Fr Browne's Titanic album republished

A treasure trove of magnificent memories, breathtaking photographs and intriguing letters from a passenger on the RMS Titanic - an updated edition of Fr Browne's Titanic voyage has been published.

In 1912, thanks to the gift of a ticket from his uncle, a young Jesuit priest named Frank Browne travelled on the Titanic during her maiden voyage from Southampton, to Cherbourg to Cork. A keen photographer, Fr Browne took many unique photographs of the ship and her passengers. Invited to remain with the ship as it crossed the Atlantic, Fr Browne was saved from possible disaster by a telegram from his Jesuit superior ordering him to 'get off that ship'. When the unthinkable happened and the Titanic sank, claiming over 1,500 lives, Fr Browne's photographs appeared on the front pages of newspapers all around the world and are considered to be a rare and precious account of that historical moment.

This striking volume relates the story of Fr Browne’s Titanic voyage, illustrated by photographs and memorabilia from his personal album – an invaluable archival treasure. The facsimile reproductions from this album, together with additional photographs, piece together the story of the great ship’s voyage from Southampton up to her departure from Queenstown, her final port of call before disaster struck.

Fr Browne’s first-hand account of his journey is included, along with some intriguing letters, such as correspondence from the White Star Line and from fellow passengers.

The foreword to this edition is by Dr Robert D Ballard, who discovered the wreckage in its resting place in 1985.

For many years the photographs of Fr Browne were forgotten until 1985 when Fr Eddie O'Donnell happened across an old tin trunk in the Jesuit archives and re-discovered 42,000 photographs, including the Titanic collection.

Fr Browne’s Titanic Album is available to buy on www.messenger.ie and in bookstores nationwide. 

Like on Facebook: The Father Browne Collection & Follow on Twitter: @FrBrowneSJ

 

Photos

 

1. GYMNASIUM TITANIC

 

 

The gentleman in white flannels is T W McCawley; the thirty-four-year-old ‘physical educator’ from Aberdeen. Another cross-channel passenger would years later recall McCawley as ‘rather strict in general with the passengers’ but that he softened his demeanour for the children on board. Under his charge is the room filled with the most modern gymnasium equipment available. Unlike many sterile gymnasia of today; the walls are white-painted pine; with an oak-panelled wainscotting. On the right is an illuminated glass painted map showing the routes of the White Star liners around the world.; The man in the far corner may look like he is enjoying riding the mechanical camel; but he likely considers himself hard at work. He is electrician William Parr; one of the representatives of Harland and Wolff shipbuilders travelling first-class for this maiden voyage. The electrically driven camel had received quite a workout from people touring the ship at Southampton; and William Parr may be ensuring that it continues to work properly. Both men would perish in the sinking; Mr Parr being survived by his wife of less than two years and a tiny baby. The final two words of Frank Browne’s caption (page 42) read: ‘Both lost’.

 

 

 

2. TITANIC DECKS

 

Taken from the aft end of A-deck; this photograph is looking forward towards the rear of the ship’s superstructure. On the deck above; a group of second-class passengers stare back at the camera. The Olympic and Titanic were unusual in that second-class passengers; who claimed the very aft end of the boat deck for their promenade space; could look down on first-class people; who had the entire A-deck to themselves. The next deck below is again second-class.; The sliding double doors lead into the starboard Verandah and Palm Court; which would become an unofficial playroom for the small children in first-class accommodation. To the right a small cargo crane is visible and the photographer’s reflection can be seen in the window directly in front of the camera.

 

 

 

3. TITANIC SPEDDEN

 

This photograph is taken from virtually the same location as the previous one. Frank Browne is facing starboard. In the centre is six-year-old Robert Douglas Spedden of Tuxedo Park; New York; spinning a top while his father; Frederic; watches.; Both father and son; together with Mrs Spedden and their two servants; would survive the sinking but Frederic’s photographs – taken with the camera seen here on shoulder-strap – did not. Three years later Robert would be struck and killed by a motor-car in Maine; USA; ironically a victim of modern transportation after all. In a similar irony; his father Frederic would later drown; suffering a heart attack in a swimming-pool in Florida in 1947.