None of us
know what we would or wouldn’t do in a disaster until it’s upon us. We would
probably like to think we would act calmly and preform with courage and valor.
Maybe we even hope we will lead others to safety or protect them in horrific
circumstances. Perhaps these hopes, fears, and wishes make us think about the disastrous sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 at 2:20 AM.
One person
that comes to mind when I think about the sinking of the Titanic is the unlikely
heroine, a wild western woman, Margaret Brown. She did what we all hope we
would do in the face of a horrific disaster. After her heroic efforts, she
later became known as the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. But the Titanic is not the
only time Margaret rose to the occasion as a humanitarian and a leader. Settle
back in your desk chair or recliner while I tell the tale of the remarkable
Margaret Brown.
She was born
Margaret Tobin in 1867 in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of an impoverished
ditch-digger. When she was 18, she travel to Leadville, Colorado to join her
brother, Daniel, who worked in the booming silver mining town of Leadville,
Colorado. It was there she caught the eye of James Joseph Brown, nicknamed
“J.J.”, the manager of a local silver mine. J.J. was an enterprising,
self-educated man whose parents, like Molly’s, had emigrated from Ireland. The
couple married in 1886. Although Molly had always planned to marry a rich man,
she said, “I wanted a rich man, but I loved Jim Brown. I thought about how I
wanted comfort for my father and how I had determined to stay single until a
man presented himself who could give to the tired old man the things I longed
for him. Jim was as poor as we were, and had no better chance in life. I
struggled hard with myself in those days. I loved Jim, but he was poor.
Finally, I decided that I'd be better off with a poor man whom I loved than
with a wealthy one whose money had attracted me. So I married Jim Brown.”
But things
were about to change, The Brown family acquired great wealth when in 1893
J.J.'s mining engineering efforts proved instrumental in the production of a
substantial ore seam at the Little Jonny Mine of his employers, Ibex Mining
Company, and he was awarded 12,500 shares of stock and a seat on the board. In
Leadville, Molly helped by working in soup kitchens to assist miners' families.
In 1894, the
Browns moved to Denver, Colorado, which gave the family more social
opportunities. Molly became a charter member of the Denver Woman's Club, whose
mission was the improvement of women's lives by continuing education and
philanthropy. Adjusting to the trappings of a society lady, Molly became immersed
in the arts and became fluent in French, German, and Italian. Molly co-founded
a branch in Denver of the Alliance Française to promote her love of French
culture. I had a hard time learning French in high school. I certainly can’t
imagine learning two other languages fluently as well, so I think these
accomplishments show how smart and determined Molly Brown was.
Unfortunately,
the blue bloods of Denver found Molly to flamboyant and forceful for their
taste and she was never accepted into their society. Sadly, after 23 years of
marriage, J.J. and Molly privately separated in 1909. The agreement gave
Margaret a cash settlement and she maintained possession of the house on
Pennsylvania Street in Denver. She also received a $700 monthly allowance
(equivalent to $18,374 today) to continue her travels and social work. They
continued to stay in touch and cared for one another through the rest of their
lives. They had 2 children, Larry and Helen.
Molly Brown
continued her social work by assisting in the fund-raising for Denver's
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception which was completed in 1911. She worked
with Judge Lindsey to help destitute children and establish the United States'
first juvenile court which helped form the basis of the modern U.S. juvenile
courts system.
And then she
boarded the Titanic.
When the
ship began to sink into the icy Atlantic on April 15, 1912 at 2:20 AM, Molly
helped passengers board the life boats until, she was finally convinced to take
a seat in Life Boat #6 to preserve her own life. Because she was instrumental
in saving the lives of other passengers, convincing them to row back and save
other survivors. Her urgings were met with opposition from Quartermaster Robert
Hichens, the crewman in charge of Lifeboat 6. Hichens was fearful that if they
did go back, the lifeboat would either be pulled down due to suction or the
people in the water would swamp the boat in an effort to get inside. Sources
vary as to whether the boat did go back and if they found anyone alive when
they did. Molly even took an oar herself
to row them to safety on the Carpathian, Margaret Brown became known as “the
unsinkable Molly Brown.”
Molly Brown giving Captain Arthur Henry
Rostron an award for his service in the rescue of Titanic's surviving
passengers
But Molly
wasn’t finished. She ran for Senate in 1914 but ended her campaign to return to
France to work with the American Committee for Devastated France during WWI.
Later, when
J.J. Brown died on September 5, 1922, Margaret told newspapers, "I've
never met a finer, bigger, more worthwhile man than J.J. Brown." J.J. died
without a will and it caused five years of dispute between Margaret and her two
children before they finally settled the estate. Due to their lavish spending
J.J. left an estate valued at only $238,000, equal to $3,353,292 today. Molly
was to receive $20,000 in cash and securities (equal to $281,789 today), and
the interest on a $100,000 trust fund (equal to $1,408,946 today) in her name.
