Autographs of CARPATHIA officers

Autograph sheet

EPHEMERA
2020.39-1A-20
USA, NY, New York
1912-04-18
paper
overall: 5 11/16 x 3 13/16 in.

Autographs of 6 officers of the CARPATHIA, dated April 18, 1912, which was the day the CARPATHIA arrived in New York City after its rescue of the TITANIC survivors. This kind of autograph sheet, titled "Captain's Autograph" was often included in passenger logs or diaries printed for people embarking on sea voyages. The officers who have signed here are Captain Arthur H. Rostron, 1st Officer Horace John Dean, 2nd Officer James Gordon Bisset, 3rd officer Eric Rees, 4th officer Geoffrey Howard Barnish, and 6th officer Thomas William Hankinson. The crew of the CARPATHIA were of course celebrated for their resolve and compassion in the TITANIC disaster, racing to the site as soon as they received the distress call and accommodating hundreds of traumatized and grieving people. But all of these men also served with distinction in WWI and several of them in World War II as well. Bisset also went on to be Commodore of the Cunard fleet.

2020.39.7451