Mr Vincenz Kink

Who was Vincenz Kink?

Mr Vincenz Kink was a 26 (twenty-six) year-old Austrian-Swiss magazineer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on July 25, 1885, in Mahrensdorf, Austria, Kink was a third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, embarking on a journey that would ultimately lead to his untimely demise.

Early Life and Background

Family Tragedy and Relocation

Vincenz Kink’s early life was marked by personal loss:

His father, Vinzenz Kink-Hofer, passed away shortly after the birth of Vincenz’s sister Maria in 1889
In May 1911, their mother also died
Following these losses, Vincenz and his sister Maria Kink moved to Zürich, Switzerland, to live with their brother Anton Kink

This series of events set the stage for the Kink family’s decision to emigrate to America, a choice that would ultimately lead them to book passage on the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

How did Vincenz Kink come to be on the Titanic?

Vincenz Kink boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger, accompanied by his relatives. Their destination was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they hoped to start a new life. Kink purchased his ticket from the agent Kaiser & Cie. in Basel, Switzerland, for the following amount:

Currency	Amount
Swiss Francs	340
British Pounds	£8 13s 3d

His ticket number was 315151, and he was assigned to cabin (E)58 on F-Deck, located towards the bow of the ship.

Who were Vincenz Kink’s cabin mates?

Kink shared his cabin with several other passengers:

His brother, Anton Kink
Albert Wirz
Josef Arnold
Leo Zimmermann
An unknown man from Bohemia (likely Wenzel Linhart)

The Night of the Disaster

What happened to Vincenz Kink when the Titanic struck the iceberg?

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Vincenz Kink’s life took a dramatic turn:

He was awakened by the collision with the iceberg
Kink quickly ran out of his cabin and up four decks to the well deck
His brother Anton followed him, and they both clearly saw the iceberg
They returned to their cabin to dress, pack, and put on life preservers as water began pouring in
While making their way up through the ship, Vincenz Kink became separated from his brother in the crowd

“On their way up, Vinzenz Kink was lost in the crowd.”

This separation would prove to be the last time Anton saw his brother alive.

Fate and Legacy

What was Vincenz Kink’s fate?

Tragically, Vincenz Kink did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He became one of the many victims of the disaster, with his body never being identified if it was recovered at all.

How was Vincenz Kink’s death compensated?

In the aftermath of the tragedy:

As Vincenz left no living relatives except his brother Anton, a compensation of 262.50 Swiss Francs was awarded
Additionally, Anton received £30 from the Lord Mayor’s Fund

The Kink Family’s Titanic Connection

The Titanic disaster had a profound impact on the Kink family:

Vincenz Kink perished in the sinking
His sister Maria Kink also did not survive
His brother Anton Kink managed to survive
Anton’s wife Luise Kink-Heilmann and their daughter Luise Gretchen Kink-Heilmann also survived the disaster

This tragic event left an indelible mark on the family, with Vincenz and Maria’s lives cut short just as they were embarking on a new chapter in America.

Vincenz Kink’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger disaster of the Titanic. His journey from Austria to Switzerland and finally aboard the Titanic encapsulates the hopes and dreams of many immigrants of his time, tragically cut short by one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.