Her children, Lawrence and Helen, received the rest. A court case against Helen
and Lawrence was settled privately, and Margaret and her children were
reconciled at the time of her death in 1932.
Her fame as
a well-known Titanic survivor helped her promote the issues she felt strongly
about—the rights of workers and women, education and literacy for children,
historic preservation, and commemoration of the bravery and chivalry displayed
by the men aboard the Titanic. During World War I in France, she worked with
the American Committee for Devastated France to rebuild areas behind the front
line and helped wounded French and American soldiers. She was awarded the
French Légion d'Honneur for her good citizenship including her activism and
philanthropy in America. During the last years of her life, she was an actress.
After she
died in 1932 (during the Great Depression), her two children sold her estate
for $6,000, equal to $109,311 today. She is buried in the Cemetery of the Holy
Rood in Westbury, New York.
Margaret
Brown, the unsinkable Molly Brown, will live in our memories forever. Though
wealth may have given her the opportunity to be in first class on the HMS
Titanic, it was her willingness to act with valor and courage when it was
greatly needed, that made her famous and for which we will always honor her in
our hearts.
(All photos open domain from Wikipedia)
Sarah J. McNeal
What a wonderful tribute to Molly. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCindy, thank you for coming by and commenting.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I never realized the Unsinkable Molly Brown had done so much for society and so many people. Thank you for taking the time and doing a great job of enlightening all of us to such a history-making, brave and determined lady.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Bev, I didn't know Molly did all those humanitarian things until I started to research her. I was quite amazed, too. Until then, I thought the only noble thing she ever did was give her fur coat to a fellow passenger in the life boat. I truly misjudged her. She was a heroic and generous woman. In a catastrophe, I can only hope I would show her heroism.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment. I appreciate it.
This is a great post, Sarah. Can you imagine getting back on a ship after the Titanic?
ReplyDeleteSarah, this is an amazing post. I never knew anything much about her other than that she was on the Titanic and urged them to save others, taking a more active role than other women who were on there--perhaps because she was "well known" and able to do so.
ReplyDeleteLoved learning about her--languages come easy for me--but I can't imagine learning three of them later on in life. They're much easier to learn the younger you are, I believe. LOL
Cheryl
She truly was a remarkable woman. I'd read about her humanitarian acts, and even heroic episodes. I recall the scene in the movie Titanic where she was saving passengers. You know she had to be an extraordinary woman to succeed in all that she did.
ReplyDeleteShe was miscast in the movie, being played by Debby Reynolds. I thought I recalled a production of the sinking in which Shirley McLane played Molly. But I tried to find that but couldn't. Guess I dreamed it.
Years ago, we were in Colorado--Leadville?--and saw a two story blue house that was Molly Brown's "elegant" home. It was smallish, though, not a mansion--as I recall.
This is an interesting topic, Sarah, and you researched it very well.. (and thanks for listing your Sources at the bottom. We often forget to do that...but we should.)
I might be able to get on a ship after that, but I would be keeping an eye on the life raft and what I would need to survive in a bag beside me at all times. I have a hard time getting on a plane even without surviving a disaster (except the one playing out in my mind.) If I ever experienced such a thing on a plane and survived, I'd never get on another plane the rest of my life. Not that I want to get on one right now. I doubt I'd be much of a hero if a plane were involved.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Caroline.
Cheryl, I can barely remember first year French. I truly doubt I could get it together enough to learn something like German. And the "want to" factor on learning another language is just nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful thing about researching for this blog, is that I learn so much. Like you, I had no idea what a magnificent humanitarian Molly was. Now I can really appreciate her when I see her character played out in the movies.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment, Cheryl. I know how busy you are right now with all the editing you're doing. Do your fingers ever get tired?
Celia, the actress that I think best portrayed the real Molly Brown was Cathy Bates. She had just the right temperament and personal command to get that roll just right. That movie (with Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio) also showed how Molly was not quite accepted in the high society of the artificial royalty of America. Her money was all that kept her in good graces--even though she was a better human being than many of them, like the cowardly Astor.
ReplyDeleteReally? You got to see her house in Leadville? So many things aren't the way we imagine them, are they? I would have thought it would be a magnificent estate like the Biltmore House. Bummer.
Thank you so very much for your comments, Celia. I really appreciate it.
Terrific post, Sarah! I remember seeing the movie about Molly Brown years ago. It was inspiring, but you tribute to her is even more so. She truly was a remarkable woman.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lyn. I didn't know just how remarkable she was until I researched this article. I was amazed at all she accomplished.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by and commenting.