Mrs Selena Cook

Who was Selena Cook?

Mrs Selena Cook was a 22 (twenty-two) year old English passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born as Selina Rogers on April 6, 1890, in Rotherfield, Sussex, England, she embarked on the ill-fated voyage as a second-class passenger, ultimately becoming one of the survivors of the Titanic disaster.

Early Life and Background

Family Roots in Sussex

Selena was born into a working-class family in rural England:

Father: James Henry Rogers (b. 1857), a poultry worker from Rotherfield
Mother: Margaret Howard (b. 1856), originally from Sedbergh, Yorkshire
Siblings: Harold (1888-1961), Effie (b. 1892), Hilda Jane (b. 1893), and Charles John Howard (b. 1896)

The Rogers family moved around Sussex during Selena’s childhood, residing in Withyam and later returning to Rotherfield. Tragedy struck in 1903 when Selena’s father passed away at the age of 46, leaving her mother to support the family through domestic work.

Marriage and New Beginnings

In late 1911, Selena married Arthur Henry Cook, a Scottish footman born on November 26, 1883, in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. This union marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, setting the stage for her fateful journey across the Atlantic.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Selena on the Titanic?

Selena boarded the Titanic at Southampton with the intention of visiting her mother, who had emigrated to Manhattan in 1911. She traveled as a second-class passenger, holding ticket number 14266, which cost £10 10s.

Onboard Experience

During the voyage, Selena shared cabin F-33 with three other women:

Interestingly, Selena was nursing a toothache throughout the journey, adding a personal touch of discomfort to her Titanic experience.

The Night of the Disaster

How did Selena survive the Titanic sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, when the Titanic struck the iceberg, Selena played a crucial role in saving lives. She urgently woke her cabin mate Amelia Brown, who was reluctant to get up despite warnings from their cabin neighbor George Swane and other roommates. Selena’s persistence, exclaiming that Amelia must be the only person still in bed on the entire ship, finally roused her companion to action.

Selena was rescued in lifeboat 14, securing her place among the Titanic survivors.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Selena’s life?

The sinking of the Titanic had both immediate and long-lasting effects on Selena’s life:

Loss of funds: Selena lost £250 in cash intended for her mother in the sinking.
Memento: She kept the tooth extracted after the disaster as a lifelong reminder.
Relocation: With help from the Titanic Relief Committee, Selena settled in Pennsylvania.
Family life: Her husband Arthur joined her in America, where they had a daughter, Gladys, in 1913.

Career and Community Involvement

Selena became an active member of her community in Pennsylvania:

Officer in the Daughters of the King organization
Active member of her local church
Participated in the local history society

Did the Titanic deter Selena from further sea travel?

Surprisingly, the Titanic disaster did not discourage Selena from sailing. She and Arthur made numerous cruises and visited England at least twice, including a trip on the Aquitania in 1922.

Legacy and Final Years

Selena Cook’s legacy extends beyond her Titanic survival:

In 1953, she attended a special screening of Fox’s “Titanic” film alongside other survivors.
She passed away on September 12, 1964, at the age of 74 (seventy-four) in Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Her personal effects were later donated to the Titanic Historical Society, preserving her connection to this historic event.

A Remarkable Family Connection

“A young relative of hers, Doris May Punchard (b. 19 July 1904) of Ipswich, Suffolk recalled Selina travelling on Titanic and the anxious wait for news about her. Doris went on to become one of Britain’s oldest living people before her death on 12 August 2015 aged 111.”

This connection highlights the far-reaching impact of the Titanic disaster on families and how the memory of the event persisted through generations.