🚢 Titanic’s Lifeboat 15 – The Third-Class Struggle for Survival

Facts About Lifeboat 15 (LB-15)

Lifeboat 15, the 13th one launched at 1:40 am, located on the boat deck, starboard side, with 59 occupants comprised of 1 First Class, 1 Second Class, 36 Third Class, and 21 Crew Members (14 Women and 45 Men). Capacity for the lifeboat was 65 (91% of Capacity).

🚢 RMS Titanic Lifeboat 15 – One of the Most Crowded Lifeboats

🔍 Overview: A Lifeboat Nearing Full Capacity

Lifeboat 15, launched at 1:40 AM, was one of the most heavily loaded lifeboats on the Titanic, carrying 59 passengers and crew out of a possible 65. This lifeboat is notable for its large number of third-class passengers, as well as its near-disastrous collision with Lifeboat 13 during launch.

📌 Why is Lifeboat 15 historically significant?

✔ One of the few lifeboats that left the Titanic almost at full capacity (91%).

✔ It contained one of the highest numbers of third-class passengers to survive.

✔ Almost crashed into Lifeboat 13 when being lowered.

✔ Passengers were a diverse mix of different nationalities and backgrounds.

✔ Among the survivors was Arthur Priest, a fireman/stoker who survived several shipwrecks, earning him the title "The Unsinkable Stoker."

📌 For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, Lifeboat 15 offers a unique lens into the survival of third-class passengers, how chaotic the lifeboat launches became, and how Titanic’s lifeboat system was dangerously mismanaged under pressure.

Interesting Discoveries About Lifeboat 15

• Hart testified that the twenty-five women and children he brought to Lifeboat 15 were loaded from the Boat Deck.
• Francis Carruthers was the Ship Surveyor who oversaw the construction of the Titanic and made the final inspection of her in the ways in Belfast, several months before her departure ... He was rescued in Lifeboat 15.
• Maggie Madigan and Bertha Mulvihill got into lifeboat 15, all the way aft on the starboard side, which loaded from A Deck.

First Class Passengers - LB-15

1. Mr. Harry (alias E. Haven) Homer, (40) Indianapolis, Indiana, US [LB-15]

Second Class Passengers - LB-15

1. Mr. George Harris, (62) London, England [LB-15]

Third Class Passengers - LB-15

1. Mr. Abraham August Johannes Abrahamsson, (20)  Hoboken, New Jersey, US [LB-15]
2. Mr. Nasif Qasim Al-Muna, (26)  Fredericksburg, Virginia, US [LB-15]
3. Mrs. Selma Augusta Emilia Asplund (née Johansson) (38)  Worcester, Massachusetts, US [LB-15]
4. Miss Lillian Gertrud Asplund, (5)  Worcester, Massachusetts, US [LB-15]
5. Master Edvin Rojj Felix Asplund, (3)  Worcester, Massachusetts, US [LB-15]
6. Mr. Charles Edwart Dahl, (45)  Fingal, North Dakota, US [LB-15]
7. Miss Margaret "Maggie" Daly, (30)  New York City [LB-15]
8. Mr. Guillaume Joseph De Messemaeker (36)  Tampico, Montana, US [LB-15]
9. Mr. Luigi Finoli, (34)  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
10. Mrs. Elin Matilda Hakkarainen (née Dolck) (24)  Monessen, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
11. Mr. Borak Suleiman Hanna, (27)  Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
12. Mr. Oskar Arvid Hedman, (27)  St. Paul, Minnesota, US [LB-15]
13. Mrs. Helga Elisabeth Hirvonen (née Lindqvist) (22)  Monessen, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
14. Miss Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen, (2)  Monessen, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
15. Mr. Ivan Jalševac, (29)  Galesburg, Illinois, US [LB-15]
16. Mr. Oskar Leander Johansson Palmquist (26)  New Haven, Connecticut, US [LB-15]
17. Mrs. Elisabeth Vilhelmina Johnson (née Berg) (26)  St. Charles, Illinois, US [LB-15]
18. Master Harold Theodor Johnson, (4)  St. Charles, Illinois, US [LB-15]
19. Miss Eleanor Ileen Johnson, (1)  St. Charles, Illinois, US [LB-15]
20. Mr. Carl Jonsson, (32)  Huntley, Illinois, US [LB-15]
21. Mr. Eiriik Jussila, (32)  Monessen, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
22. Mr. Franz Karun, (39)  Galesburg, Illinois, US [LB-15]
23. Miss Manca ("Anna") Karun, (4)  Galesburg, Illinois, US [LB-15]
24. Mr. Eino William Lindqvist, (20)  Monessen, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
25. Mr. Nikola Lulić, (29)  Chicago, Illinois, US [LB-15]
26. Mr. Thure Edvin Lundström, (32)  Los Angeles, US [LB-15]
27. Miss Margaret "Maggie" Madigan, (21)  New York City [LB-15]
28. Mr. Hanna Mamee, (20)  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US [LB-15]
29. Mr. Thomas Joseph McCormack, (19)  Guttenberg, New Jersey, US [LB-15]
30. Mr. Karl Albert Midtsjø, (21)  Chicago, Illinois, US [LB-15]
31. Miss Bridget Elizabeth "Bertha" Mulvihill, (25)  Providence, Rhode Island, US [LB-15]
32. Mr. Ernst Ulrik Persson, (25)  Indianapolis, Indiana, US [LB-15]
33. Mr. Johan Julian Sundman, (44)  Cheyenne, Wyoming, US [LB-15]
34. Mr. William Henry Törnquist, (25)  New York City [LB-15]
35. Miss Anna Sofiia Turja, (18)  Ashtabula, Ohio, US [LB-15]
36. Mrs. Hedvig Turkula, (63)  Hibbing, Minnesota, US [LB-15]

