RMS Titanic Book 2

Marie Grice Young

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January 5th, 1876 - July 27th, 1959

She is a Capricorn.

Marie Grice Young was born in Washington, DC to Samuel Grice Young, a U.S. customs clerk (born 1845), and Margaret Brown Wilson (born 1848), both natives of Washington who were married in January 16th, 1873. She had an elder brother, Wilson (April 25th, 1874). The family were politically well-connected as her paternal aunt Mary Grice Young was the wife of Alexander Robley Shepard, a former governor of the District of Columbia. The 1880 census shows the family, who were Roman Catholics, as residents of Columbia Heights in Brooklyn, New York. Marie was educated in convert schools and completed instructions in music studies.

Marie's father worked in the Treasury Department as a young man before moving to Mexico where he had interests in mining and where he made his fortune. He was a gifted songwriter and baritone vocalist and became prominent in Washington MJ social circles, often showcasing his talents in solo or group performances in his local community where he was also part of a choral society. That life came to an abrupt end around 1891 where he fell from a streetcar in Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington and sustained head injuries. Those injuries apparently altered his mental health and he was committed to an insane asylum for a short while but later discharged.

Soon after his discharged he sank into a depression and morbid state and started drinking heavily, his behavior becoming objectionable, in contrast to his former upstanding character. On December 8th, 1898 he attempted suicide at his home—N Street northwest—by ingesting laudanum. Although his attempt failed and he survived, his mental health was again called into question and he was declared insane and again committed to an asylum (A/N: Somehow I don't think sending suicidal people to a INSANE ASYLUM is a very bright idea......). During his latest institutionalization, Young became a clerk to the institute itself and may have been appeared to have been improving, with local media stating that he was again acting as a choirmaster.

During a short leave of absence he travelled in Baltimore and signed in as a guest at the Hotel Rennert in that city where, on December 19th, 1901, he was found unconscious by hotel staff. He had made a 2nd attempt at suicide again by drinking laudanum, but this time he was unable to be resuscitated. He was buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington. When Marie appeared on the 1910 census she was a lodger at Q Street in Washington and was described as an unmarried music teacher. Having inherited her father's musical talent, Marie was a gifted pianist and taught young and old alike, tutoring the children of President Theodore Roosevelt among her pupils. Marie recalled how President Roosevelt, like any dutiful father, attended one of the recitals she gave her classes and how he listened with parental pride as Archie Roosevelt pounded out "Over The Waves", whilst Ethel read from her music because "she never could memorize".

Marie remained devoted to Maggie, with whom she lived, and and they often holidayed together. Maggie died following a long illness on February 21st, 1910 and was buried in Washington's Oak Hill Cemetery. Whilst recuperating in Atlantic City from the loss of her mother, Marie came into the acquaintance of Ella Holmes White, a meeting which she later said that she was sure her guardian Angel had arranged.

Aboard Titanic/April 14th-15th, 1912:
By 1912 Marie had become a long-term companion to Ella. Ella, a wealthy widow, had a brief and childless marriage and divided her time between her apartment in Briarcliff Manor, New York and at a sumptuous apartment at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Marie spent much of her time at both, and essentially, the 2 women lived together as well as travelling with each other; the pair often hosted joint parties. Following an extended winter vacation in Rome, Marie and Ella decided to travel back to New York City in 1912.

They boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg as 1st class passengers on April 10th, 1912, joined by Ella's maid Nellie Bessatte and manservant Sante Righini. Whilst in Europe, Marie and Ella had purchased some expensive poultry and brought the chickens aboard the ship which were stowed with the cargo. Each day Marie, accompanied by John Hall Hutchinson, went below decks to check on her purchases and as a reward for his service Marie tipped John with some gold coins to which he exclaimed "It's such good luck to receive some gold on a first voyage." Also aboard Marie was delighted to be joined by some of her acquaintances from Washington however she was compelled to write to President Taft contradicting reports that she knew or conversed with Major Archibald Butt on the Titanic.

Ella recalled that after the collision she, Marie, Sante, and Nellie went up to A-deck of their own volition, waiting inside the lobby to hear of any news. Captain Smith came sweeping down the staircase, ordering the passengers gathered to fetch their lifebelts, which they did, before ascending to the boat deck. Marie, Ella, Nellie departed in lifeboat 8, fairly early in the proceedings, although Ella stated she was in the last lifeboat to a hungry media. Telling of her experiences shortly after:

"The last person to whom I spoke on board the Titanic was 'Archie' Butt and his good, brave face smiling at me from the deck of the steamer was the last I could distinguish as the boat I was in pulled away from the steamer's side."

"When he had carefully wrapped me up he stepped upon the gunwale of the boat and, lifting his hat, smiled down at me." 'Good bye, Miss Young,' he said, bravely and smilingly. 'Luck is with you. will you kindly remember me to all the folks back home?'"

"Then he stepped to the deck of the steamer and the boat I was in was lowered to the water. It was the last boat to leave the ship; of this I am perfectly certain. And I know that Iwas the last of those who were saved to whom 'Archie" Butt spoke."

"As our boat was lowered and left the side of the steamer, 'Archie' still was standing at the rail, looking down at me. His hat was raised and the same old, genial, brave smile was on his face. The picture he made as he stood there, hat in hand, brave and smiling was one that will always linger in my memory." — The Buffalo Courier, April 20th, 1912

Seemingly situated at the stern of the lifeboat, close to the Countess of Rothes who was at the tiller, they sat close to Margaret Swift, Marion Kenyon, and Dr. Alice Leader. Reportedly with only a coat on over her nightclothes, Marie suffered from the cold and years later would comment ruefully:

"You might add," she continued with a chuckle, "that my only costume from Sunday night when the Titanic went down until Wednesday when we arrived in New York was a flimsy negligee." — Evening Recorder, February 12th, 1955

After The Sinking/Later Life/Death:
After their arrival in New York aboard the RMS Carpathia, Marie left for Ella's home at Briarcliff to recuperate. She later wrote at account of her experiences that was printed in the National Magazine. Marie and Ella remained extremely close, living together for many years at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel until 1929 when that building was raised to make way for the Empire State Building. They then moved into an equally luxurious apartment at the Plaza Hotel and where they appeared on the 1940 census. They continued to travel together, both in the USA and further afield, their international destinations including Switzerland, Netherlands, Britain, Italy, and France.

Marie's 1922 passport describes her as standing at 5'6 and with Brown eyes, grey hair, a round face with a large mouth, high forehead and a retroussé (upturned) nose. When Ella died in 1942, Marie was left her personal possessions and an annuity. Marie remained in an apartment in Manhattan for a few years until the mid-1950's where she moved into the Mount Loretto Convalescent and Rest Home in Amsterdam, New York to be closer to her only surviving family, the descendants of her brother Wilson. Whilst there she spent her time reading, going on drives, and playing the piano, although the latter pursuit was curtailed on account of worsening arthritis in her hands and fingers.

Giving the occasional newspaper interview in her final years, Marie remained at the same convalescent home for the rest of her life and from where she continued to enjoy both her pursuits and a relative measure of good health. Marie died at the age of 83 on July 27th, 1959 and was later buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Westchester, New York. She was survived by a great-niece.

Sources:
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

Rest In Peace Marie Grice Young.