Taken from an unidentified New Britain, Connecticut newspaper, May 2, 1955

W. T. Sloper Wrote of Local Industry

William Thomson Sloper, 71, member of a prominent New Britain family, author, and one of the 711 survivors of the "Titanic" ship disaster in 1912, died unexpectedly yesterday morning at his home on the Chamberlain Highway in Kensington.
Born in this city, son of the late Andrew Jackson Sloper, a former president of New Britain National Bank, and Ella Thomson Sloper, he was a retired stock broker and manager of estates. Well-known in financial circles, Mr. Sloper was active in the investment brokerage business in New Britain and Hartford for some time.
Later he became a managing partner of Judd & Co. in New Britain, a private investment firm which in 1926 succeeded the former New York Stock Exchange firm of Judd & Co.
In November, 1949, "The Life and Times of Andrew Jackson Sloper" written by his son was placed on sale in local bookshops. Although the book was undoubtedly begun as a biography of A. J. Sloper, it centers more upon the memoirs of William Sloper and the history of New Britain manufacturing concerns and industrialists.
Occupying an important section of his book is Mr. Sloper's description of the "Titanic" sinking, which occurred on April 14, 1912 while the ship was on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York.
Twenty-eight years old at the time of the disaster, Mr. Sloper was returning from a three-months vacation in Europe. At the time the ship struck the iceberg, the local man was playing bridge with some newly acquired friends. Following instructions from the captain, the group appeared on deck and was offered the opportunity to get into the first lifeboat.
According to Mr. Sloper, he owed his life to Miss Dorothy Gibson, a former actress and one of his bridge companions, who got into the life boat and insisted that he join her. He pointed out that many persons aboard felt that the "Titanic" was "unsinkable" and therefore, did not want to leave the well lighted deck to set off into he dark waters in small boats.
A member of the First Baptist Church and the Sons of the American Revolution, Mr. Sloper served a term on the Common Council many years ago and was one of the organizers of the Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
He leaves a wife, Mrs. Helen Tallmadge Sloper; a half-brother, Erwin Sloper of Maine; several nieces and nephews.
Private funeral services will be held tomorrow at the B. C. Porter Sons Funeral Home, with the Rev. Heyward M. Foreman, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Friends have been asked by the family to omit flowers.