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Richmond’s Titanic survivor

Meet the Richmonder who survived the sinking of the Titanic

A portrait of Daniel and Henry Reuterdahl’s drawing via wireless description of the Titanic. | Photo via National Archives

In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank into the ocean. Over 1,500 people died in the disaster, but a Richmond-born banker escaped with his life.

Robert Williams Daniel was born in Richmond in 1884. He became a banker after graduating from UVA in 1903, eventually moving to Philadelphia. He boarded the Titanic as a means to return from a business trip in England.

It had already been an eventful excursion for Daniel, who had to escape a fire at the Carlton Hotel in London. He brought with him a French bulldog that he had recently purchased.

Daniel’s means of survival is up for debate. As a first-class passenger, he was within the group that was statistically most likely to survive. While around 68% of the total people on board died, only 45% of first and second-class passengers died, as opposed to 75% of third-class passengers and 78% of the crew.

Daniel claimed that he jumped from the boat, swimming naked in the water until being rescued by lifeboat hours later. While thrilling, it might be more likely that he boarded an early lifeboat before the dire situation was known to the majority of passengers and crew.

RICtoday_Newspapers_TitanicSurvivors — News of Daniel’s survival and marriage were reported in papers.
|
The News Leader; April 16, 1912 and Richmond Times Dispatch; Richmond VA. November 29, 1914 via Library of Virginia

After the disaster, Daniel became something of a media figure because of his marriage to fellow survivor Eloise Smith, whom he reportedly met on the rescue ship. Smith, who was 18 and pregnant, had lost her husband, Lucien, in the sinking.

When the two wed in a private ceremony in 1914, the New York Herald reported that the announcement “created a surprise in the social circles of the city.”

Daniel and Smith divorced in 1923, and Daniel remarried. He moved back to Virginia in 1926. He got divorced again and remarried again.

He was elected to represent the 6th District in the State Senate in 1935, but his political career would be brief — Daniel died in 1940 at the age of 56. He’s buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Events

Monday, April 10

UR Wind Ensemble | Monday, Apr. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Modlin Center for the Arts, 435 Westhampton Way, Richmond | Free | Featured composers include Chance, Copland, Boysen, Goto, Colonna, and Barton.

Tuesday, April 11

Historian Talk: “The Brown’s Island Explosion of 1863" | Tuesday, Apr. 11 | 1-2 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $10 | Historian Bert Dunkerly will discuss the historic event which killed 50 people in the midst of the Civil War.
CAS on Shockoe Sessions Live! | Tuesday, Apr. 11 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | In Your Ear Studios, 1813 E. Broad St., Richmond | $0-$15 | Get tickets to see the alt-rock show in person or tune in to the livestream.

Wednesday, April 12

Vision Video | Wednesday, Apr. 12 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St., Richmond | $17 | Post-punk with Urban Heat and Severed Skies.

Thursday, April 13

“Scanners” | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $8 | See the David Cronenberg classic on the big screen.
Community Night: The Mixer Pajama Party | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Coalition Theater, 8 W. Broad St., Richmond | $0-$5 | Get to this improv night 10 minutes early to sign up — admission is free if you play.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Traffic

Operate with caution around the Altria Theater in the evenings for the next two weeks. “Hamilton” is running from tomorrow through Sunday, April 23 and there will be heavier congestion and less parking than usual. If you need to get to the show, consider walking, carpooling, or riding the bus.

Open

Eco Inspired is now serving customers out of a storefront in the Buford Road Shopping Center in Bon Air. The zero-waste refill shop sells kitchen, bath, and laundry supplies with a bring-your-own-container setup. There will be a grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 22.

Sports

The Flying Squirrels started the season with a sweep against the Reading Fightin Phils, winning Saturday’s doubleheader and the Sunday game. The Squirrels will be back in town next week to face the Erie SeaWolves for a series starting Tuesday, April 18.
VCU Men’s Basketball standout Ace Baldwin Jr. announced that he will transfer to Penn State, joining former Rams coach Mike Rhoades. Baldwin was named A-10 Player of the Year last year. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Eat

Ashland restaurant Fire & Chicken is adding another location, this time in Mechanicsville. The Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken spot is a fast-casual concept. The new location is slightly bigger and owner Miguel Gutierrez says he’s interested in further expansion in the region. (Richmond BizSense)

Edu

The city’s Office of Elections is holding a contest for RPS high schoolers to design a new “I Voted” sticker. The winning sticker will be used for the next three years. Submissions are due by Friday, May 12 at 5 p.m.

Arts

Local group RVA Thriving Artists is hosting an Earth Day celebration at Art Works in Manchester on Saturday, April 15 from 12-3 p.m. The free event will include rock painting, pot decorating, and a raffle.

Drink

UnHappy Hours return to the Poe Museum on Thursday, April 27. The night will double as an “Alice in Wonderland” costume party. Enjoy drinks from Garden Grove Brewing and eats by TBT El Gallo while The Charles Owns Trio plays jazz, swing, and groove music. Get tickets.

Opening

The new Children’s Tower at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is opening April 30. Learn more and explore what makes the Children’s Tower unlike any other.*

Finance

One card, all the perks. A $200 welcome bonus, unlimited cash back, and 0% interest into 2024 all with no annual fee almost sounds too good to be true — but this card has it all.*

Travel

You love strolling in Byrd Park. But do you know how to ask for directions to Jardin des Tuileries in Paris? Babbel — the No. 1 language app in the world — can help you start learning just that in as little as three weeks. Pro tip: Snag 55% off your subscription today.*

Fun Fact

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Trending

How to make skincare more fun: the Marshmallow Whip Maker, which turns the cleanser you’re already using into a fluffy, marshmallow-like foam that feels rich and creamy on the skin. Keep the skincare gains going with a trusted SPF stick for face and body + a silk pillowcase for nighttime.

Try This

👟 It’s tour season

Valentine announces new season of tours

RICtoday_ValentineTours_CourtEnd_History

Learn about the Court End neighborhood the Valentine calls home. | Photo by The Valentine

Spring means the return of public history tours by The Valentine. Attendees can explore the murals of Jackson Ward, uncover Church Hill’s past, trace the struggle for suffrage downtown, and more.

Over the summer, new neighborhood tours for Manchester, Scotts Addition, and Carytown will be added to the lineup.

The museum is also bringing back bus tours this season. The first one will take guests through historic cemeteries on Memorial Day.

Walking tour tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for members, and free for children 18 and under. Bus tours are $50 for non-members, $40 for members. See the full schedule.

Need more tours? We’ve got a guide with 20+ ways to explore Richmond through food, drink, art, and adventure.

The full guide

The Wrap

Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin

From the editor

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