📜 Voyage of the SS Carpathia: Prominent Passengers & Their Historic Legacies (1904)

 

📜 Explore the October 4, 1904, passenger list of the RMS Carpathia, featuring notable figures in politics, law, religion, and the arts. Discover the ship’s pre-Titanic rescue history and its significance in transatlantic travel. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts.

 

Front Cover, Cunard Line RMS Carpathia Cabin Class Passenger List - 4 October 1904.

Front Cover of a Cabin Passenger List for the SS Carpathia of the Cunard Line, Departing Tuesday, 4 October 1904 from New York to Liverpool, Commanded by Captain W. T. Turner. GGA Image ID # 13b7f2842e

 

🚢 The SS Carpathia Passenger List – October 4, 1904 📜

🔹 “Voyage of the SS Carpathia: Notable Passengers & Historic Significance”

The SS Carpathia, best known for rescuing Titanic survivors in 1912, was already an important transatlantic vessel long before that fateful night. This 1904 passenger list, covering its New York to Liverpool route, provides a snapshot of prominent travelers, including political figures, legal experts, scholars, religious leaders, and artists, making it a goldmine for genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts.

This document is more than just a list of names—it reflects a cross-section of early 20th-century society, showing how ships served as floating bridges between continents, cultures, and professions.

 

The Carpathia is renown as the first rescue ship of the Titanic. The survivors of the Titanic disaster were taken to New York on the Carpathia.

 

Photograph of the RMS Carpathia, 1903.

Photograph of the RMS Carpathia, 1903. GGA Image ID # 1748477e6f

 

Senior Officers and Staff

  1. Captain: W. T. Turner
  2. Surgeon: James Spencer
  3. Purser: W. M. Pitts
  4. Chief Steward: F. V. Jones
  5. Assistant Purser: T. Holland

 

Cabin Passengers

  1. Mr. Allsop
  2. Mrs. Allsop
  3. Miss Allsop
  4. Mrs. William A. Angus
  5. Miss Winifred Angus
  6. Mrs. A. F. Armstrong
  7. Master Erbin D. Armstrong
  8. Mr. P. Beckwith
  9. Mrs. P. Beckwith
  10. Mr. Arthur K. Bennett, M.D. (Note 1)
  11. Mr. M. Langdon Bird
  12. Mr. J. M. Bloom
  13. Mrs. J. M. Bloom and Infant
  14. Miss M. Bloom
  15. Miss D. Bloom and Nurse
  16. Mr. Mossom De G. Boyd
  17. Mr. G. Cust Boyd
  18. Mr. Lawrence C. Boyd
  19. Mr. W. W. Boyd
  20. Miss R. Brown
  21. Mr. W. J. Bryan
  22. Mr. F. C. Burgess
  23. Mr. Alfred Bindon (Note 2)
  24. Miss A. L. Couch
  25. Mr. H. Van Cuylenburg (Note 3)
  26. Mrs. H. Van Cuylenburg
  27. Mr. Samuel Dickson (Note 4)
  28. Mrs. Samuel Dickson
  29. Mrs. Horace Dow
  30. Mr. William B. Dowell
  31. Mr. H. Earle
  32. Miss Sarah Edwards
  33. Mr. Egan
  34. Rev. E. D. Eshoo
  35. Miss Susie Fackrell
  36. Mrs. J. Fox
  37. Mr. J. Fraser
  38. Miss Foster
  39. Miss M. Gawler
  40. Mr. Corrie Grant. M. P. (Note 5)
  41. Mrs. Corrie Grant
  42. Mr. Thomas Grealy
  43. Mr. John P. Hartford
  44. Mr. E. Carmen Harkness
  45. Miss Ruby K. Harkness
  46. Miss Isabella Herron
  47. Mr. C. Wentworth Hill
  48. Mrs. C. Wentworth Hill
  49. Miss Bertha Hoffmann
  50. Mr. A. Holborn
  51. Mr. Frank Heath
  52. Miss Jennie lrvino
  53. Mr. Robert Isherwood
  54. Count Bethlen Istvan (Note 6)
  55. Countess Bethlen Istvan
  56. Miss E. J. Jacob
  57. Mr. A. W. Juncker (Note 7)
  58. Dr. W. J. Keane
  59. Rev. C. A. Keare
  60. Miss Hannah Keneally
  61. Mr. William H. Kent (Note 8)
  62. Mr. Kirwan
  63. Mr. Thomas Lamb (Note 9)
  64. Mrs. C. B. Larzelere
  65. Mr. J. W. Leitch
  66. Mrs. J. W. Leitch
  67. Mr. Alfred Lowman
  68. Miss Harriet Lowry
  69. Mr. John F. Lyons
  70. Mrs. John F. Lyons
  71. Mr. G. T. Mackney
  72. Miss M. MacDonald
  73. Mrs. Matilda de Marsan
  74. Mr. W. H. Martin
  75. Mr. Joseph Maxfield
  76. Mr. Michael McGrath
  77. Dr. McGregor
  78. Mr. W. A. Mitchell
  79. Rev. Mulvany
  80. Miss Menzies
  81. Miss Annie McDonnell
  82. Mr. John C. Miller
  83. Mr. John J. Nagle
  84. Mr. V. S. Persons
  85. Miss Gertrude Quine
  86. Mr. Fred. R. Raven
  87. Mrs. Fred. R. Raven
  88. Mrs. A. J. Raven
  89. Miss A. M. Raven
  90. Miss Theodora Read
  91. Mrs. George E. Rees
  92. Miss Jennie M. Rees
  93. Mr. George Richardson
  94. Miss Alice Shepard
  95. Mr. C. T. Sigueland
  96. Mrs. Mary Smart
  97. Mr. A. Gerald Smith
  98. Mr. Leslie V. Smith
  99. Mr. William J. Smith
  100. Mrs. Margaret J. Smith
  101. Mr. Sz. Stankovits
  102. Mr. Starmer
  103. Mrs. Starmer
  104. Dr. E. S. Strout
  105. Mr. Sullivan
  106. Mr. E. C. Taylor
  107. Dr. S. J. Torney
  108. Miss Edith A. Townsend
  109. Rev. Francis Wall
  110. Miss Lillian Whish
  111. Miss Elizabeth Wild
  112. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson
  113. Miss M. E. Wilson
  114. Miss M. Wilson
  115. Rev. A. Woods

