Letter written by Titanic passenger on day of accident sells for 200k

The last letter known to have been written on board the Titanic sold at auction in Britain for £119,000 ($200,000) on Saturday.

The letter was written by second class passenger Esther Hart just hours before the doomed ocean liner sank. The price tag paid by an unknown bidder breaks the previous record for a Titanic-related letter, which had stood at £94,000, according to the auctioneers.

In the letter Mrs Hart, who was travelling with her daughter and well-known survivor Eva Hart, talks about being ill while on board the New York-bound liner.

Mrs Hart writes: “My Dear ones all. As you see it is Sunday afternoon and we are resting in the library after luncheon.

“I was very bad all day yesterday could not eat or drink and sick all the while, but today I have got over it.”

She goes on to describe how she had been to a church service with Eva and to talk about the trip so far.

“Tho they say this Ship does not roll on account of its size. Any how it rolls enough for me, I shall never forget it. It is very nice weather but awfully windy and cold,” she writes.

“They say we may get into New York Tuesday night but we are really due early Wednesday morning, shall write as soon as we get there.”

The letter was due to be delivered to Mrs Hart’s mother in Essex when the ship returned to Southampton, but the tragedy meant it was never sent.

Agencies/Canadajournal