A Dangerous Profession?
June 2, 2024
If I think of life’s most dangerous professions, a few come easily to mind: firefighter, soldier, mountain climber, race car driver, bullfighter. But what about playing the violin for a living? Is it my imagination, or do I hear loud guffaws from you readers? Yeah, right. The fiddle is so heavy that lifting it might cause a hernia, and playing too fast without a doctor’s permission could easily result in a fatal heart attack.
But consider the case of Wallace Hartley, who was born on this day, June 2, 1878, in Coine, Lancashire, England. Wallace studied at Coine’s Methodist day school, sang in the choir, and learned to play the violin from a fellow congregation member. After leaving school he joined several different regional orchestras, before signing up in 1909 with the Cunard Line as a musician, serving on the ocean liners RMS Lucania, RMS Lusitania, and RMS Mauritania. Eventually, his onboard status changed from a member of the crew to second-class passenger at the ship company’s expense.
In April, 1912, Hartley became bandmaster for the White Star Line ship RMS Titanic. Hartley was hesitant to leave his fiancee, Maria Robinson, to whom he had recently proposed, but the chance to join this highly talked-about ocean liner, the largest and most luxurious ever built at the time, and on its maiden voyage to boot, was an irresistible career opportunity. Hartley accepted the assignment.
On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left Southampton, England, destined for New York City. Wallace Hartley headed a five-piece band, and for the next four days they serenaded passengers with light, pleasing music. One passenger recalled hearing them play “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” Late in the evening of April 14, passengers felt the ship shudder slightly. Most thought nothing of it, but the Titanic, going at full speed, had struck an iceberg that ripped several giant holes in its side.
The Titanic’s Captain, Edward Smith, with four decades of seafaring experience, quickly realized the ship was doomed. and ordered lifeboats lowered. Many people refused to board, believing the Titanic could not possibly sink, and adding to the chaos was the inexperienced crew who let many lifeboats go half empty. Throughout, Hartley and his band were reported to have played music intended to calm the terrified passengers as the Titanic slowly sank. Several survivors who were the last to leave said the band continued playing until the ship began its final plunge—a mere two hours and forty minutes after the iceberg had struck. Over fifteen hundred people died with the Titanic’s sinking, in what was considered one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history.
Almost two weeks after the Titanic sank, Wallace Hartley’s body was recovered, fully dressed and with his violin case strapped to his body. On May 18, 1912, one thousand people attended his funeral and an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 lined the funeral procession’s route.
My wife Dorothea and I lived for many years on Manhattan’s West Side, just a block from Straus Park—named for Ida and Isidor Straus (owner of Macy’s department store). Ida Straus was about to enter a lifeboat when she decided not to leave without her husband. She handed her fur coat to her maid, and told her to take her place in the lifeboat. Isidor and Ida went down with the ship.
I must have passed this intimate, little Straus Park countless times, and often enjoyed moments of repose sitting before the reclining statue of a young woman named Memory gazing into the small pool below her. But on April 15, 2012, I was amazed to see every spot of Straus Park covered with flowers that people had brought in tribute. One hundred years to the day since the Titanic sank, people still remembered the tragedy and still mourned for those who had perished.
A silver engraving found on Hartley’s German-made violin, which miraculously survived the disaster, reads, “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement from Maria. 1910.”
I would wish to add another engraving alongside Maria Robinson’s:
Wallace Hartley. Violinist. Comforter. Hero.
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Comments
Wow! What a fantastic story, and arresting photo Arnold!
Wendy
I grew up in Miami, still lived there during the Cuban revolution. The concertmaster of the Havana symphony escaped Cuba in one of the boats carrying refugees, carrying just a small bag and his violin, and when he saw a wave heading towards the boat, he lifted his violin above his head to protect it. Then he became my violin teacher.
The Wallace Hartley violin sold at auction in 2013 for over 1 million pounds.
https://www.timesherald.com/2013/10/21/violin-played-on-titanic-sells-for-145-million/
The leather violin bag sold at auction recently (April 2024) for 360,000 pounds
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/world/europe/titanic-auction-memorabilia.html
Beautiful, touching story Arnold!! Brought tears to my eyes!! ??
What’s very touching and interesting piece dearest Arnold.
Thank you so much and hoping you are both well
Love Annabelle
This is such an amazing story. Thank you, Arnold for memorializing Wallace Hartley for us all. A true hero, indeed.
what a beautiful writing. As you may know, since we passed by a few times on Broadway, I also live there. Nice to know that the Straus park is named after The Straus. Very sad occasion
Thank you for this moving account of a brave violinist who chose to comfort others as he faced his own earthly departure.
Heroic, moving, and wonderful to see the image of the violin and the satchel as well as the photo of the man himself.
This is such a touching tribute to a lost fellow musician. He died a hero and deserves every ounce of solidarity we possess. Wallace Hartley. Keep his name. Thank you for your beautiful memoire.
Martha Potter Kim
Dear Arnold,
You Never cease to amaze me With your moving stories, so brilliantly crafted, and always with a touch of audio or visual to conclude it so that all of our senses are peaked. You have such a talent for writing, as we know from your two memoirs and these short stories, you bring us every so often.It is surely a real match for your musical talent And I hope it goes on and on to bring your readers dose of pleasure in this trouble world we live in like the dose of pleasure the musicians on the titanic provided for the passengers. Some of us get great solace from your writing and I wonder if you thought of writing another book or at least putting all of your wonderful stories into a collection. I do wish you and yours good health and happiness in that interesting place In which you’ve Chosen to retire. Much love, Judith Mitrani.
Thanks, Arnold, for another wonderful story. I’m so grateful for your beautiful stories! Stay safe and well, Steve E.
Thanks Arnold, your stories are plenty of loving moments and make me feel so close to you that I can hear your voice, as many times as we spent with you and Dodo next to a warm fire on your living room in Chatham.
Big hugs a lot of love to both of you
Maru
Thank you for this so very touching story.
Thank you, Arnold, for another beautiful story that caused me to swell with feelings for Wallace and the others who died that night on the ocean.
Hey Arnold! Do you recall a rehearsal with the quartet and me at John and Anne Straus’ apartment, 941 Park Ave and 81st? I believe it was John’s mother who remained with her husband rather than taking a seat on the lifeboat! Love, Dick Stoltzman
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