In the final scenes of Titanic, as water floods into the ship’s compartments, the elderly couple clings to each other in bed, wistfully watching the ocean water rise around them. Isidor Straus holds onto his wife tightly, never letting go until the very end.
The tragic love story portrayed in this scene is based on real events: Businessman Isidor Straus (67) and his wife, Ida Straus (63), were among the wealthiest passengers aboard the Titanic. Mr. Straus was the co-owner of the R.H. Macy & Co. department store, now known as Macy’s, a leading retail outlet in New York.
What Happened on That Fateful Night?
On the evening of April 14, 1912, the Titanic, often touted as “unsinkable,” struck an iceberg, leading to catastrophic flooding in the ship’s compartments. As first-class passengers, Isidor and Ida both had access to lifeboats.
According to accounts from survivors who later recounted the events to the press, Mrs. Ida bravely prepared to board a lifeboat, donning a long coat to protect against the cold weather outside, while Isidor firmly stated, “I will not leave this ship until every woman and child is safe.”
Paul Kurzman, a historian and professor, recalled the couple’s fate in an interview with CountryLiving: “The steward said, ‘Mr. Straus, we know who you are; you certainly have a place on the lifeboat.'”
Despite the urgency, Isidor remained resolute about staying on the ship. Seeing that the lifeboats were not filled to capacity, Ida insisted on staying with him, saying, “We have had a wonderful life together for 40 years, and if you do not go, I will not either.”
“A huge wave swept over the ship and both fell into the sea”
Mrs. Straus handed her coat to her maid, Ellen Bird, saying, “I have no need of it anymore. Please take this with you to keep warm until you are rescued.”
Kurzman continued, “Isidor held on tightly to her. Then, a huge wave swept over the side of the ship and both fell into the sea. That was the last time anyone saw them.”
This tragic moment is just one of many poignant stories about the Titanic. The beautiful love and sacrifice of Isidor and Ida continue to resonate, and their story was notably depicted in James Cameron’s 1997 classic film.
In the movie, Isidor urges Ida to board a lifeboat, but she refuses to leave him. “You go, I will follow; do not argue with me. Isidor, do you know how much I care?” Isidor holds her tightly, resigned to their fate.
The scene depicts the elderly couple lying on the bed, hands clasped together, waiting for the inevitable.
Professor Kurzman stated, “James told me he knew it wouldn’t be entirely accurate, but he wanted to portray the essence of the couple’s love. The tragedy of their fate was palpable as they embraced on the deck of the ship.”
In an interview with USA Today, Cameron noted, “I’m a screenwriter and do not intend to turn into a historian.” He also mentioned, “In the case of First Officer William McMaster Murdoch, I chose to portray him as a character with depth. We don’t know exactly what he did, but we do know that he was under immense pressure as he tried to save as many people as possible.”
The Love Story of Isidor and Ida
Isidor Straus was born in Otterberg, Rhenish Bavaria, on February 6, 1845. He immigrated to Georgia with his family in the mid-1850s and later settled in New York, where he met the charming Ida.
The two fell in love after several encounters. At the age of 26, Isidor proposed to 22-year-old Ida. According to Professor Kurzman, they were openly affectionate in public, which was rare for couples at that time. He said, “They often held hands, embraced, which was unusual for couples in those days. But their love was deeply genuine and made their grandchildren proud.”
Isidor became the co-owner of Macy’s and was elected to Congress in 1894. According to Kurzman, he was a key supporter of several prominent figures, including former President Grover Cleveland.
Whenever Isidor traveled for work, he would write letters to Ida. In a letter dated July 25, 1890, Ida wrote: “Nathan is urging all of us to go out today… it would be wonderful to have you here.”
Isidor and Ida Straus at Folies Bergere in Paris in 1907.
In 1872, Ida and Isidor welcomed their first son, Jesse Straus. They later had several more children: Percy, Sara (the mother of historian Paul Kurzman), Minnie, Herbert Nathan, and Vivian.
In 1912, the couple was traveling back from a vacation in the Mediterranean Riviera in France. To return to New York, they booked passage on the RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship, but the trip was canceled. Mr. Straus decided to book first-class accommodations on the Titanic.
The couple resided in “the most luxurious cabin on Deck C, including cabins 55 and 57,” as noted by June Hall McCash in her book The Titanic Romance: Ida and Isidor Straus. Their maid, Ellen Bird, stayed in a smaller cabin down the hall. Bird was the daughter of Charles Lamson, a high-ranking official at the shipping company Charles H. Marshall & Co.
Witnesses recounted that on April 14, Isidor and Ida enjoyed a ten-course meal in the first-class dining room before returning to their cabin. Around midnight, the Titanic collided with an iceberg, and water began flooding the ship’s compartments.
Of the 2,224 passengers and crew aboard the vessel, over 1,500 lost their lives, including Ida and Isidor.
The remains of Mrs. Ida were eventually discovered on the surface of the cold Atlantic, while Mr. Isidor was found later, brought back to New York for memorial services. Every piece of jewelry on him was preserved and sent to their daughter Sara, including a gold ring engraved with their initials (the letters “I” stood for both Ida and Isidor) and a portrait of their son Jesse and daughter Sara.
Isidor’s gold ring.
“The gold ring has been in my family as a cherished heirloom,” said Kurzman. “The ring was given to Sara, who passed it down to my mother, and I am the last in the line to preserve it. When my mother gave it to me, she said it had to be kept in the family forever.”
On May 12, over 6,000 people attended a memorial service for Ida and Isidor at Carnegie Hall. New York Mayor William Jay Gaynor delivered the eulogy alongside “the steel king” Andrew Carnegie.
In New York, visitors can pay their respects at Straus Park, located at the intersection of Broadway and West 106th Street in Upper Manhattan. The memorial features an inscription from the Bible: “They lived a beautiful life together, and in death, they were not separated.”
Source: CountryLiving
