Spencer Victor Silverthorne

Who was Spencer Victor Silverthorne?

Spencer Victor Silverthorne was a Canadian-born first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic who survived the tragic sinking on April 15, 1912. Born on October 17, 1876, in Lobo, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, Silverthorne was a successful businessman in the retail industry and a frequent transatlantic traveler.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Spencer Silverthorne’s family like?

Spencer Silverthorne came from a large family with diverse roots:

• Parents: Daniel Silverthorne (1839-1928) and Elizabeth Johnson (1837-1881)
• Siblings: Four brothers and one sister
  • Arthur Herbert S. (b. 1868)
  • Bertie Augustus (1870-1933)
  • Isabel L. A. (b. 1873)
  • Ernest Lionel Vincent (1874-1966)
  • George Wesley (1879-1940)

After his mother’s death in 1881, his father remarried Hannah Elizabeth Angevine, adding five half-siblings to the family:

• Hugh D. (1891-1994)
• Katie L. (1893-1973)
• Guy Alfred (1895-1961)
• Roy Fairchild (1898-1963)
• Lucile Victoria (1901-1988)

How did Silverthorne’s early career develop?

Spencer Silverthorne’s career in retail began in his youth:

1. Appeared in the 1900 census as a dry goods clerk in Greenville, Michigan
2. Moved to Rochester, New York for work
3. Returned to Montcalm, Michigan and married Beulah Fowler on April 28, 1903
4. Settled in St. Louis, Missouri, working as a department store merchant
5. Became a buyer for Nugent’s department store in St. Louis

Titanic Journey

What brought Silverthorne to the Titanic?

Spencer Silverthorne boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger after a buying trip to Europe. His ticket (number 17475) cost £26 5s 9d, which he shared with Erik Lind. Silverthorne was assigned to cabin E24, which he shared with Edward Pennington Calderhead.

What was Silverthorne doing when the Titanic struck the iceberg?

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Silverthorne was in the first-class smoking room reading Owen Wister’s “The Virginian” when the collision occurred. His account of the events provides a vivid picture of the initial moments:

1. Felt the ship strike something
2. Went outside to investigate
3. Observed a giant iceberg passing astern with chunks of ice falling from it
4. Returned to inform others in the saloon about the collision

Survival and Rescue

How did Silverthorne survive the Titanic disaster?

Silverthorne’s survival story is both dramatic and controversial:

• He was instructed by an officer to go to the boat deck
• Arrived after lifeboat 7 had left
• Was told to board lifeboat 5 when no more women could be found
• Reluctantly entered the lifeboat, later stating: “Had we been in our rooms we would have had to stand aside, as the other men did then.”

An obituary claimed that Silverthorne had actually gone to bed after the collision, only to be awakened by another buyer who told him the ship was sinking. The same obituary also claimed that Silverthorne “made his way to the bow and jumped into the dark, icy water. He swam vigorously away to avoid the suction at the ship went down. Then he reached a half-empty lifeboat and was taken aboard.”

However, historical records confirm that Silverthorne was rescued with other first-class passengers in boat 5.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Silverthorne’s life?

After surviving the Titanic, Silverthorne:

1. Returned to America and continued working for Nugent’s
2. Became a widower when his wife Beulah died on November 19, 1913
3. Continued frequent transatlantic travel for business
4. Remarried around 1916 to Gertrude Odom (b. May 12, 1895)
5. Had two children: Spencer Victor Jr (1917-1962) and Mary Elizabeth (b. 1920)

What was Silverthorne’s career path after the Titanic?

Silverthorne’s career continued to flourish in the retail industry:

• 1918: Worked as a merchandiser for James H. McCreery & Co department store in New York
• Became vice president of James H. McCreery & Co
• Served as president of the Donaldson department store in Minneapolis
• Retired in 1935
• Also worked for the Associated Dry Goods Corporation and Allied Stores Inc

Final Years and Legacy

Spencer Victor Silverthorne died on May 17, 1964, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven) in his home at 7 Colvin Road, Scarsdale, New York. He was survived by his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth De Montanya, five grandchildren, and a brother. Silverthorne was laid to rest in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, Westchester, New York.

Throughout his life, Silverthorne demonstrated resilience and adaptability, from surviving one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters to building a successful career in the retail industry. His story serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of Titanic survivors and their ability to rebuild their lives in the wake of tragedy.