🚢 RMS Titanic Lifeboat 4 – The Final Goodbye of John Jacob Astor IV and the Lifeboat That Returned

Discover the story of RMS Titanic’s Lifeboat 4, which carried the newlywed and pregnant Madeleine Astor, her emotional final farewell with billionaire John Jacob Astor IV, and the crew members who died of exposure before rescue. Learn how this lifeboat defied fear and turned back to search for survivors in the freezing Atlantic.

🚢 RMS Titanic Lifeboat 4 – A Story of Heroism, Heartbreak, and Missed Rescues

🔍 Overview: One of the Last Boats Launched – A Lifeboat That Returned for Survivors

Lifeboat 4, the 16th lifeboat launched, left the port side of Titanic at 1:50 AM with 42 occupants—a mix of First-Class women and children, Second-Class families, and a small crew of 11 men. Despite having room for 65 passengers, it launched only 65% full.

📌 Why is Lifeboat 4 significant?

✔ One of the few lifeboats to return for survivors after Titanic sank

✔ Carried newlywed Madeleine Astor, widow of billionaire John Jacob Astor IV

✔ Crew members recalled emotional goodbyes, including Astor’s final farewell to his young wife

✔ Included working-class Second-Class families and children among mostly First-Class passengers

✔ Two crew members died of exposure before being rescued by Carpathia

📌 For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, Lifeboat 4 is one of the most compelling cases of class, survival ethics, and rescue dynamics on the Titanic. It highlights social divisions, the emotional trauma of parting families, and the harsh reality of lifeboats that weren’t completely filled.

Facts About Lifeboat 4 (LB-4)

Lifeboat 4, the 16th one launched at 1:50 am (with delays), located on the boat deck, port side, with 42 occupants comprised of 24 First Class, 7 Second Class passengers, and 11 Crew Members. Capacity for the lifeboat was 65 (65% of Capacity).

First Class Passengers - LB-4

1. Mrs. Madeleine Talmage Astor (née Force) (18)  New York, New York, US [LB-4]
2. Miss Rosalie Bidois (maid) (46)  New York, New York, US [LB-4]
3. Miss Caroline Louise Endres (nurse) (39)  New York, New York, US [LB-4]
4. Mrs. Lucile (née Polk) Carter, (36)  Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
5. Miss Auguste Serreplan (maid) (30)  Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
6. Miss Lucile Polk Carter, (13)  Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
7. Master William Carter Thornton II, (11)  Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
8. Mrs. Carrie Constance Chaffee (née Toogood) (47)  Amenia, North Dakota, US [LB-4]
9. Mrs. Virginia Estelle Clark (née McDowell) (26)  Los Angeles, California, US [LB-4]
10. Mrs. Florence Briggs Cumings (née Thayer) (35)  New York, New York, US [LB-4]
11. Miss Elizabeth Mussey Eustis, (54)  Brookline, Massachusetts, US [LB-4]
12. Mrs. Ida Sophia Hippach (née Fischer) (44)  Chicago, Illinois, US [LB-4]
13. Miss Jean Gertrude Hippach, (17)  Chicago, Illinois, US [LB-4]
14. Mrs. Emily Maria Ryerson (née Borie) (48)  Cooperstown, New York, US [LB-4]
15. maid, Miss Victorine Chaudanson and (36)  Cooperstown, New York, US [LB-4]
16. Miss Susan Parker "Suzette" Ryerson, (21)  Cooperstown, New York, US [LB-4]
17. Mrs. Emily Borie Ryerson, (18)  Chicago, Illnois, US [LB-4]
18. Master John Borie "Jack" Ryerson, (13)  Cooperstown, New York, US [LB-4]
19. Miss Grace Scott Bowen (governess) (45)  Cooperstown, New York, US [LB-4]
20. Mrs. Martha (née Eustis) Stephenson, (52)  Paris, France [LB-4]
21. Mrs. Marian Longsteth Thayer (née Morris) (39)  Haverford, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
22. Miss Margaret Fleming (maid) (42)  Haverford, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
23. Mrs. Eleanor Widener (née Elkins) (50)  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]
24. Miss Amalie Henriette "Emily" Gieger (maid) (35)  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US [LB-4]

Second Class Passengers - LB-4

1. Mrs. Anna (Anna Hamlin) Hämäläinen, (24)  Detroit, Michigan, US [LB-4]
2. Master Viljo Unto Johannes (William Hamlin) Hämäläinen, (1)  Detroit, Michigan, US [LB-4]
3. Mrs. Elizabeth "Eliza" Hocking (née Neads) (54)  Penzance, Cornwall, England [LB-4]
4. Miss Ellen "Nellie" Hocking, (20)  Penzance, Cornwall, England [LB-4]
5. Mrs. Emily Richards (née Hocking) (23)  Penzance, Cornwall, England [LB-4]
6. Master William Rowe Richards, (3)  Penzance, Cornwall, England [LB-4]
7. Master Sibley George Richards, (9 mo.)  Penzance, Cornwall, England [LB-4]

