To all,
The story of Charles Joughin being drunk is not an absolute fabrication. The level of his intoxication, however, is subject to debate and will never be known with any degree of certainty. I only believe Joughin exaggerated the amount of time he spent in the water but who was counting minutes in a fight for survival? It must have seemed like an eternity to him in those frigid waters. I'm sure he wasn't checking his watch as he struggled for life immediately after stepping off the stern.
I know several of his descendants who live within miles of my home and ALL have told me the story of how Joughin (pronounced "Jockin") was drinking during the sinking. He even told his great-niece that he sat in his cabin an hour before the sinking and had a few drinks contemplating his fate. He and some of his fellow shipmates had made a makeshift distillery in an area of the ship where they all usually imbibed during their off-duty hours. It was an open secret. He told
Walter Lord the same thing during their correspondence during the 1950s.
Walter Lord even told me of some of the conservations he had with Joughin in 1955 when I visited Walter's apartment in 1996. Sadly, Joughin had died by the time A NIGHT TO REMEMBER film was released in 1958. In Joughin's own testimony before the British Inquiry, he indicated that he had been drinking prior to his heading to the boat deck for the final time. His family wonders what he would have thought of his visual portrayal in all of the Titanic films. He was able to read
Walter Lord's book the year before he died and wrote to Walter that everything that he been written about him was true and thanked Walter for including his entire story within one chapter of the book.
I seldom post to this forum anymore but couldn't resist clarifying points that I believe to be true regarding Joughin's survival. One contributor a few years back made the declaration that Joughin had never even made it to
collapsible B but rather had left in a regular lifeboat (I believe #10). That person seemed to forget that fellow crew member Maynard confirmed that he held onto Joughin's hand as he clung to
collapsible B after the Titanic sank.
The films that depicted Joughin 's level of intoxication were somewhat overdramatized, in my opinion. However, I find it difficult to understand why some researchers dismiss some accounts and act as the final arbiters of someone's testimony when none of them of them were even there. So many have been 'experts" following the 1997 film and from research done by the computers. Theories are one thing and can be discussed but ironclad dismissals are not. Out of Joughin's own mouth came the declaration that he had been drinking that night, and he told his family that he had done so. He was always known in the family as a "drinker" even in his later years. He told his family that while he had been drinking, he was still able to save himself which might suggest he was only slightly "tipsy" rather than "stone cold drunk." Even if he lied to the inquiry, what objective did he have to relate the same details to his family? Many researchers also claim that he came out of the water unscathed when the fact is that both of his feet and lower legs suffered from extreme frostbite. He somehow recovered but always suffered from the effects of his immersion in the water in the last years of his life where he had difficulty walking without the aid of a cane.
As an aside, I am one of the directors of Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson, New Jersey where Charles Joughin was laid to his final rest in 1956. We also have three
Carpathia passengers who were present during the rescue also within our cemetery, as well as two Morro Castle survivors. Despite having a Vice-President of the United States, in addition to a former U.S. Attorney-General and several New Jersey governors also buried in our cemetery, the number one grave that more visitors come into our office to inquire about is Charles Joughin! Jougin's grave is always well tended and flowers and other poignant momentos are left by complete strangers honoring his memory and remarkable survival of the sinking. I think he would be pleased and proud that future generations would remember him so affectionately.
These are just my two cents since I happen to much more familiar with Joughin's story since he was one of our local survivors and his family have been so kind in relating stories and sharing information on this extraordinary man.
Arun Vajpey - as an aside, I recently came across some correspondence from the late Persus McMillan, the granddaughter and niece of Percival and Richard White. I remember you had expressed interest in these two gentlemen and I had accumulated a huge pile of information and photos when I visited Winchendon Springs, MA several years ago. If you are still interested, I would be happy to share whatever I find in the White file.
Best regards to all.
M
