The Titanic Tragedy Has a Surprising Connection to Indiana
Some Titanic stories lead right back to Indiana
More than a century after the Titanic sank, the story still captures our attention. We’ve seen the movies, read the books and heard the haunting stories of the passengers who boarded a ship once believed to be practically “unsinkable.”
But what many Hoosiers may not realize is that Indiana has its own connections to the Titanic and some of those stories hit surprisingly close to home.
The Titanic Was Discovered on September 1, 1985
The RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic during its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg late on April 14, 1912. In the early morning hours of April 15, the massive ship disappeared beneath the water, taking roughly 1,500 passengers and crew members with it.
For the next 73 years, the Titanic’s exact resting place remained a mystery.
That changed on September 1, 1985, when a joint American-French expedition located the wreck on the ocean floor. The team found the Titanic nearly 12,500 feet below the surface more than two miles underwater.
Researchers first spotted debris before identifying one of the Titanic’s boilers, confirming they had finally located the long-lost ship.
The discovery gave researchers a chance to learn even more about what happened that night, but it also brought renewed attention to the real people behind the tragedy—including several with ties to Indiana.
An Indianapolis Woman Survived the Sinking
One of those people was Ellen Mary Toomey, an Irish-born housekeeper who lived in Indianapolis before boarding the Titanic as a second-class passenger.
Toomey was returning from a trip to Ireland when the ship struck the iceberg. She managed to escape aboard Lifeboat 9, but later recalled that the boat carried only about 30 people despite having room for more.
From the lifeboat, Toomey watched the enormous ship disappear beneath the water. She couldn't see the people who had fallen into the freezing Atlantic, but she could hear their cries something she said she would never forget.
After being rescued by the Carpathia, Toomey eventually returned to Indianapolis. She lived there until her death in 1933 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Bloomington’s “Stone King” Was Lost on the Titanic
Another Indiana connection takes us to Bloomington.
John Bertram Crafton was a successful Indiana businessman with deep roots in the area. He began his career working for the railroad before finding success in real estate and Southern Indiana’s booming limestone industry. His success reportedly earned him the nickname the “Stone King.”
Crafton later traveled to Europe, where he hoped visits to spas and hot springs might help relieve his arthritis. When it was time to return home, he booked a first-class ticket aboard the Titanic.
Sadly, Crafton did not survive the sinking, and his body was never recovered.
His story, however, hasn't been forgotten. A memorial stone honoring him can still be found at Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington.
A Tell City Physician Was Also Aboard
The Titanic tragedy has an even closer connection for those of us in Southern Indiana.
Dr. Ernest Moraweck was a physician who grew up in Tell City before eventually making his way to Europe. When he decided to return to the United States, he boarded the Titanic in Southampton as a first-class passenger.
Like Crafton, Moraweck did not survive the sinking.
It’s one of those details that makes a story from more than a century ago suddenly feel a lot closer to home. Tell City may be thousands of miles from where the Titanic rests today, but someone who once called Southern Indiana home was aboard the ship on that historic voyage.
Another Survivor Eventually Called Indiana Home
Not every Indiana connection ended in tragedy.
Ernst Ulrik Persson was a young Swedish passenger traveling in third class who was reportedly headed to Indianapolis when he boarded the Titanic.
Persson survived the sinking and eventually made a life in Indiana, later living in Hammond.
His story is also a reminder that the Titanic wasn't filled only with wealthy first-class passengers like we sometimes see portrayed in movies. Many people aboard were immigrants traveling to America in search of jobs, family members and the chance to build a new life.
The Titanic’s Story Eventually Made Its Way to Indiana Museums
Indiana's connection to Titanic history continued long after the sinking.
Over the years, the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis has hosted major traveling Titanic exhibitions featuring authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck and its debris field.
Displays have included White Star Line china, a wall sconce from a first-class lounge, a bowler hat and other personal belongings.
For me, it's those everyday objects that really put the tragedy into perspective. These weren't simply names on a passenger list. They were real people who packed their bags, said goodbye to loved ones and boarded the Titanic expecting to safely arrive in New York.
The ship may have sunk thousands of miles away from Indiana, but its story is connected to Hoosier families and communities from Indianapolis to Bloomington, Tell City and Hammond.
So, the next time you hear the story of the Titanic, remember that this piece of history isn't quite as far removed from Indiana as you might think.
Sources:
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Gallery Credit: Liberty
