Miss
CHRISSIE AITKEN, Second Cabin Passenger
[No Picture Provided]
Chrissie Aitken, 16, was traveling with her father James Aitken, her brother Jarvis (Jarvie),
and nephew Jarvis, Jr. Her family was from Merritt, British Columbia,
Canada and was traveling to Scotland because her father was going to see
a heart specialist in Edinburgh. The Aitken Family bought tickets for
the Cameronia from Chicago, Illinois before being informed of
their transfer to the Lusitania upon arriving in New York City.
Her accommodations in second cabin were with a stranger (Annie Richardson?), next door to her father,
Jarvie, and Javie Jr.
Chrissie was in her room when the ship was torpedoed and to her
the sound was just like a dull thud. A steward knocking on doors
had told her to go up top as the Lusitania started to heel. When
she got to the Boat Deck, a sailor reprimanded her for not having a lifejacket,
gave her his, and pointed her towards a lifeboat. Her father, brother,
and nephew were elsewhere the whole time and she was never able to find
them before leaving the ship. Others tried to convince her that her
family was already safe in a lifeboat before she would leave.
The lifeboat Chrissie sat in was probably either lifeboat #1 or #3.
She got in but jumped from the boat before the boat reached the
water, fearing the boat would capsize like many others. She was
nearly sucked into what she believed was the hole in the side of the
ship caused by the torpedo and/or internal blast (perhaps an open deck?)
but was able to swim free to a raft. She was the only one from her
party to survive. In Queenstown, she identified the body of her father.
With only the dress she was wearing and the money in her pocket, she was
able to take the train (?) to finish the trip and arrived at her aunt and
uncle's home in Edinburgh. Her aunt and uncle had not known that
the Aitkens were on the Lusitania until a newspaper reporter came
to their door to say all the Aitkens were lost a few hours before Chrissie
arrived.
Chrissie Aitken Barnett died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 20 October 1992.
Contributors:
Michael Poirier
References:
Ballard, Dr. Robert D. and Spencer Dunmore. Exploring
the Lusitania. Warner Books, 1995.
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