Maximilian Josef Frölicher-Stehli

Mr Maximilian ("Max") Josef Frölicher-Stehli, 61, was born on 24 September 1851.

In his youth he was employed by R. Stehli-Hausheer & Sohn and visited regularly New York. In 1884 he was promoted to a managing clerk.

On 5 September 1885 he married Margaretha ("Gritli") Emerentia Stehli, 21, the daughter of his employer Emil Stehli-Hirt.  Between 1886 and 1894 five children were born to the couple. They lived at "Villa Riesmatt" 6 Mittelstrasse, Zürich, Switzerland.

In 1892 he became a partner of the silk factory. 

In early 1912 he wanted to visit the dependancies in USA and Canada and also old friends. he booked for his wife, his daughter Hedwig Margaritha Frölicher and himself on the Titanic and bought ticket number 13567 from his agent: Im Obersteg & Co, Basel for 2100 Swiss francs (£79 4s).  They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, and occupied cabin B-41.

On Sunday evening, April 14 1912, Max Frölicher, Alfons Simonius and Max Staehelin sat in the first class smoke room and played cards till shortly after 11 pm. Around 11.30 pm they went to their staterooms.

Being in bed but not asleep he and his wife felt the collision and Max became concerned. Then, Max and his daughter, who came into her parent's room, dressed and ran up to A-Deck. They looked over the rails to see the iceberg. After a while, they went back to their cabins. Sometime later Max Frölicher rose his daughter and said that her mother had put on a life preserver, with the help of a steward, and she should do the same. The three then moved up to the boat deck. The women were helped into lifeboat 5 and shortly before the boat was lowered Max was also allowed to enter.

"While we were rowing away from the steamer, her lights still burning brightly, with the iceberg as a background, the scene was remarkable and fascinating. The steamer slowly sank, bow first. The water was covered with small boats and rafts.

"The Titanic sank until the forward half was submerged and then there was a loud crash. The lights went out. Others who left the boat after we did, say she broke in two.

"After the boat had sunk we began to search for food. There was nothing to eat in the lifeboats. We could not even find fresh water. Fortunately one of the gentlemen had some stimulants with him, which was given to the women."

On board of the Carpathia Maximilian Frölicher wrote three telegrams, the first to his parents-in-law Margaretha and Emil Stehli-Hirt:

Stehlihirt Zurich
All three save on bord Carpatia
Frölicher,

and:

Stehlihirt Newyork Greene Street
All three safe on bord Carpatia
Frölicher,

The first was transmitted at 6.52 pm on 18 April, the second at 7.6 pm.

In New York Maximilian Frölicher-Stehli was awaited by his son Max Frolicher and his brother-in-law Emil Stehli. He immediately went to business in that town, where he had a lot of friends, and where he had lived from 1876 until 1884.

On 6 May 1912, he travelled together with his son to Toronto and Montreal. After a week they were back in New York. They visited their company Stehli & Co.

The Frölichers returned to Europe on 21 May on board the Kronprinz Wilhelm.

Maximilian Josef Frölicher-Stehli suddenly died from heart failure on 22 November 1913. He was buried in the family grave at Enzenbühl cemetery, Zürich.