Miss Ruth Taussig

Who was Ruth Taussig?

Miss Ruth Taussig was an 18 (eighteen) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on November 25, 1893, in Manhattan, New York, Ruth was the only child of Emil Taussig and Tillie Mandelbaum. Her journey on the ill-fated ship would become a pivotal moment in her life, as she survived the tragic sinking while her father perished.

Early Life and Background

A Privileged Upbringing

Ruth Taussig grew up in a well-to-do family in New York City. Her father, Emil Taussig, was a Bohemian-born businessman who served as the President of the West Disinfecting Company in Buffalo, New York. Her mother, Tillie Taussig, was a New York native of German parentage.

The family’s prosperity was evident in their living arrangements:

• 1900: Resided at 1335 Madison Avenue, Manhattan
• 1910: Still living on Madison Avenue
• 1912: Moved to 777 West End Avenue

The Titanic Journey

Why were the Taussigs on the Titanic?

The Taussig family boarded the Titanic at Southampton following a visit to Vienna. As first-class passengers, they enjoyed luxurious accommodations during their voyage:

• Ticket Number: 110413
• Cabin: E68 (Ruth’s assigned cabin)
• Fare: £79 13s (79 pounds, 13 shillings)

The Night of the Disaster

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, the Taussig family’s lives changed forever. German steward Alfred Theissinger alerted them to the danger:

“You better put on your lifebelts and rush out on deck.”

When Mr. Taussig asked if it was serious, Theissinger urgently replied, “Yes, hurry!”

Survival and Loss

How did Ruth survive the sinking?

Ruth and her mother managed to secure places on Lifeboat 8. In a poignant moment, a crewman took Ruth’s furs, telling her she wouldn’t need them. Tragically, while Ruth and her mother survived, her father Emil Taussig was among the lost.

Life After the Titanic

Marriage and Family

On December 1, 1915, Ruth married Julius Bernhard Lichtenstein, a New York-born tobacco merchant. Their family grew to include:

1. Eleanor (born November 20, 1916)
2. Alice (born March 11, 1920)

By 1920, the family resided on Broadway, Manhattan, with Julius working for the J. Lewis Cigar Company in Newark, New Jersey.

Ruth’s Untimely Death

Tragically, Ruth’s life was cut short. She died on January 9, 1925, at the young age of 31 (thirty-one), succumbing to typhoid fever. She was laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

The Lichtenstein Family’s Later Years

After Ruth’s passing, Julius remarried to Beatrice, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. They had a son, James, born in 1930. The family:

• Lived at 262 Central Park, Manhattan
• Made frequent trans-Atlantic trips
• Changed their surname to “Lane” in the 1930s

Julius passed away on May 2, 1940, in Manhattan, leaving behind a complex family situation that involved a will dispute between his widow and his daughter Eleanor.

Ruth Taussig’s Legacy

Ruth Taussig’s life, though brief, was marked by extraordinary events. As a Titanic survivor, her story contributes to the broader narrative of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters. Her experience aboard the ship, from the luxurious first-class accommodations to the harrowing escape in Lifeboat 8, provides a personal glimpse into the Titanic’s tragic voyage. Despite her untimely death, Ruth’s survival ensured that her family line continued, leaving a lasting legacy that connects us to that fateful night in April 1912.