 

Notes About Passengers

  1. Mr. Arthur K. Bennett, M.D., Health Officer of Marquette, MI - Appointed in 1904 to serve as a Missionary in Arabia - Presbyterian Reformed Church
  2. Mr. Alfred Bindon (1870 - ) American, Returned to New York on the Etruria on 5 December 1904
  3. Member of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Brach) - Served on the General Committee of teh Ceylon Court
  4. Mr. Samuel Dickson (1837 - 28 May 1915) One of Philadelphia's Oldest and most widely known lawyers was a master in unraveling the tangled affairs of railroads that had gone into receivership
  5. Mr. Corrie Grant. M. P. (1850-1924) British Politician
  6. Count Bethlen Istvan (Oct. 8, 1874 - Oct. 5, 1946) statesman and Hungarian prime minister from 1921 to 1931, who maintained the old order in Hungary after World War I. In 1927 he signed a treaty with fascist Italy. From 1931 to 1935 he was leader of a conservative group in opposition. He resisted the Germans during World War II
  7. Mr. A. W. Juncker - Conductor, Organist
  8. Mr. William H. Kent - New York Lawyer
  9. Thomas White Lamb (1871 - 1942) was one of the foremost American theater and cinema architects in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is noted for designing New York's Ziegfeld Theatre, as well as Madison Square Garden. Lamb's architectural archive is held by the Drawings and Archives Department of Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University

 

Photograph of the SS Carpathia circa 1905.

Photograph of the SS Carpathia circa 1905. GGA Image ID # 17486441a9

 

🚢 The SS Carpathia: A Historic Ship

📌 Launched: August 6, 1902

📌 Operator: Cunard Line

📌 Voyage Date: October 4, 1904

📌 Route: New York ➝ Liverpool

📌 Ship’s Features:

Originally built as a mid-sized passenger liner, later modified to carry first, second, and third-class passengers.

Became famous for rescuing Titanic survivors in 1912.

