Filtzer, Charles P.

Charles P. Filtzer. He was born 21 October 1906 in New York City, the son of Bernard Frank, an insurance manager born 16 October 1872 in Poland (d. 10 March 1936 in Brooklyn, New York), and Ellen (nee Witkind; born 1875 in Russia, d. 2 April 1937 in Brooklyn, New York) Filtzer. He was a buyer for a department store. He had married Selma Widder on 28 August 1934 in Manhattan, New York City. The Filtzers had been staying in cabin 318 on the Morro Castle. His wife survived the disaster.

‘Only eight days ago Charles Filtzer and Selma Widder were married and yesterday Filtzer, one of the victims of the Morro Castle disaster, was buried in the Mount Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, after funeral services in an undertaker’s chapel at 345 Throop Ave. Many of the friends who had witnessed the wedding were mourners at the funeral.
The young bride and groom, awakened by smoke, made their way to the deck and after putting on lifebelts joined hands and jumped overboard. For four hours they kept themselves up by clinging to the dead body of a passenger. A huge wave carried Filtzer away, his wife losing consciousness about the same time. Filtzer’s body was found later at an emergency station by Jacob Widder, an uncle of the bride. Mrs. Filtzer was picked up by one of the many searching vessels after being in the water eight hours.
The young couple had planned to reside with Mrs. Filtzer’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Widder, of 115-35 Mayfair Road, Kew Gardens.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 September 1934, p. 6)

Featherstone, Thomas Edward

Wilkes Barre Record 10 September 1934

Thomas Edwin Featherstone. He was born 3 August 1888 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to James, a mine labourer b. March 1864 in Ireland, and Catherine (nee Haley or Healy; she had been born in March 1870 in Ireland ) Featherstone, who had married 1 June 1887 at Luzerne, Pennsylvania. His brothers and sisters included Mary, b. ca. 1889 in Virginia, Francis, b. 11 April 1890, James Arthur, b. 29 May 1894, Elizabeth (who would survive the disaster), b. 1899, Edward, b. 1902, and Joseph G., b. ca. 1907. In 1930, aged 42, he lived in the household of his mother in Wilkes-Barre, with two brothers and sister Elizabeth Sheridan, her husband James and their son Arthur, then aged 3. He was not married.
He was of medium height and build, had dark blue eyes and dark blue (this should probably read dark blond) hair. His occupation was in 1917/18 listed as a buyer for Fowler, Dick & Walker in Wilkes-Barre. On the Morro Castle, he had been staying in cabin 261 with his sister Elizabeth Sheridan (survivor) and nephew Arthur Sheridan (victim).
”Thomas Featherstone was employed for about 30 years by Fowler, Dick & Walker, his capacity during recent years being buyer for the Grey Shops of the store. He was a World War veteran and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Featherstone. His father was a boss at the Empire mine of the Glen Alden Coal Company and died several years ago. His mother died last year. He was unmarried.
His survivors include his sister, Mrs. James Sheridan, who escaped death in the disaster; brothers, Frank of East Northampton street, an electrician for the Glen Alden Coal Company, James Featherstone and Attorney Joseph Featherstone, the latter of New York.”
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 10 September 1934, p. 4)
”….Identification of Thomas Featherstone, according to word from New York, was made by his brother, Attorney Joseph Featherstone, a Brooklyn lawyer. Thomas Featherstone was a valued employe of the Boston Store for about 30 years and was on his first vacation in a number of years, members of his family reported. For some time he has been the buyer of women’s ware for the Grey Shops of this store. When the United States entered the World War, Mr. Featherstone joined the service and returned to the store after the conflict. Mr. Featherstone was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Featherstone. His father, who was a boss at the Empire Mine of Glen Alden Coal Company, died a number of years ago. His mother died about a year ago…” (The Wilkes-Barre Record, 10 September 1934, p. 7)

