Mrs Rhoda Abbott

In history Rhoda have been known as Rosa, but both birth certificet and marriage licence prove that her name was Rhoda.

Rhoda was born in England 1873 and was 39 years old in 1912. She emigrated to America in 1894 and married a boxer in 1895. The couple had two sons, Rossmore and Eugene. But in 1911, Rhoda and her husband divorced. Rhoda left America with her two sons, sailing on the Olympic back to England. But they boys were homesick and Rhoda decided to return to America. And so they boarded Titanic as third class passangers in Southampton.

At the time of the collision, Rhoda and her sons had just fallen asleep. But they awoke hearing a terrible noice. The boys wanted to go up on deck to check it out, but Rhoda was doubtfull. She asked a steward what was the matter but was assured that everything was in order. And so Rhoda and her two sons went back to bed. But only moments later a steward stormed in and shouted "All passengers on deck with life jackets!". They dressed and put their lifebelts on. When out in the corridor they followed the crowd and joined a large group of third class passangers. They reached a gate where only women and children were allowed to pass through. Rhoda managed to get her two sons though the gate. When they finaly reached the boat deck, one of the last lifeboats were being lowerd. That was collapsible C. Only women and children were allowed and Rhoda knew that her sons would be left behind. When Rhoda was about to step into the boat, she turned back to join her sons.

Meanwhile, crewmen were trying to launch Collapsible A. Passangers was just about to board when Titanic made her plunge. All the people that was standing and waiting for the boat was washed away. This included Rhoda and her sons. Before they were swept away, Rhoda took her sons hands and tried to hold onto them. But they were lost. Rhoda stuggled for her own life in the water while she tried to locate her boys. She was just about to give up when she was pulled onto Collapsible A. At that time over twenty people had gatherd in or around the boat. And as the hours passed, more and more people died. Rhoda spent five hours with freezing water up to her hips. When officer Lowe arrived in lifeboat 14, only 13 people were alive on Collapsible A. Rhoda was among them, but nearly unconscious. Lead Fireman Thomas Threlfall cared for her until she was lifted onto Carpathia. I New York Rhoda was transported to a hospital where she became one of the last survivors to be discharged. She lived with respiratory problems for the rest of her life.

Rhoda suffered mentally for the rest of her life by the Titanic disaster and she was never was the same again. In december 1912 she married an old friend and they settled in England. After her husbands death she wished to return to America. But it during the war and she did not wish to travel during wartime. She died in 1946 - in England.

Credits:
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

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