Deck Crew - LB-4

1. Mr. John Foley, (44)  Storekeeper [LB-4]
2. Mr. Samuel Ernest Hemming, (43)  Lamp Trimmer [LB-4]
3. Mr. William Henry Lyons, (26)  Able Seaman [LB-4]
4. Mr. William McCarthy, (47)  Able Seaman [LB-4]
5. Mr. Walter John Perkis, (37)  Quartermaster [LB-4]

Engineering Crew - LB-4

1. Mr. Thomas Patrick Dillon, (25)  Trimmer [LB-4]
2. Mr. Thomas G. Ranger, (29)  Greaser [LB-4]
3. Mr. Frederick Scott, (28)  Greaser [LB-4]
4. Mr. Alfred White, (32)  Greaser [LB-4]

Victualling Crew - LB-4

1. Mr. Andrew Cunningham, (35)  Bedroom Steward [LB-4]
2. Mr. Frank Winnold Prentice, (22)  Storekeeper [LB-4]

Legend For Survivor or Lost Passengers and Crew Members

• LB-# or A-D - Survivor on Lifeboat 1-16 or Collapsible Lifeboat A-D
• P-BNR - Perished, Body Not Recovered or Body Not Identified
• MB – CS Mackay-Bennett (bodies 1–306)
• M – CS Minia (bodies 307–323)
• MM – CGS Montmagny (bodies 326–329)
• A – SS Algerine (body 330)
• O – RMS Oceanic (bodies 331–333)
• I – SS Ilford (body 334)
• OT – SS Ottawa (body 335)

Numbers 324 and 325 were unused, and the six bodies buried at sea by the Carpathia also went unnumbered. Several recovered bodies were unidentifiable and thus not all numbers are matched with a person.

Upon recovery, the bodies of 209 identified and unidentified victims of the sinking were brought to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Of those, 121 were taken to the non-denominational Fairview Lawn Cemetery, 59 were repatriated, 19 were buried in the Roman Catholic Mount Olivet Cemetery, and 10 were taken to the Jewish Baron de Hirsch Cemetery. The bodies of the remaining recovered victims were either delivered to family members or buried at sea.

Narratives of the remarkable heroism of Colonel John Jacob Astor and the patient fortitude of Mrs. Astor under conditions that tried the self- control of the hardiest, continue to come to light.

The narrative of the dreadful suspense which in a short time changed her from a radiant bride to a sorrowing widow was told by a friend of the family.

At the same time survivors who occupied lifeboat No. 1, in which Mrs. Astor and her maid escaped , told of how Mrs. Astor had helped calm the other women and had even offered fellow sufferers portions of her slender stock of clothing.

"Mrs Astor was the bravest little woman I ever met," said Jack Foley, who, with his mate, Sam Parks , pulled an oar in boat No. 4.

"Colonel Astor was a man all through, if there ever was one," continued Foley . "You see , it took us some time to launch boat No. 4. After we had all the women and the children in the boat we discovered that we couldn't launch her until we removed the sounding spar several decks below.

"So Sam and I got down and chopped the spar away. We were some time doing this , as we had to hunt for an ax. "We finally got the spar away and launched the boat . That is why boat No. 4 was the last boat to be launched . The others had a free way below it and could be put in the water at once.

"While waiting up there Mrs. Astor several times wanted to leave the boat . Mr. Astor kept telling the good little woman that he was sure to be saved and that it was her duty to go .

"She stretched out her arms just as though she was pleading with him to let her get out of the boat and take her place with him . Mr. Astor picked up a heavy steamer shawl and wrapped it about her shoulders.

"After pulling those eight men into the boat I was pretty wet and was shivering . Mrs. Astor threw the shawl about my shoulders and said that I needed it more than she did . I told her that I would get warmed up after pulling a while at the oar and would have no use for it.

WHIMPERING WITH COLD.

"I put the shawl back on her lap. Sitting next to Mrs. Astor was a Swedish woman with a little girl that I should take to be three or four years old . The little girl was whimpering with the cold

"Mrs. Astor took the shawl and threw it about the shoulders of this woman, who thanked her in some foreign lingo . Then the steerage woman kissed her little girl and took her into her arms. and wrapped the shawl about her.

"When the explosion occurred aboard the ship Mrs. Astor made some kind of a sound , but I couldn't understand whether she said anything or merely sobbed . She turned her head away from the direction of the vessel."

So little was the impact felt at the time of the collision that Mrs. Astor thought the crash was the result of some mishap in the kitchen and paid no attention to it until the engines stopped .

Then, realizing that something was wrong, she inquired of her steward the cause . He informed her that a slight accident had happened, and that the captain had ordered the women to the lifeboats, but he added that this was only a precautionary measure, and that they would all be back soon again on the ship .

Mrs. Astor then entered her stateroom and changed her dress, preparatory to leaving the Titanic for one of the lifeboats in company with her maid.

As she left the room the steward told her he would lock up her suite so that nobody would enter it during her absence, for he thought everybody would soon return .

Colonel Astor accompanied his wife and her maid to lifeboat No. 4. When he attempted to enter it he was pushed back by the sailor in charge, and was told that no men were permitted in it .

