Titanic couples: George and Dorothy Harder

Titanic couples: George and Dorothy Harder by ric Gustafson


Dorothy Harder's grandfather Edward Annan was President of the New York Produce Exchange. He was also one of the trustees of the Brooklyn Bridge building project. Dorothy's father was a manager with the Erie Railroad Company but died when she was only three years old.
George Harder was a handsome young man  who supplied metals to General Motors. George and Dorothy were crazy about each other when they met and their engagement was announced on December 31 1911. After they were married, they set sail for Europe. They traveled through France and Italy and were away for three months. On the way back, George booked a ticket home on a new ocean liner, the Titanic. Their suite was on E Deck and they enjoyed first class amenities.
The couple had trouble getting around the ship because their cabin was on E Deck. They had to go up a floor to get on an elevator and stewards were busy helping people get around the huge ship.
On the night of Sunday April 14, the couple were in bed but were not asleep. They felt a dull thump and George ran to a window and looked out. He saw an iceberg go by that was between fifty and one hundred feet tall. Both got dressed and went up on the deck. They watched as the Bishops were being lowered into Lifeboat 7. Bruce Ismay helped people into Lifeboat 5 including the Harders.
After the Lifeboat reached the water, it eventually pulled up beside Lifeboat 7. There were only 36 passengers on Lifeboat 5. The next morning at dawn, the Lifeboat was rescued by the Carpathia.
Back in the States, Dorothy's Uncle, William Dykman that they had survived. George was questioned by the US Senate Inquiry about getting aboard the lifeboat instead of more women and children.


research help: ' Titanic Love Stories' by Gill Paul


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric