New York City

Angela’s Diary

Wednesday, April 10, 1912, 7:00 am

I cannot believe I have a ticket to go to America. Soon, I will be crossing the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in New York City. We should be there in about 6 days they say. I do not want to be another homemaker or a schoolteacher. Here in Southampton, girls and young women cannot aspire to work in careers that men dominate. My family is not rich, so I am not privileged to attend big universities. My aunt purchased my ticket to commence my dreams in the city as a performer.

Against my parent’s wishes, I have better plans for myself. I desire to be a dancer like Angela Isadora Duncan, known as Isadora Duncan in the United States and Europe. She shows everyone that you do not need a pair of ballet shoes like the famous Russian dancers like, Anna Pavlova. Isadora performs her movements against all ballet training that dominates the arts, she dances barefoot.

Isadora teaches her students to dance to the music using their bodies as an instrument being composed in the symphony. Isadora feels the music before each movement which allows the dance choreography to be a celebration of life. I want to learn to dance like that. I want to see all the shows on Broadway.

For the next week, I will be residing on this beautiful ship and will endeavor all the entertainment that has been arranged. I heard they even have a swimming pool. Can you imagine swimming in a pool while floating on the ocean? Who dreamt up that idea? I do not believe that I will be able to see it since it is for the First-Class passengers on the upper deck.

Our areas of the ship, known as steerage to the other passengers, contain many long hallways with just doors to the cabins. The open areas contain rows of wooden bench seats, tables, and chairs for families to gather and play. You could smell the fresh pine paneling on the walls and the bright white paint on the ceilings.

Wednesday, April 10, 1912, nighttime

We are on the Titanic. We enjoyed a most delicious meal of beef and cheese with biscuits and tea before settling into the spacious room for music and dancing. I was not familiar with the music, however, I danced until my body grew tired. It was a wonderful time and I met so many wonderful people from all over Europe traveling abroad to America. A number of passengers did not speak English, however, when the music played everyone came together as we all spoke the same language.

I have retired to my bunk for the evening. I imagine it is much smaller than the quarters of the upper levels but still comfortable. I am staying with three other young ladies in the cabin. Our cabin has one small washbasin and dim light. We each have a bunk to sleep in.

Thursday, April 11, 1912, 5:00 pm

Today we ported for a bit in Ireland to allow for passengers to enter and exit from the port. As we waited for the ship to continue forward west towards America, we enjoyed music played by fellow passengers while some played ball games. It is time for the supper call. The food is good on the ship and plentiful.

Friday, April 12, 1912, 2:00pm.

We have been straight sailing across the water since we left Ireland yesterday. The ship is so calm and sometimes I forgot I am not on land. Today's activities have been the same as the previous; children playing out on the deck, some passengers playing card games, and a group of men in the smoke room. After supper, we will enjoy some more delightful music and dancing in the general room. The weather has been steady, and it feels like it is getting a little cooler than yesterday’s weather.

Saturday, April 13, 8:00pm

I wandered about today on the ship to the areas that I could gain access to. I sat on the benches on the promenade and observed the blue water. As the day turned to night, I saw the sunset and the bright stars up in the sky. It was breathtaking. I now have retired to the cabin for some light reading before the other girls come to bed. The general room area was much too loud with all the activities going on.

Sunday, April 14, Evening

Today was the most fun. After supper, we had a large dance crowd this evening where I practiced dancing and even assisted some of the younger girls to dance like the sound of the music. A small number of the young mothers joined our little group. I went to the poop deck before heading to the cabin to see verify the weather. It was too frigid for my liking. When I ascended the stairs, I heard a most frightening sound from the ship’s starboard bow. A little rumble and I reached out for the stair rail. I looked towards the front of the ship, but there was no moonlight to break the blackened water.

As I sit here in my cabin alone, I can hear rockets being shot out and loud commotions in the hallways.

OH MY! I just heard someone calling out throughout the hallways that we must put on our lifejackets.

If this book is separated from me, please return it to my home on High Street in Southampton, United Kingdom. If this finds my mum and dad, I love you and I am sorry that I did not obey your wishes.

Monday, April 15

The Titanic has sunk. The beautiful ship is now gone. So many people have died. There were still people in the second and third-class bunkers who could not get up to the boats and many men who placed their families on the lifeboats and had to wait for help from another passing ship. There were lights far in the distance, but the ship did not make it in time. The Titanic went underwater with all those people still aboard.

Oh, Diary. It was awful.

We floated on the water for what seemed like days until a ship became visible to us. The Carpathia rescued us from the lifeboats floating in the frigid waters on the Atlantic. The crew members welcomed us with blankets to keep us warm and offered us food and drinks.

Tuesday, April 16

We are heading to New York City. Carpathia will take us to dock as the Titanic was set to do originally. We are all quite scared to aboard another ship after the horrific events of the Titanic although we know this is our only chance of survival. The weather is chilly rain, and the wind makes the conditions intolerable.

I look through the crowds of lonely women and children and cry with and for them. They will arrive in America with no fathers or no husbands to start their new life with. I am heartbroken that this has happened and terribly frightened that we have had to endure this tragedy.

Frankly, I do not know what else to say. I am going to try to rest right now. We have been provided blankets to lay down with wherever we can find a spot to sit or lay down.

Wednesday, April 17, daylight

It is the next day I presume based on the light on the horizon. The boat has been steady, and no incidents have occurred. The mood of the passengers today has been somber. No laughter, no dancing, no singing. The crew members have been around to inquire about our conditions many times since we boarded. They have been most accommodating to all regardless of which class we entered when we were on the Titanic. The whole thing has scared the bejesus out of us.

Thursday, April 18

We have made it to New York City. It is the most glorious sight to see the shoreline in front of us. We survived. Oh My, we survived. I am ever so grateful to the crew members of the Carpathia for coming to rescue us from the freezing waters. I am thrilled that I will be able to see my aunt and call my mum and dad.

Friday, December 6

Diary, I thought I lost you. I have been so busy since arriving in New York. Aunt Edith took me to her home and has been helping me get adjusted to America. With all the commotion, you were placed in the closet.

I have been working in Aunt Edith’s bakery to pay my way at her home. She has been most helpful and comforting with all the changes. Aunt Edith has been accompanying me with auditions to the dance agencies. Yesterday, we went to Broadway and saw the postings for musicals and shows they are seeking performing artists for.

Thursday, January 30, 1913

Merry New Year Diary. I have exciting news. Today I was called back to Broadway to try out for a part in the musical called All Aboard. I was simply nervous about the audition and what the story was about. I immediately thought it was about a steamship and told Aunt Edith I did not want to do it after what happened on the Titanic. She comforted me and encouraged me to attend. She said to never judge before knowing all the facts.

Wednesday, March 5

I got the part. We attended many visits to Broadway with hundreds of performers of all ages. Today was the last call and they said that I will be on stage when the show debuts in 2 months. I am afraid I may not be able to talk to you for a while. I will be helping Aunt Edith and attending the auditions.

P.S. I forgot to tell you that the show is about a locomotive, not a ship. You can imagine my relief when I found that out. Good night for now.

June 3

All Aboard opens on Broadway the day after tomorrow. I am so excited that I will be in the show. Aunt Edith told mum and dad about how hard I worked since coming to America and they said they are proud of me. They are grateful for how Aunt Edith has aided me. They are trying to come to America to see me in the musical. Mum said they will not be taking a ship over. Mum has a sense of humor.