”                                                        Featherstone’s Head Injured
Tom Featherstone, they /i. e. relatives/was probably knocked unconscious in his leap from the Morro Castle. When his body was found in the Bellevue mortuary one side of his face was swollen and bruised. His cousin, Lieutenant Featherstone, ventured the opinion that in the leap from the liner’s deck he probably fell on some object in the water.
Tom Featherstone’s body was washed ashore at Sea Girt, N. J., and later brought by ship to the bellevue (sic) mortuary. Late Saturday James Sheridan and Frank Featherstone joined Attorney Joseph Featherstone and with the aid of police began searching the various morgues and other establishments where bodies of disaster victims had been taken.
They came upon Tom Featherstone’s body at Bellevue and recognized it immediately. He was still wearing his coat and in the coat were his identification papers and other belongings.” (The Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, 10 September 1934, p. 4)

Faulconer, Frederick George

Frederick George Faulconer. He was born 25 November 1892 in Barboursville, Virginia, to Erasmus G., a carpenter b. 23 December 1849 in Virginia, (d. 10 May 1930) and Mattie J. (nee Upton) Faulconer, b. 17 March 1854 in Virginia (d. 23 Jan. 1930). His known siblings were Lewis S., b. September 1888, Nellie E., b. November 1889, and Mattie, b. July 1891. He was slender, of medium height, had gray eyes and brown hair. He had worked as a telegraph operator for Southern Railway and was by 1934 its Chief Dispatcher.  He was not married in 1930 when he lived in Barboursville with parents and brother and sister Lewis and Nellie and sister-in-law Lula as well as nephew Harry L. He was travelling on the Morro Castle in cabin 227 with fellow victim Harry Lipscombe. The New York Sun stated 11 September that Mr. Faulconer had drowned in an attempt to swim ashore and his body had been washed ashore at Sea Girt. His home in 1934 was at Alexandria, Virginia. He was buried at Barboursville, Virginia 11 September 1934.

New York Sun 11 September 1934

Elias, Charles A.

Charles A. Elias. He was born 21 August 1878 in Russia (he sometimes stated it was Texas) to Mayer and Bessie (nee Algays) Elias. He came to the USA about 1894. He had at least two brothers in the USA; Joseph, a glass manufacturer living in Long Island, New York, and Joseph, also living in Long Island. He was a naturalized citizen of the USA. He married Ida Violet Israel on 1 March 1903 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and had three sons by her; Aubrey Irving, b. 28 September 1907, Mervyn, b. 1911, and Franklin, b. 1917. He was described as being tall and stout and had brown eyes. He had lived in Passaic since 1909 and had worked in the glass industry ever since. He was a glass manufacturer and was the president of the Passaic Glassworks. His address in 1934 was 75 Ayerigg Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey. He had recently been in ill health and had been advised by his physician to take a rest from business, and the trip on the Morro Castle was to have been a chance for him to rest and recuperate. He was buried at Saddle Brook, Bergen, New Jersey. On the Morro Castle, he shared cabin 609 with John Kent (a victim).  His wife passed away in 1954 in New Jersey.

Herald News, Passaic, New Jersey, 8 September 1934

”…two fishermen at Manasquan, N. J., came upon the body of Charles Elias, 54, who also was a passenger on the cruise liner. He had been listed as missing…..Both arms were severely burned. Death appeared to have been by drowning.” (The Brownsville Herald /Texas/, 13 September 1934, p. 13)

Distler, Mrs. Adelaide Lillian

Adelaide Lillian Distler’s parents were William Johnson, a clerk b. ca. 1839 in London, England, and Margaret (nee Carr; she had been born ca. 1842 in England) Leonard. Her known siblings were Sarah, b. 1871, William (Leonard), b. 21 November 1878, and Jane Elizabeth, b. 18 March 1884. She was a native of New York according to the marriage record. She had been married before; on 8 February 1895, she had married Charles Warren Fox in Manhattan, New York. There is a chance she was the unnamed daughter born to William Johnson and Margaret (nee Carr) Leonard who had been born 19 August 1872 in Manhattan, New York; a passenger list gave her date of birth as 17 August 1877, however. . The Distlers were reported to have lived at 83 Claremont Avenue, Brooklyn. She married Ernest Frederick Distler 10 April 1918 in Manhattan, New York. She was lost in the Morro Castle disaster along with her husband. The Distlers had been staying in cabin 335 on the Morro Castle.

