Francis Browne's Dinner Companions

[RonJF2]

I have read Father Brownes' account that his dinner companions offered to pay for his voyage if he would stay on from Queenstown. He messaged his Church and they told him in no uncertain terms to get off at Queenstown. Do we have any idea what passengers made him the offer? I find very interesting that they would do that and that Browne must have been quite the personable dining companion for them to offer to pay for the entire voyage. Does anyone have any idea who made this offer?

Regards,

Ron

 

[RonJF2]

Hey my old friend @Arun Vajpey do you have any knowledge on this? This baffles me. Browne must have been well liked to get an offer for a free passage. Do we have any idea who the benefactors could have been?

 

[Arun Vajpey]

Of course, the person who paid for Father Browne's 2-day First Class ticket up to Queenstown was his paternal uncle Robert Browne, who was the father figure after his father died while Francis was in his teens (his mother had died due to complications after Francis was born).

As for the couple who offered his a free return passage if he remained on board, they are only mentioned as "American Millionaires", of which there were many on board. A wild guess would be that they might have been people with an Irish Catholic background, but that doesn't really help.

Fr Browne was in Cabin A-37 and if he had "befriended" this American couple within a timeframe of less than 24 hours for them to offer him a free passage, they must have been dining table companions. I think @Thomas Krom might know who they might have been.

 

[Thomas Krom]

When time allows it, I’ll find the full quote and try to find any matches. Considering this dinner took place on the 10th of April we can exclude all passengers that boarded the Titanic in Cherbourg and Queenstown, as they wouldn’t have dined that night. I can only say so far that if we look at American couples that boarded in Southampton we got 20 different couples to look into.

 

[Arun Vajpey]

Considering this dinner took place on the 10th of April we can exclude all passengers that boarded the Titanic in Cherbourg and Queenstown, as they wouldn’t have dined that night. I can only say so far that if we look at American couples that boarded in Southampton we got 20 different couples to look into.

But Titanic reached Cherbourg in the early evening of 10th April 1912, the same day it sailed out of Southampton. Quite a few American millionaires got on board then; surely they would have dined on board later that night?

But I admit that there might not have been enough time for Father Browne to befriend a Cherbourg boarding couple, unless it was across the dining table itself......which is possible. They might have continued their conversation over goblets of port afterwards in the lounge.

 

[Thomas Krom]

But Titanic reached Cherbourg in the early evening of 10th April 1912, the same day it sailed out of Southampton. Quite a few American millionaires got on board then; surely they would have dined on board later that night?

It's widely believed that the passengers boarding in Cherbourg had a dinner ashore prior to the departing of the SS Nomadic. To cite Margaret Brown's account in the Newport Herald (published on the 28th and 29th of April):

On boarding the vessel, the greater number of passengers immediately sought their staterooms. The bugle for dinner sounded a half-hour later, but it was unsuccessful in calling forth many to its magnificent dining room. The electric heater and warm covering were found too comfortable to be deserted even for the many-course dinner, even at the craving of the inner man.

I'll try to find it, but I also remember reading an account that dinner was already being served when the Nomadic loaded off her passengers.

 

[Arun Vajpey]

Would the First Class passengers gave foregone the sumptuous Titanic fare and dined ashore so early?

Even if "Father Browne's couple" had a late afternoon meal, IMO they would have had cocktails and supper later on board the Titanic IF they had boarded at Cherbourg.

 

[Mark VII]

The question of whether guests dined onboard after embarking in Cherbourg seems to be answered by Father Browne himself. From the two travelogues he wrote—see the book Father Browne's Titanic Album—it appears that the bugle sounded the call to dinner at 7:32 while Browne was bidding farewell to passengers disembarking in Cherbourg. When he sat down to dinner with seven others, they saw the newly arrived passengers passing by in the lobby. From this description it seems unlikely that the new passengers joined for dinner. So it's very likely that the mysterious American millionaire couple boarded with Browne in Southampton.

After the disaster, Browne corresponded with passengers he had met on Titanic, and he kept all the letters he received from them, according to O'Donnell (p. 119). If the mysterious American millionaire couple had survived the disaster, we would likely know their names through a letter in Browne's collection or from the press. In the absence of such evidence, we must fear that the couple went down with the ship.

But maybe these assumptions helps to narrow down the group of couples who dined with Browne on April 10?

