| Phoebe Amory Second Cabin Passenger Saved |
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 image: Death of the Lusitania, by Phoebe Amory, 1917. Courtesy Mike Poirier. |
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| Born | Phoebe Sledge c. 1850 |
| Died | 17 April 1942 (age 92) Welland, Ontario, Canada |
| Age on Lusitania | 65 |
| Roommates | – Mary Higginbottom – Martha Whyatt |
| Citizenship | British (Canada) |
| Residence | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse(s) | Alfred Amory (? – ?) |
Phoebe Amory (1850-1942), 65, was a Canadian woman going overseas on the Lusitania to see her boys off to war and visit her mother, aged 80. She was married to Alfred Howard Amory. Phoebe survived the Lusitania sinking and later wrote a book about her experiences.
While traveling on Lusitania, Phoebe’s cabin mates were Mrs. Martha Whyatt and Miss Mary Higginbottom. Phoebe’s chief impressions were of the dining room, and that there were many palms and one of the trees nearly reached the ceiling.
Phoebe, along with Charlotte Pye, was one of the volunteers who sold programs for the Seamen’s Charities benefit concert on Thursday, 6 May. Phoebe sold a program to Alfred Vanderbilt in his suite, who then insisted on paying her five dollars for one of the ten-cent programs. “There,” he told her, “that’s for your lovely smile.”
On the last day she took a bath, but as the second luncheon sitting was so close, she slipped on her negilgée and her overcoat and went to lunch when the bell rang. She had just finished ordering and was eating her soup when the ship was struck. As she mounted the stairs she fell down three times but managed to get up.
Reaching the deck, a young man gave her a lifebelt and she made her way forward. As she entered a lifeboat ready to lower, the officer told her that she would have to jump. No sooner did she jump did the boat began to lower and then spill.
Phoebe floated away and realized her lifebelt was on wrong. She was soon picked up by another boat and was half pulled in. She later wrote a book about her experiences, The Death of the Lusitania.
In 1917, Phoebe claimed that she sustained no injuries from the sinking and was able to continue on her trip to see her mother. This claim of no ill-health after effects was contradicted by her later claim against Germany.
Phoebe supported the cause of war against Germany, especially after living through the Lusitania sinking. However, her hospitality to British soldiers was ill repaid when a soldier that she had extended her house to stole $200 worth of her jewels. The police were only able to recover part of what was stolen.
At the end of the war, Mrs. Amory filed a claim for $12,720.00 against Germany. Only $1,660.00 was for loss of personal possessions. Among Phoebe’s claims were that she was “almost paralyzed” on her left side and that she suffered a rupture in her right lower abdomen. The court awarded her $6,650.00 in compensation.
Phoebe lived to be 92 years of age and passed away 17 April 1942 in Welland, Ontario, Canada.
Links of Interest
Encyclopedia Titanica – Lest We Forget: Part 1
Contributors:
Michael Poirier
References:
Hickey, Des and Gus Smith. Seven Days to Disaster. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1981.
Kalafus, Jim and Michael Poirier (2005) Lest We Forget : Part 1 ET Research. <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/lusitania-lest-we-forget.html>
London Times, May 1915.
Phoebe Amory(Sledge) was my greatgrandmother. I have been trying to aquire a copy of her book The Death of the Lusitania. Does anyone know where I could find one?
I’m excellent at internet research, but even I struck out. It seems to have been published in Toronto in 1917, but that’s as much as I’ve found out. A genuinely rare book.
My advice would be to do a search on eBay for the title in quotation marks, searching the descriptions as well as the titles, and when it turns up nothing, as it did for me, click “Save this search.” You have to be registered with eBay to do this. If you do that, though, it will do the searching for you, emailing you months or years later when someone (a Canadian, perhaps) puts his or her copy on the auction site. Then all you have to do is bid on it. 🙂 This method really works; I have gotten extremely rare books for very little money using it.
Good luck!
Phoebe Amory was also my greatgrandmother. Her son Herbert Amory was my mothers father. My mother was Joyce McKinnon. I have a book and my sister Marilyn Price also has a book.
Was your grandfather one of my grandfathers brothers?
Kris
My grandfather was Ernest. I met Herbert as a child.
She was also my great great grandmother and I have the original book and a copy of the boom and her pictures and the passenger list published by Cunnard with a photo of boat. Also I have the post she sent her boys before her sail informing of her pending arrival….my name is Katie…her son Arthur is my great grandfather,
Just saw this post by chance . I would love to get copies if possible .My grandfather was Ernest . Found some interesting info through ancestry. We are related to Elizabeth the 1st.
She was your great grandmother? On what side? Her son Alfred (named after her husband) was my grandmothers father…do you have any other info about this family?
I was also wondering if Mike Poirier is a relative?
Howard – Phoebe Amory was also my greatgrandma. I would love to hear how you are related to her. I have a copy of the book.
She was also my great great grandmother and I have the original book and a copy of the boom and her pictures and the passenger list published by Cunnard with a photo of boat. Also I have the post she sent her boys before her sail informing of her pending arrival….my name is Katie…her son Arthur is my great grandfather,
Just saw your response by accident . Would love copies if possible . Where are you located ? My email is hwrdharper519@gmail.com
Hi Katie, My grandfather was Herbert Amory, your great grandfathers brother. My mother was Joyce Germain Amory. My mother passed away a little over 5 years ago. I think I remember her telling me that her Uncle Author “Art” had a movie theater. I would love to hear from you. My home email address if grace7106@comcast.net
I have a copy of the book with photo glued on the first page and signed “Compliments of P. Amory” It’s quite a fascinating piece of history!
My name is Michelle Amory and I believe Phoebe is my great great Aunt. In fact the family hails from a town in Hampton Roads, VA named Phoebus.
Where are you located. My email is hwrdharper519@gmail.com Just stumbled on your response by accident .
My grandfather was Ernest Amory, son of Howard and Phoebe Amory.
Hello I am great great grand daughter to Phobe. I have an original copy of her book signed by her. My late mother is Betty E Dean(nee Clayton)daughter of Eileen C Willson
I would love to meet you. My phone number is 5198200760 and my email is hwrdharper519@gmail.com hope to hear from you soon.