DISTLER – ADELAIDE L. and ERNST F. DISTLER, on Saturday, Sept. 8. Reposing at Klages Funeral Chapel, 14 Pennsylvania Ave., Brooklyn. Funeral services Wednesday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Ave., and St. Paul’s Place; at 11 a.m. services at Christ Evangelical Reformed Church, 50-54 Wynona St. Interment Evergreens Cemetery.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 11 September 1934, p. 13)

 

Distler, Ernest Frederick (Ernst Friedrich)

Ernst Friedrick Distler married Adelaide Lillian Fox on 10 April 1918 in Manhattan. His parents were John and Elizabeth (nee Lang) Distler. Ernst Distler had been born in Bavaria, Germany, on 27 August 1855, albeit there is a chance he in fact was the Karl Ernst Friedrich Distler who had been born in Nuremberg, Bavaria, 26 October 1855 in the Protestant (Evangelisch; Lutheran) Church. His father was Johan Distler. He had come to the USA in 1871. He became a naturalized citizen of the USA in 1880. He was a salesman. His first wife was Maria Distler, who seems to have died in December 1885 in Brooklyn. He then married Adelaide Fox in 1918; their marriage license was issued 8 April of that year. In 1920, he and his wife Adelaide lived at 30 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City. He was a brewery director. His wife’s daughter Adelaide Fox, a costume model aged 22 also lived with them. In 1934, the Distlers were said to have lived at 83 Claremont Avenue, Brooklyn. His obituary described him as a retired brewer. Three sons survived him; Ernst Frederick J. (18 May 1884 – 10 Aug 1971), Harry (b. 24 Dec 1881) and Theodore A. Distler (22 Nov 1898 – 10 Apr 1991). Adelaide was his third wife. He stood 5’11”, had blue eyes, light complexion, and grey hair. The Distlers had been staying in cabin 335 on the Morro Castle.

DISTLER – ADELAIDE L. and ERNST F. DISTLER, on Saturday, Sept. 8. Reposing at Klages Funeral Chapel, 14 Pennsylvania Ave., Brooklyn. Funeral services Wednesday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Church Ave., and St. Paul’s Place; at 11 a.m. services at Christ Evangelical Reformed Church, 50-54 Wynona St. Interment Evergreens Cemetery.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 11 September 1934, p. 13)

 

Dillon, Mrs. Louise ”Lulu”

Lulu/Louise Dillon, nee Hobby, formerly Maloney. Lulu Maloney married James J. Dillon on 8 February 1934 in Kings, New York, and travelled with her daughter Mae Maloney. Her parents were William M., a hostler – also noted as a truckman – born in November 1853 in North Castle West, New York, and Kate (nee Yerks; born in August 1856 in Brooklyn, New York City) Hobby, who had married 25 September 1876 in Brooklyn, New York. She seems to have been born 27 August 1886 in Brooklyn, listed as ”female” Hobbie. She had at least two sisters; Daisy, born in November 1882 in Connecticut, and Alice, born in October 1884 in New York. Her first husband was John Joseph Maloney, whom she apparently had married 25 January  1907. Her 1934 address was said to have been 42 Fourth Street, Brooklyn, New York City. On the Morro Castle, she was in cabin 401 with her daughter, Mae Maloney (a survivor). Her body was identified by her son-in-law, C. R. Murphy

”DILLON – Suddenly, on Sept. 8, 1934, LULU MALONEY DILLON, beloved wife of James J. Dillon and loving mother of Mrs. W. Sweeney and Mrs. C. R. Murphy, member of U. S. Grant Council, Foresters of America, Golden Rod Council of Sons and Daughters of Liberty, and Ladies Auxiliary of the First Division Post, V. F. W. 820. Funeral services at the home of her daughter, 331 Walsh Court, Tuesday, 8 p.m. Funeral Wednesday at 2 p.m. Interment, Greenwood Cemetery.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 11 September 1934, p. 13)