 

[Thomas Krom]

After the disaster, Browne corresponded with passengers he had met on Titanic, and he kept all the letters he received from them, according to O'Donnell (p. 119). If the mysterious American millionaire couple had survived the disaster, we would likely know their names through a letter in Browne's collection or from the press.

Did O'Donnell name some of the passengers he remained in touch with at all?

In the absence of such evidence, we must fear that the couple went down with the ship.

Only one American couple in first class died that boarded in Southampton, those being Ida and Isidor Straus who were noted philanthropists in their old days. While I can't rule them out I have to look into other options too first.

 

[Arun Vajpey]

This is quite a little mystery, interesting in its own way.

From the two travelogues he wrote—see the book Father Browne's Titanic Album—it appears that the bugle sounded the call to dinner at 7:32 while Browne was bidding farewell to passengers disembarking in Cherbourg. When he sat down to dinner with seven others, they saw the newly arrived passengers passing by in the lobby. From this description it seems unlikely that the new passengers joined for dinner. So it's very likely that the mysterious American millionaire couple boarded with Browne in Southampton.

Thanks. That proves that Father Browne was already at dinner when the Cherbourg Americans boarded and yes, I now agree that it seems likely that the mysterious couple - Father Browne's potential benefactors - had indeed already boarded in Southampton. The newcomers would not have had time to meet the photographer, find out about his work and make their offer. Unless of course, you want to consider my suggestion that it was later that Wednesday night over cocktails in the lounge or another First Class public room.

Only one American couple in first class died that boarded in Southampton, those being Ida and Isidor Straus who were noted philanthropists in their old days. While I can't rule them out I have to look into other options too first.

Yes, but considering the social norms of those times, would an elderly and somewhat reserved Jewish couple have joined a group of 6 others that included an Irish Jesuit Priest? Possible of course, but to me it seems a bit unlikely so soon in the voyage.

Also, Isidor Straus had a distinctive appearance and was well known as the owner of Macy's. If it had been the Strauses that extended that invitation to Father Browne, IMO he would have remembered and named them.

There is one other (rather remote) possibility. Father Browne was an avid photographer and it is possible that this American couple had met him ashore before the Titanic departed from Southampton. Or, saw him taking photographs of the near collision with the New York while the ship was still in Southampton and used the incident as a reason to strike-up a conversation. In that case, it could even have been the Strauses.

 

[Sam Brannigan]

I wonder could the mystery couple have been the Allisons?

Hudson was a fervent Methodist and a lay preacher, his family boarded at Southampton and he, his wife and infant daughter perished in the disaster.

Perhaps their shared, heightened faith created an instant rapport?

 

[Arun Vajpey]

I wonder could the mystery couple have been the Allisons?

I think it is possible, although the Allisons were Canadians rather than Americans. With Alice Cleaver there to take care of baby Trevor, Hudson and Bess, with little Loraine in tow, could have joined Father Browne for dinner; others (Canadians?) might have been at the same table, explaining the "group of seven" with Fr Browne.

Moreover, if it had been the Allisons. there might have been reasons behind their offer of the return trip to Father Browne. They were completing a new house for which they had purchased expensive furniture in England before departure, as well as 2 dozen Scottish horses and mares for his stock farm. I think the animals were travelling by other means, but all that would have been of photographic interest and the devoutly Christian Allisons might also have seen it as a good omen if the photographer had been a priest, who could then have blessed the new house and acquisitions.

 

[Mark VII]

Did O'Donnell name some of the passengers he remained in touch with at all?

Only one American couple in first class died that boarded in Southampton, those being Ida and Isidor Straus who were noted philanthropists in their old days. While I can't rule them out I have to look into other options too first.

In the letters section of the book, the following surnames are mentioned, with O’Donnell explaining that he only selected a few:

• G.T. Noel, Finisterre, France
• L. Odell, Stiek House, Lime Regis, Dorset
• R.W. May, Gresham Road, Brixton, S.W.

Mr. May is the brother of Mrs. Odell and the uncle of Jack Odell.

In a letter dated 20 April 1912, R.W. May wrote to Browne:
"[…] do you happen to know the names of the lady and gentleman at your left at the table and whether they are among the saved?” (p. 119).

This suggests that Browne dined at the same table as his fellow cross-channel passenger Richard May, who was very likely accompanied by the other members of his traveling group: Lily Odell, Stanley May, Jack Odell, and Kate Odell. This leaves only two empty seats at the table for eight. Judging by May’s letter, those seats appear to have been occupied by our mystery couple.

