Titanic couples: Dickinson and Helen Bishop

Titanic couples: Dickinson and Helen Bishop by ric gustafson


Dickinson Bishop owned the Round Oak Stove Company in Dowagiac Michigan. When he was twenty three, he became a widower after his first wife died. Nineteen year old, Helen Walton was from nearby Sturgis and whose father owned the Royal Easy Chair Company. They were married in November of 1911 and went on a honeymoon to Egypt, Italy and France.
When Dickinson heard about the Titanic, he decided that it would be a great way to return from their honeymoon. They boarded the ship at Cherbourg on Wednesday April 10. They were a sociable couple  and made friends with several other first class passengers.
On the evening of the 14th, they were in the public lounge and then took a stroll on deck. Their suite on B Deck had a stateroom and a door that led into a bedroom and a bathroom. At 11:40 pm, Helen was already asleep and Dickinson was reading the paper when he heard a knock on their door. Their friend Albert Stewart informed them that the ship had struck something. He woke up Helen and told her that everything was alright but that they needed to go up to the deck. They went up to A Deck and found others milling around. They went back down to the room and put on lifejackets. They kissed their little dog Frou Frou goodbye and went back up to the deck. Their were twelve dogs onboard the Titanic and only three survived.
Dickinson and Helen were put onto Lifeboat 7 which was the first lifeboat to be launched from the ship. There were only twenty eight passengers aboard, twelve women and thirteen men and three crewmembers. Dickinson and Helen watched as the ship went under. As dawn broke on the horizon, they were rescued by the Carpathia.
On April 19, they were asked to testify to the US Senate Inquiry regarding the sinking of the ship. Newspapers berated male survivors for lack of gallantry.
In December of 1912, a son named Randall Walton was born but died two days later. In November 1914, Helen was in a horrible car accident and suffered major head injuries. In January of 1916, the couple divorced and Helen died shortly after.
Dickinson Bishop eventually married three times, served in WWI and was forever shadowed by the tragedy of the Titanic.


research help: ' Titanic Love Stories' by Gill Paul


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric