mr. Francisco M. Carrau and his nephew, Jose Pedro Carrau. Conflicting accounts exist about their behavior during the disaster:
Julian Padro y Manent’s account:
- Claimed the three men laughed at the seriousness of the situation
- Suggested they jokingly advised against entering lifeboats
Elmer Zebley Taylor’s account:
- Described the Carrau brothers as looking “more dead than alive”
- Noted their apparent fear and lack of faith in the ship’s engineering
The truth of their final moments remains uncertain, but what is clear is that Ramon Artagaveytia did not survive the sinking of the Titanic.
Recovery and Final Rest
How was Ramon Artagaveytia’s body recovered?
About a week after the disaster, Artagaveytia’s body was recovered from the North Atlantic by the MacKay-Bennett, a vessel chartered by the White Star Line to search for victims. His body was identified as:
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Body No. | 22 |
| Estimated Age | 60 |
| Hair | Grey; Bald |
| Clothing | Blue overcoat; blue suit; white dress waistcoat; black boots and purple socks; two vests marked “R.A.”; pink drawers also marked “R.A.” |
| Effects | Watch, chain and medals with name on; keys; comb; knife; eyeglass case; 27 pounds in gold; $20 gold piece; $64 in notes |
Artagaveytia’s remains were forwarded to New York and then shipped to Montevideo, Uruguay, under the care of the Uruguayan Consul in New York, Alfred Metz Green. He was laid to rest in the Cemeterio Central in Montevideo on June 18, 1912.
The Irony of Fate
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Ramon Artagaveytia’s story is the cruel irony of his fate. In a letter to his cousin Enrique just two months before boarding the Titanic, he expressed both his lingering trauma from the America disaster and his hope for a safe journey:
“At last I will be able to travel and, above all, I will be able to sleep calm. The sinking of the America was terrible!… Nightmares keep tormenting me. Even in the most quiet trips, I wake up in the middle of the night with terrible nightmares and always hearing the same fateful word: Fire! Fire! Fire!…I have even gotten to the point where I find myself standing in the deck with my lifebelt on…”
Tragically, the very technologies that Artagaveytia believed would ensure his safety on this voyage - including the wireless telegraph - were not enough to save him from the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
Andre Nolan is an avid Titanic historian and the creator of TitanicUniverse.com, a website dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and forgotten details behind the famous ocean liner.
With a lifelong passion for maritime history, Andre has spent over a decade researching the Titanic, from the personal lives of passengers and crew to the engineering marvels that made the ship an icon of its era.
When he's not immersed in Titanic lore, Andre enjoys connecting with fellow maritime history lovers, exploring historic ships and shipwrecks.