Violet Jessop - Who gave her the baby in the lifeboat?

[Melinda R]

I am researching Violet Jessop and have a question. In Titanic Tragedy by John Maxtone Graham, p138, he writes that James Moody, TItanic's sixth officer saw VIolet and called out, "Here, Jessop, take this child." In her own autobiography, Titanic Survivor, p. 132, Violet says that "young Mason hailed me and held up something, calling as he prepared to throw it, "Look after this, will you?" and Violet reached out and took a baby.The only two "Mason" names on the ship were Frank Robert Mason (32), a fireman who survived, and J. Mason (39), a fireman who died. It appears that crew members used last names when hailing a fellow crew member's.
My question would a fireman be helping load the lifeboats and especially #16 that Violet Jessop got in. In other words, who actually handed a baby to Violet? John Maxtone Graham edited Violet Jessop's book, TItanic Survivor, could he have made a mistake?

Thanks for any insight into this.
Godspeed!

Melinda

 

[Thomas Krom]

I am researching Violet Jessop and have a question. In Titanic Tragedy by John Maxtone Graham, p138, he writes that James Moody, TItanic's sixth officer saw VIolet and called out, "Here, Jessop, take this child." In her own autobiography, Titanic Survivor, p. 132, Violet says that "young Mason hailed me and held up something, calling as he prepared to throw it, "Look after this, will you?" and Violet reached out and took a baby.The only two "Mason" names on the ship were Frank Robert Mason (32), a fireman who survived, and J. Mason (39), a fireman who died. It appears that crew members used last names when hailing a fellow crew member's.
My question would a fireman be helping load the lifeboats and especially #16 that Violet Jessop got in. In other words, who actually handed a baby to Violet? John Maxtone Graham edited Violet Jessop's book, TItanic Survivor, could he have made a mistake?

Thanks for any insight into this.
Godspeed!

Melinda

Miss Jessop changed a number of names of both the passengers she served and the crewmembers she served along with in her 1931 written account.

'Young Mason' was a pseudonym for none other than sixth officer James Paul Moody, Jessop told as such to John Maxtone-Graham, who provided more information on it in a later book named 'Titanic Tragedy':

“That civilized tenor was disrupted by the arrival of a steerage woman who had clambered up from the after well deck. She was carrying a baby. Although she spoke a language no one understood, it was clear that she feared for her child’s life. Hysterical with grief, she put the baby down on a coil of rope that would shortly be used to lower lifeboat No.16 to the water and disappeared. James Moody, Titanic’s sixth officer, responsible for loading boats nos. 16 and 14, picked up the infant and, spying Violet among the boat’s occupants, called out, “Here, Jessop take this child.” She did om wrapping it in the quilt she had provincially brought for one of “her passengers”; this was not one of hers but clearly a passenger in need. Keeping the baby wrapped in quilt she not only kept it warm but also protected it from the sharp cork blocks of her lifejacket. Violet clutched the infant lightly throughout the remainder of that bitter night.”

 

[Melinda R]

Thank you so much, Thomas. I knew there had to be a logical reason just wanted to double-check. Violet is so fascinating and after reading her book I have even more respect for her and her editor, John. Sadly both are gone but certainly not forgotten.

 

[Thomas Krom]

Thank you so much, Thomas. I knew there had to be a logical reason just wanted to double-check. Violet is so fascinating and after reading her book I have even more respect for her and her editor, John. Sadly both are gone but certainly not forgotten.

They were both remarkable people. About two years ago I attempted to identify some of the more unknown unidentified passengers and crewmembers in her accounts. For example who 'Ann Turnbull' was or 'Old Matthew', ETC.

 

[Melinda R]

The 20th chapter of Violet's book has a beginning section written by John. Upon rereading it, I remembered that I thought Ann Turnbull had to be Elizabeth Mary Leather, i.e., an example of Violet's wit—a bull can be turned into leather.

 

[Thomas Krom]

The 20th chapter of Violet's book has a beginning section written by John. Upon rereading it, I remembered that I thought Ann Turnbull had to be Elizabeth Mary Leather, i.e., an example of Violet's wit—a bull can be turned into leather.

You're right with her being Leather, as according to John he named her cabinmate 'Elizabeth' when talking to him prior to her death.