Titanic Anniversary

On April 14, 1912, the Titanic sank.

1,502 people died.

Among them was Dr. Robert J. Bateman, founder of a rescue mission for men and a home for wayward women in Jacksonville, Florida. Newspapers of the day hailed Bateman as a hero both for his actions aboard the Titanic and his life beforehand.

President Theodore Roosevelt consulted Bateman regarding social issues; and a letter from a prostitute led the minister to be on the Titanic.

“Jacksonville’s Titanic Hero” is one chapter of my book Crackers & Carpetbaggers, available on my storefront at bluefishbooks.info if anyone is interested.