Deck Crew - LB-15

1. Mr. Alfred Frank Evans, (24) Lookout [LB-15]

Engineering Crew - LB-15

1. Mr. James Frank Avery, (22)  Trimmer [LB-15]
2. Mr. Percival Albert Blake, (22)  Trimmer [LB-15]
3. Mr. George Henry Cavell, (22)  Trimmer [LB-15]
4. Mr. William Clark, (39)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
5. Mr. Frank Dymond, (25)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
6. Mr. Walter Francis Fredricks, (20)  Trimmer [LB-15]
7. Mr. Henry Noss, (31)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
8. Mr. John Pearce, (28)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
9. Mr. Arthur J. Priest, (23)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
10. Mr. William Henry Taylor, (28)  Fireman/Stoker [LB-15]
11. Mr. William George White, (23)  Trimmer [LB-15]

Victualling Crew - LB-15

1. Mrs. Emma Bliss (née Junod) (45)  First Class Stewardess [LB-15]
2. Mr. Charles Reginald Burgess, (18)  Extra Third Baker [LB-15]
3. Mr. Frederick Crafter, (27)  Saloon Steward [LB-15]
4. Mr. Richard Halford, (22)  Steward [LB-15]
5. Mr. John Edward Hart, (31)  Third Class Steward [LB-15]
6. Mr. Percy Edward Keen, (28)  Saloon Steward [LB-15]
7. Mr. Arthur Ernest Lewis, (27)  Steward [LB-15]
8. Mr. Walter Henry Nichols, (35)  Steward [LB-15]
9. Mr. Samuel James Rule, (58)  Bathroom Steward [LB-15]

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.

📌 The Lifeboat That Nearly Crashed Mid-Air �

� Lifeboat 15 was nearly crushed when it was being lowered too quickly—almost landing on top of Lifeboat 13.

📜 Why This Story Matters:

✔ As Lifeboat 15 was lowered, Lifeboat 13 was still trying to detach from the Titanic.

✔ The crew in Lifeboat 13 had to frantically cut their ropes to avoid being crushed by Lifeboat 15.

✔ This incident showcases the rushed and chaotic evacuation process.

🚢 A near disaster in the midst of an already tragic event.

📌 A Rarely Told Story: The Third-Class Survivors

📌 Lifeboat 15 had one of the largest groups of third-class passengers to survive.

📜 Why This Story Matters:

✔ Most lifeboats were heavily occupied by first-class and second-class passengers.

✔ Many third-class passengers had to navigate locked gates and barriers just to reach the deck.

✔ This boat provides insight into how some third-class passengers managed to escape despite overwhelming obstacles.

🚢 A story of resilience and survival against incredible odds.

📌 The "Unsinkable Stoker" – Arthur Priest’s Unbelievable Luck

📌 One of the passengers, Arthur Priest, was a fireman/stoker who went on to survive multiple shipwrecks.

📜 Why This Story Matters:

✔ Titanic was not the only disaster he survived—he also lived through the sinking of the Britannic and several other shipwrecks.

✔ His story adds a fascinating personal dimension to Titanic’s legacy.

✔ A real-life example of what some have called a “cursed” sailor—or an incredibly lucky one.

🚢 One of the most astonishing survival stories connected to the Titanic.

📌 Who Oversaw Lifeboat 15?

📌 Unlike some lifeboats, which lacked strong leadership, Lifeboat 15 was managed by an experienced crew.

📜 Why This Story Matters:

✔ It had a balanced mix of passengers and crew, ensuring strong rowing capability.

✔ Despite the near-miss with Lifeboat 13, the crew remained relatively calm.

✔ An interesting contrast to other lifeboats that were launched nearly empty or without proper leadership.

🚢 Leadership made a difference in survival that night.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ A great example of the struggles third-class passengers faced in reaching safety.

✔ Demonstrates the flaws in Titanic’s evacuation process.

✔ Provides first-hand accounts of near-misses and quick decision-making.

📌 📖 For Historians & Maritime Researchers:

✔ Lifeboat 15's close call with Lifeboat 13 highlights the rushed nature of the evacuation.

✔ Contains a diverse group of passengers, providing insight into different social classes on the Titanic.

✔ A key example of why lifeboat drills and procedures needed major reform.

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ One of the best-documented lifeboats in terms of survivor lists.

✔ Offers a rare look at how third-class passengers managed to reach the deck.

✔ Includes notable figures like Arthur Priest and the Asplund family.

🌟 Final Thoughts: A Lifeboat That Almost Didn’t Make It

📌 Lifeboat 15’s story is one of survival, chaos, and near-catastrophe.

✔ Nearly crushed Lifeboat 13 during launch.

✔ Contained one of the largest groups of third-class passengers to escape.

✔ Saw the survival of "The Unsinkable Stoker," Arthur Priest.

✔ A compelling case study of Titanic’s flawed evacuation system.

🚢 A powerful chapter in Titanic’s history, proving that even survival could be a matter of split-second decisions.