It would make logistical sense if this couple included another cross-channel passenger, Mrs. Nichols, who was traveling with a colleague of her late husband, Richard William Smith. Mrs. Nichols disembarked at Queenstown, so it is possible that she and Mr. Smith asked Browne over dinner to keep Mr. Smith company on the third leg of the maiden voyage. Smith perished when the ship sank, which could explain why this trace went cold.

Another piece of circumstantial evidence supporting this theory is a portrait Browne took on the morning of 11 April. The photograph shows a “couple,” who, as some speculate, could be Mrs. Nichols and Mr. Smith (although this is debated). Considering the very friendly expressions of the pair, they must have been acquainted with Browne. Furthermore, Browne—like many amateur photographers—did not appear to take portraits of people he hadn’t previously interacted with.

This brings me to another point that may be helpful to this thread's topic: the portrait of the “couple” is a double exposure, meaning Browne accidentally exposed the same negative twice, likely forgetting to wind the film to the next frame. Based on my collection of popular cameras from the era, such mistakes were easily made.

The second exposure appears to be a photograph of Mrs. Charlotte Cardeza’s suite. Contrary to claims made by some sources, this photograph could only have been taken after Cardeza boarded in Cherbourg, as the other exposure was also taken on the morning of 11 April. The scene in the photo and the focal length of an average lens from the 1910s suggest that Browne was inside the suite, rather than taking a candid shot from the corridor. It seems unlikely that Browne would have photographed someone else’s cabin without being invited in. So perhaps he befriended Cardeza in the lounge after dinner, while “listening to the White Star orchestra playing the Tales of Hoffmann and Cavalleria Rusticana selections […]” (p. 101).

Cardeza formed a “couple” with her son so she could be another answer to our little quest, although I find the theory about Ms Nichols and Mr Smith more likely!

 

[Arun Vajpey]

In a letter dated 20 April 1912, R.W. May wrote to Browne:
"[…] do you happen to know the names of the lady and gentleman at your left at the table and whether they are among the saved?” (p. 119).

This suggests that Browne dined at the same table as his fellow cross-channel passenger Richard May, who was very likely accompanied by the other members of his traveling group: Lily Odell, Stanley May, Jack Odell, and Kate Odell. This leaves only two empty seats at the table for eight. Judging by May’s letter, those seats appear to have been occupied by our mystery couple.

That sounds logical and I agree. The fact that Father Browne was seated with several other people on his only night on board the Titanic strongly suggests that they were mostly fellow cross-channel passengers and logic dictates that they were those whom you have mentioned.

I also agree that the two remaining seats were taken by the 'mystery couple' the OP has asked about. Quite a few accounts including the one on Wikipedia say that they couple were seated at Fr Browne's dinner table, an ideal place for the sort of invitation that they extended to him.

It would make logistical sense if this couple included another cross-channel passenger, Mrs. Nichols, who was traveling with a colleague of her late husband, Richard William Smith. Mrs. Nichols disembarked at Queenstown, so it is possible that she and Mr. Smith asked Browne over dinner to keep Mr. Smith company on the third leg of the maiden voyage.

This part I respectfully but strongly disagree. I have seen a few accounts about the couple who invited Father Browne to remain on board and common factors include that were 'Americans' and invited him as a couple. Richard Smith and Emily Nichols were British, not a couple in the conventional sense and the latter was going to disembark in Queenstown along with Fr Browne. Therefore, it makes no sense that Smith alone invited him to remain. Finally, the Irish Fr Browne would never have mistaken English people for Americans.

But the crucial point is the fact that Richard May did not know the couple who were seated to Fr Browne's left, which was what prompted him to ask if Browne knew who they were. If Mrs Nichols had been the lady, May would have known a fellow cross-channel passenger for certain.

Another piece of circumstantial evidence supporting this theory is a portrait Browne took on the morning of 11 April. The photograph shows a “couple,” who, as some speculate, could be Mrs. Nichols and Mr. Smith (although this is debated).

Precisely. There is no evidence that they were Mrs Nichols and Mr Smith; even if they had been, that's not proof that they were either seated at Fr Browne's table the previous night or that they invited him to remain.

I also do not believe that Fr Browne would have referred to the mother & son pair of Mrs and Mr Cardeza as a "couple"; in any era that would have been inappropriate and a man of the cloth would never have said that.

The more I think about it, the more I like @Sam Brannigan's suggestion that the "American" couple were really Canadians, Hudson & Bess Allison.