"But," said Colonel Astor, "there are no more women to be taken in , and there is plenty of room."

"That makes no difference, " replied the man ; " the orders are no men, so you cannot get in."

There was no use arguing, Colonel and Mrs. Astor thought, so, waving her adieu, he called out : "Good-bye, Madeleine."

Lifeboat No. 4 did not go far before she returned to the place which soon after became the Titanic's grave . The great "unsinkable" ship was already going fast to her doom, and fear that the suction from the sinking vessel would draw down the little lifeboat made its sailors once more turn away from the wreck and seek safety , with its handful of women and its empty seats.

When the Carpathia hove in sight two sailors in lifeboat No. 4 were dead. The watch of one, which a woman looked at , had stopped at 2.15 o'clock.

Sinking_of_the_Titanic_Most_Appalling_OceanHorror-1912 p149-150

📌 The Passengers: High Society and Working-Class Families Together

Unlike most lifeboats, Lifeboat 4 carried both First-Class elite and struggling immigrant families.

📜 Notable Image:

📷 "Narratives of the remarkable heroism of Colonel John Jacob Astor and the patient fortitude of Mrs. Astor."

✔ Illustrates how Titanic was a microcosm of social hierarchy, yet survival became a great equalizer.

📜 Why This Matters:

✔ Contrasts the experiences of Titanic’s wealthiest and more modest passengers.

✔ One of the few lifeboats to have both elite First-Class and Second-Class families aboard.

✔ Highlights the final moments of John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest men in the world.

📌 The Launch: A Boat Delayed by a Structural Obstacle

📌 Unlike other lifeboats, Lifeboat 4 was delayed because of a sounding spar (a structural obstruction) that had to be removed before launching.

📜 Why This Matters:

✔ Demonstrates how minor technical issues cost valuable time during evacuation.

✔ Reveals how some lifeboats were impacted by ship design, slowing down rescue efforts.

✔ Explains why it was one of the last boats to leave, despite being prepared much earlier.

📌 The Emotional Goodbye: John Jacob Astor’s Final Words to His Wife

Lifeboat 4 is famous for carrying 18-year-old Madeleine Astor, the newlywed pregnant wife of John Jacob Astor IV.

💔 Astor tried to board Lifeboat 4 with his wife but was refused entry.

📜 Notable Quote:

💬 "Goodbye, Madeleine." – John Jacob Astor IV’s final words before Titanic sank

📜 Why This Matters:

✔ Represents one of the most tragic and emotional separations in Titanic history.

✔ Challenges the belief that all wealthy men bribed their way onto lifeboats—Astor followed the “women and children first” rule.

✔ Showcases the heartbreak of families being separated, particularly newlyweds and parents.

📌 The Unexpected Kindness: Madeleine Astor’s Selfless Acts in the Lifeboat

🧣 Madeleine Astor gave away her warm shawl to a freezing Third-Class mother and child.

📜 Notable Image:

📷 "Mrs. Astor took the shawl and threw it about the shoulders of this woman, who thanked her in some foreign lingo."

📜 Why This Matters:

✔ Contrasts the typical image of the elite being selfish during the disaster.

✔ Humanizes the survivors, showing acts of kindness even in moments of despair.

✔ Highlights how Third-Class passengers often went unnoticed but were present in lifeboats.

📜 Notable Quote:

💬 "When the Carpathia hove in sight two sailors in lifeboat No. 4 were dead. The watch of one, which a woman looked at, had stopped at 2:15 o’clock."

📜 Why This Matters:

✔ Shows that even lifeboat passengers weren’t guaranteed survival.

✔ Reveals the extreme conditions survivors endured before rescue.

✔ Raises questions about whether lifeboats were properly stocked with blankets and provisions.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ Explores themes of love, loss, and heroism aboard Titanic.

✔ Encourages discussions about survival ethics—who should have been saved first?

✔ Provides firsthand accounts of the final moments before Titanic sank.

📌 📖 For Historians & Maritime Researchers:

✔ Examines the structure and delays that impacted lifeboat launches.

✔ Analyzes Titanic’s social class dynamics in lifeboat survival rates.

✔ Documents one of the few lifeboats that returned for survivors.

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Lists passenger and crew names, helping researchers trace ancestry.

✔ Details interactions between passengers of different classes.

✔ Explores personal survivor accounts that may link to family stories.

🌟 Final Thoughts: The Legacy of Lifeboat 4

📌 Lifeboat 4 is one of the most emotionally powerful stories of Titanic’s lifeboats.

✔ It holds one of the most famous Titanic goodbyes—John Jacob Astor IV’s farewell to his wife.

✔ It’s a rare case where a lifeboat actually attempted to rescue people from the water.

✔ It highlights the acts of selflessness among survivors, including Madeleine Astor’s kindness.

✔ It proves that survival on Titanic wasn’t just about wealth—it was about circumstances, decisions, and fate.

🚢 Lifeboat 4 represents love, sacrifice, and the fight for survival in one of the greatest ocean tragedies of all time.