Elizabeth Weed Shutes

By: Chloe Adams

Elizabeth Weed Shutes was born April 30, 1871 in Newburgh, New York. April is a memorable month for Miss Shutes not just because she was born in this month, but because she was on the Titanic. Elizabeth, or Liz, boarded the Titanic in Southampton Wednesday April 10^th, 1912 as a first class passenger.

Elizabeth was 40 when she boarded the Titanic. She had ticket 17582. Elizabeth shared this ticket with Margaret Graham because she was Margaret’s servant. Her actual title was governess. Elizabeth and Margaret occupied cabin C-125. In cabin C-125 was where Miss Shutes and Margaret Graham felt the collision of the iceberg against the “unsinkable” ship the Titanic. Elizabeth, who felt worried, asked a crewman if there was any danger but the crewman said no. Both Margaret and Elizabeth felt different.

What finally caused Liz and Margaret to leave their luxurious cabin were Elizabeth’s shaky hands and a chicken sandwich. Liz was eating a chicken sandwich and the chicken kept falling from her bread because her hands were shaking. Liz and Margaret then knew something was wrong. Elizabeth Shutes, Margaret Graham, and Margaret’s mother, Edith Graham, were helped to lifeboat three by Washington Roebling and Howard B. Case. From the lifeboat Elizabeth saw a shooting star. She was lonely and scared on the lifeboat. Also two women who were on the lifeboat were smoking. They were smoking near Elizabeth and she asked them to stop smoking. Unfortunately for Liz, they refused.

When Carpathia arrived Elizabeth would not use the ladder so instead she sat in a rope sling and was swept aloft. From somewhere above, a man said "Careful, boys, she's a light-weight!”-1

Elizabeth’s life after the sinking of the Titanic was uneventful. According to Margaret Graham's granddaughter, Miss Shute did not remain in the Graham family employ for long. Margaret viewed her as somewhat less than competent and disliked her. Elizabeth never was married and she lived until she was 78. Elizabeth Weed Shutes died in Utica, New York on October 27, 1949 of cancer. Though she died, it wasn’t as horrific as the deaths of the passengers on the Titanic that didn’t survive the wreck. She got 38 more years in life then the people who didn’t survive the wreck and she was very lucky.

Citations

"Miss Elizabeth Weed Shutes- Titanic Biographies- Encyclopedia Titanica." Encyclopedia Titanica. 2007. Encyclopedia Titanica. 26 Mar 2008 . 

"The Address Book-Address for Miss Shutes, Elizabeth." The Address Book. 2005. 26 Mar 2008 .

 “Elizabeth Shutes” Online Image. TitanicPeople.com 2 April 2008http://www.titanicpeople.com/images/1(21).jpg