Sank in 1918 after being torpedoed by a German U-boat during World War I.

📌 Captain of this Voyage: W. T. Turner

 

Notable Individuals & Their Significance

🎓 Scholars & Professors

🔹 Arthur K. Bennett, M.D. – Health Officer of Marquette, Michigan and appointed Presbyterian missionary to Arabia in 1904. His medical expertise and religious mission contributed to international public health efforts.

🔹 A. W. Juncker – A renowned conductor and organist, highlighting the presence of prominent musicians aboard transatlantic crossings.

⚖️ Legal & Political Figures

🔹 Corrie Grant, M.P. (1850-1924) – A British Member of Parliament, known for his contributions to British law and governance. His presence signifies the ship’s role in facilitating high-level political travel between the U.K. and the U.S.

🔹 William H. Kent – A New York lawyer, demonstrating how legal professionals frequently traveled for business and judicial affairs.

🔹 Samuel Dickson (1837-1915) – A Philadelphia lawyer known for railroad receivership cases, playing a crucial role in early corporate law and finance.

🎭 Entertainment & Arts

🔹 Thomas White Lamb (1871-1942) – A pioneer in theater and cinema architecture, responsible for New York's Ziegfeld Theatre and Madison Square Garden. His architectural legacy is preserved at Columbia University.

🏛️ European Aristocracy & Diplomacy

🔹 Count Bethlen Istvan (1874-1946) – Later became Hungary’s Prime Minister (1921-1931), navigating post-World War I political turmoil and signing a treaty with Fascist Italy in 1927. His presence on this ship underscores the importance of ocean liners in diplomatic relations.

⛪ Religious Leaders

🔹 Rev. E. D. Eshoo – Likely of Assyrian or Middle Eastern heritage, this clergyman’s voyage highlights the movement of Christian missionaries and religious leaders across continents.

🔹 Rev. Francis Wall – His listing suggests active transatlantic engagement among clergy members, possibly traveling for missionary work or ecclesiastical conferences.

🛡️ Military Figures

While no high-ranking military personnel appear on this list, several individuals could have played significant roles during World War I and II, making further research valuable.

 

📷 Noteworthy Images & Their Historical Relevance

📖 "Front Cover of the Passenger List"

👉 Significance: A primary maritime document, showing how passenger lists were structured and distributed by the Cunard Line.

📷 "Photograph of the RMS Carpathia, 1903"

👉 Significance: A rare image of the ship in its early years, before its famous Titanic rescue mission.

📷 "Photograph of the SS Carpathia, circa 1905"

👉 Significance: Visualizes the ship just one year after this voyage, giving historical context to the passengers’ journey.

 

🌎 Why This Passenger List Matters for Educators, Historians & Genealogists

📖 For Teachers & Students

✅ Illustrates early 20th-century transatlantic travel and social class differences aboard steamships.

✅ Connects to Titanic’s story—many of Carpathia’s crew members later played a role in the Titanic rescue.

✅ Explores legal, political, and artistic figures who influenced their respective fields.

📜 For Genealogists

✅ Vital for tracking ancestors who emigrated, traveled, or did business between the U.S. and the U.K.

✅ Helps reconstruct family histories by identifying passengers' potential business, diplomatic, or personal reasons for travel.

🏛️ For Historians

✅ Reveals how ocean liners played a crucial role in diplomacy, law, and culture.

✅ Sheds light on the ship’s role before its Titanic rescue fame.

✅ Shows how transatlantic travel connected diverse individuals—scholars, aristocrats, musicians, and business leaders.

 

⚓ Final Thoughts: Why This Passenger List is Important

📌 The SS Carpathia’s 1904 voyage serves as a time capsule, offering a snapshot of early 20th-century transatlantic travel. This passenger list provides deep insight into the individuals who shaped politics, law, architecture, religion, and music.

📌 Before Carpathia became a legend for rescuing Titanic survivors, it was already carrying notable figures across the Atlantic, making this voyage a critical piece of maritime and social history.

📌 For researchers, educators, and history enthusiasts, this document offers a valuable connection to the past—one that intertwines with the broader themes of immigration, diplomacy, and transatlantic relations. 🌊✨

 

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