The Woman Who Cheated Death – Violet Jessop

The woman who survived the disasters of three Atlantic steam ships “Olimpic”, “Titanic” and “Britanic” in just five years had not had an easy life.

The last two of them were tragically flooded. The story of Violet Jessop, who never lost her faith, as well as her responsibility and professionalism, proved how strong a woman can be . Do you want to meet her? We invite you to read!

A woman who didn’t have an easy life

Most recognized as the maid of the Titanic, Violet Constance Jessop Vivanco was born in 1887 in Argentina. Her parents were Irish immigrants who left their native Dublin in the hope of a better life in Argentina. This woman was the first of nine children of Katherin and William, and as a little girl she had to fight for her life.

Doctors diagnosed her with tuberculosis, not giving her much chance of survival. However, Violet recovered unlike her father, who died shortly after the family returned to Britain, leaving her, the eldest daughter, with her sick and disabled mother and younger siblings.

Despite her young age, the woman had to go to work and, thanks to her effort, diligence and a bit of luck, after a few years she got into the prestigious White Star Line and started working on high-class liners.

The woman who boarded the ship

In 1907, these lines set themselves the task of creating three twin, giant titans of the oceans, which were to be the safest units on the water. The ships were to carry more than 4,000 passengers from the coasts of Europe to America.

First, the  “ Olimpic” was constructed , then the “Titanic”, and finally the “Gigantic” (later renamed “Britannic”). You’ve heard the fate of at least two of them.

Violet Jessop started working on the first of the giant ships, “Olimpic”. After all, she had to support her paralyzed mother and the rest of her siblings. The young woman also had to face hard times and the difficult situation women were in at that time.

Violet Jessop is the protagonist of three sea disasters

The first accident, which later turned out to be the least dangerous, took place on September 20, 1911, on board the Olimpic. Violet had only been working as a waitress for a few months. The salary was only enough to feed the family, even though she often worked 17 hours a day.

She liked her job and the atmosphere on board until that fateful day. On September 20, the steamship Olimpic collided with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Hawk. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the collision, but both ships were destroyed. Nevertheless, the accident provoked a feeling of fear and it was not without the desire to leave the job.

The thought of the family and the desire to provide them with a better life won. Violet knew that she would not feed her loved ones with fear and her fears, nor would she be able to look herself in the eye calmly.

So she gathered herself, found inner strength, and although “Olimpic” returned to the great waters, another, much more interesting proposal awaited Violet …

The Titanic goes on a journey

The White Star Line offered her a job on the Titanic, a giant luxury passenger ship. She was supposed to be one of the 23 restaurant service employees there for a much higher salary, and it was a unique opportunity to participate in such a spectacular event as the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

The Transatlantyk was designed to provide a luxury that has never been seen before in the North Atlantic. In addition, it was to be a demonstration of greatness, power and strength. Violet wanted to quit a few days before leaving, but her family finally convinced her.

The woman on board took a first-class cabin and was to serve the passengers of this part of the ship for 17 hours a day.

On the night of April 14/15, 1912, nature turned out to be stronger than what was created by the hand of man. The ship unexpectedly collided with an iceberg. Violet made it to third grade and explained to all those who did not speak English that they had to evacuate as soon as possible.

Later she found herself in the lifeboat with the first-class passengers she served. It was her happiness in misfortune. Happiness that 1,523 people whose lives were taken by the ocean that night did not have .

The woman was shocked for several months and there was no question of returning to work. What she experienced was a real tragedy, but the time came when she decided to fight her fear once again.

She did not want sailing the seas to become her biggest nightmare. So she gritted her teeth, richer in tragic experiences, shed tears and nightmarish memories, decided to return to the sea world aboard another giant.

Violet looks fear in the eye

This time it was the third giant from the great White Star Line project, “Britannic”. Due to the outbreak of the First World War, the ship was adapted to function as a hospital. He was tasked with transporting wounded soldiers. Violet wasn’t a waitress this time, but a Red Cross nurse, ready to look after the wounded and help the sick.

On November 21, 1916, the Britannic was in the Aegean Sea and sank there, hitting a mine. As a result of the crash, 30 people died, and most of the crew and passengers were saved. Violet Jessop also survived. This is the third of the giants that has made her brush close to death.

After all this, did she decide to change the way she earned bread? Many in her place, if not all would, but not this brave young woman. Deep waters were her whole life and a form of finding herself in reality. Balancing between life and the wild, capricious and often ruthless ocean, she felt best.

Violet Jessop worked for 42 years, and in 1950 she took a well-deserved retirement.

She lived in a small house in the countryside. There, she devoted herself entirely to gardening and growing her plants. She went down in history as the only woman to survive the three most famous maritime disasters.