William Stainton, 36, was the valet to Broadway impresario Charles Frohman. He was a United States citizen and lived in New York City, New York. He traveled on the same ticket as Frohman, 46052, but stayed in a separate cabin, B-61. He dined in the first class dining saloon with George Slingsby (valet to Frederick Orr-Lewis), Emily Davis, and Annie Walker (maids to Marguerite, Lady Allan). Their table was on C deck of the first class dining room on the starboard side facing the open deck through the window.
On Tuesday, 4 May, Frohman asked Stainton to call for Dr. James McDermott, as Frohman had leg pain from a bad fall some years previous.
On the day of the Lusitania disaster, 7 May, Stainton and Slingsby were running late and joined Emily and Annie at their table in the saloon. They listened to the band play “Tipperary” when Slingsby looked out the window and saw the wake of the torpedo as it approached the ship.
Slingsby called everyone’s attention to the torpedo, including Inspector William Pierpont at the table next to theirs, who also saw the wake. As the torpedo impacted, Slingsby ran to find his employer.
William Stainton was lost in the Lusitania disaster. His body was recovered, #199.
Contributors:
Randy Bryan Bigham
Michael Poirier
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