Coll, Dr. James Patrick

Dr. James Patrick Coll was born 26 July 1883 in Philadelphia and was the son of James, a merchant b. June 1848 in Ireland (d. 1928), and Mary (nee Louth; she had been born in September 1857 in Pennsylvania) Coll. His parents had married 2 February 1875 in Philadelphia. His known siblings were Helen, b. October 1876, Mary, b. 1878, Arthur Benedict, b. 15 August 1879, Leo J., b. 28 August 1887, William, b. 28 July 1891, Emmet, b. December 1895, and Margaret, b. April 1897. In 1917/18 he lived in East Orange, New Jersey, and was described as a physician. He was of medium height and build, had blue eyes and dark brown hair. He had at least two sons from previous marriages; James Joseph, b. 2 February 1912, and Donald Maron, b. 30 October 1915. He married Dorothy M. Sooy on 28 October 1932 in Manhattan, New York and was noted as divorced at the time of the marriage. It has been suggested that Mrs. Coll was his fifth wife,  but only two of his previous wives are known; in 1910, he was married to Kathryn M. (nee Hughes; she was the mother of James and Donald), and Edna, 18 years his junior, with whom he was married in 1930; they had married around 1923. He and Dorothy, who survived the disaster, lived at 2141 Locust Street in Philadelphia, albeit newspaper reports gave their 1934 address as 54 Duncan Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey. He was described as head of the Modern Medical Associates Clinic in Jersey City. On the Morro Castle, he and Mrs. Coll had been staying in cabin 328. He was buried 12 September 1934 at Pointville Cemetery, Fort Dix, Burlington, New Jersey.  After the disaster, his relatives received an award of $22,500 from the Ward Line.

Photo: Jim Kalafus collection

Cochrane, Miss Catherine M.

Miss Catherine M. Cochrane. She was Dr. Charles Cochrane’s sister. She was born in December 1876 in New York and was the daughter of John Robert, a salesman born ca. 1845 in Canada) and Sarahett Ward (nee Tigney; she was a native of New York; February 1843- 25 March 1932) Cochran. Miss Cochrane seems to have had no particular occupation. She had occupied cabin 3 on A deck on the Morro Castle and was one of the few who never made it out of her cabin.

”The second lot of bones were found in ”A-3,” a suit on the A deck just aft of the bridge. The occupant had been miss C. M. Cochrane.” (The Gazette and Daily /York, Pennsylvania/, 14 September 1934, p. 7)

”COCHRANE – Suddenly, on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1934, CATHERINE M. COCHRANE, of 78 8^th Ave., Brooklyn, beloved sister of Dr. Charles S. Cochrane. Services at the Fairchild Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, Brooklyn, on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 8:30 p.m. Interment private.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 17 September 1934, p. 13)

Clark, Mrs. Catherine J. ”Carrie”

Mrs. Catherine J. ”Carrie” Clark, nee Thornton. She was born in March 1883 to John, a stone cutter and general inspector of masonry b. 1846 in Ireland, and Mary (nee McDonald; she had been born ca. 1852 in Ireland) Thornton. She had six siblings, three of whom lived beyond childhood; James, b. 1880, John Joseph, b. 1886, and Thomas Francis, b. 23  June 1889. She lived with her family in Brooklyn in 1900 and 1910, and was listed as having no occupation. Her husband, William Clark, whom she had married on or shortly after 28 August 1918, was one of the survivors of the disaster. They had been staying in cabin 331 on the Morro Castle.

”The body of Mrs. Catherine Clark of 156-14 Channel Street, Howard Beach, was identified at the Sea Girt Morgue by a family friend. Her husband, William F., was still shaken by the harrowing experience. He said he was rushing to his wife’s aid when he saw a stranger push her overboard.
Couldn’t Adjust Lifebelt
”We staggered through the smoke,” Clark said, ”and met an officer who told us the fire was serious. We brought our life preservers, but we didn’t know how to adjust them. Someone threw my wife off the upper deck before I could intervene. If I could only have stayed with her she would have been saved. A rescue boat picked me up almost as soon as I got in the water.” (Long Island Daily Press, 10 September 1934, p. 2)

‘’CLARK – CARRIE J., of 156-14 Channel st., Howard Beach, beloved wife of William, mother of William, James and Catherine, sister of John J. and Thomas F. Thornton. Requiem mass at Our Lady of Grace R. C. Church, Howard Beach, Wednesday, 10 A. M. Interment St. John’s.’’ (Brooklyn Times Union, 11 September 1934, p. 12A)