Mrs Tillie Taussig

Who was Mrs Tillie Taussig?

Mrs Tillie Taussig was a 39 (thirty-nine) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on December 18, 1872, in Manhattan, New York, she survived the tragic sinking of the ship on April 15, 1912. Tillie’s remarkable story of survival and her subsequent life make her a notable figure in the annals of Titanic history.

Early Life and Background

What was Tillie’s family background?

Tillie Taussig came from a German-Jewish immigrant family. Her parents, Herman Mandelbaum (1849-1933) and Rosa Weil (1849-1921), had immigrated to the United States in the 1860s from Kassel and Baden, respectively. Herman Mandelbaum worked as a tobacco merchant, providing a comfortable life for his family in New York City.

Tillie grew up with two siblings:

Sarah (1869-1948), who later married Max Dessavier
Blanche (b. 1883), who later married Gabriel Lang

The Mandelbaum family resided at 834 First Avenue, Manhattan, as recorded in the 1880 census.

When did Tillie get married?

On January 18, 1893, at the age of 20 (twenty), Tillie married Emil Taussig, a Bohemian-born son of a children’s clothing manufacturer. The couple had one child, a daughter named Ruth Taussig, born towards the end of 1893.

Titanic Journey

Why were the Taussigs on the Titanic?

The Taussig family boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton following a visit to Vienna. They traveled as first-class passengers, occupying cabin E67. Their joint ticket number was 110413, which cost £79 13s.

What happened on the night of the sinking?

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, the Taussigs were alerted to the danger by German steward Alfred Theissinger. According to Tillie’s account, published in the New York Times on April 22, 1912, the following events unfolded:

“When we came on deck… Capt. Smith was preparing the eighth boat to be let down. There was only one seaman in sight, but a number of stewards had rushed up between the crowding men and women. The Captain turned to the stewards and asked them if they knew how to row. They answered ‘Yes’ hastily, and four of them were allowed to jump in. Only twenty women were near the boat, and these were put in. My daughter Ruth was among the first, but I said that I wouldn’t go if my husband did not accompany me.”

Tillie’s account provides a vivid description of the chaos and heartbreak of that night. She was forcibly separated from her husband Emil Taussig and placed in lifeboat 8, striking her head as she was dropped into the boat. The lifeboat, which had room for more passengers, was lowered half-empty into the water.

Survival and Aftermath

How did Tillie survive the sinking?

Mrs Taussig and her daughter Ruth escaped in lifeboat 8, which was one of the first to be launched from the starboard side of the ship. Following her arrival in New York, Tillie stayed with her father, Herman Mandelbaum, at 1,229 Park Avenue.

What happened to Tillie after the Titanic disaster?

Five months after the disaster, while administering her late husband’s estate, Mrs Taussig made an unexpected discovery. She found some shares that had previously been thought worthless. These shares, belonging to the Engelhardt Collapsible Lifeboat Company, were sold for $2000, providing some financial relief during a difficult time.

Later Life and Travel

Did Tillie remarry?

Tillie found love again and remarried on February 14, 1920, to Morris Samuel, a clothing merchant and widower originally from Rochester, New York. The couple resided in various upscale locations in Manhattan, including:

305 West End Avenue (1921)
270 Park Avenue (mid-1920s)
Savoy Hotel on 5th Avenue (late 1920s to late 1930s)
East 58th Street (1940)

What were Tillie’s travel habits after the Titanic?

Morris and Tillie became avid globe-trotters, visiting an impressive array of destinations:

Europe: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain
Middle East: Palestine, Egypt, Turkey
North Africa: Algeria, Tunisia
Other: Hawaii, Gibraltar, Monaco

They frequently traveled on luxury ocean liners, appearing on passenger lists for ships such as:

Aquitania
Mauretania
Berengaria
Ile De France
Matsonia
Maui
Normandie
Leviathan

This extensive travel suggests that Tillie’s traumatic experience on the Titanic did not deter her from ocean voyages in later life.

Final Years

Tillie was widowed for a second time when Morris Samuel passed away on August 2, 1948. She lived for nearly another decade, passing away in Manhattan on June 17, 1957, at the age of 84 (eighty-four). Her final resting place is in the Samuel family Mausoleum at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Tillie Taussig’s life, spanning from the Gilded Age through the aftermath of World War II, was marked by both tragedy and resilience. Her survival of the Titanic disaster and her subsequent world travels serve as a testament to her enduring spirit and zest for life.