Anna Sgirid Maria Danbom on her wedding day in Chicago, on the 30th of November
Anna Sigrid Maria Danbom was a passenger on Titanic.
Early life[]
Anna Sigrid Maria Brogren was born on March 10, 1884 in Horn, Kisa, Östergötland, Sweden. She was the youngest child of Magnus Peter Konstans Brogren and Anna Lena Johansdotter. Anna had 3 sisters an 1 brother. They were Susanna Carolina, born in 1866, Hilma Elisabeth in 1869, Alfrida Konstantia in 1872 and Axel Konstans in 1875.
In the summer of 1905, Anna emigrated to the United States. Eventually she moved on and settled in Winnipeg in Manitoba County, Canada. At one point, Anna fell in love with a man named Ernst Gilbert Danbom who was born in American but had also Swedish origin. Ernst was a succseful farmer and immigrant recruiter. In 1908, Ernst was able to buy an automobile no less and now owned a fruit farm in Turlock, California. Perhaps they would go and live there in the future. On November 30, 1910, they married in Chicago. For their honeymoon, they traveled to Kisa in Sweden.
On November 16, 1911, Anna gave birth to a baby boy, which they named Gilbert Sigvard Emanuel. After spending several months in Sweden, it was now time for them to return home to Stinton. Her husband had the idea to invite some family over so they could emigrate and enjoy the great opportunities of the continent as well, it was also his job to garner customers for the White Star Line and they could possibly enjoy some discount for traveling with the Titanic. So Ernst started talking to her sister and her husband Anders Johan Andersson. They were very intrigued and thought about this. Eventually they agreed to go along with their 5 children. They probably would stay with the Danboms in Stinton for a while before going their own way to Manitoba in Canada.
Her older brother Axel hosted a farewell party for the Brogrens, Anderssons, Danboms and relatives of Anna Sofia Nysten, a young woman that would also take part in the long journey to America and she knew the families well.
The large group left Kisa and took a train to Gothenburg. On April 5, they embarked on the Calypso which arrived in Hull, England on April 7. From their own, they had to make anoter journey by train to reach Southampton were their vessel would be to make the crossing. However the ship they had planned to take for their trip, could not set sail as their was a coal strike which affected many steamers and lots of voyages were cancelled. They were able to change to go on a new liner of the White Star Line.
Titanic[]
Her sister Alfrida wasn’t so sure if it was a good idea to go on this ship which would have her Maiden Voyage. She believed it to be a bad omen, but still agreed to board her. On April 10 it was the day Titanic would set sail and they had tickets for Third Class in the most aft cabins of the ship. At the time, Anna Sigrid was 28 years old.
On April 14, at the late hour of 11:40 P.M, the unthinkable happened and the Titanic’s hull was scratched by an inevitable iceberg that was spotted at the last minute. The damage was beneath the water line and was so big that she was starting to sink. When the Captain had realised the danger they were in, he ordered for evacuation after midnight on April 15.
Much later, the families reached the Boat Deck. Only Anna Nysten managed to find a spot in one of the lifeboats somehow. She was rescued while the rest stayed behind. The end of Titanic came at 2:20 A.M, and 1503 people found their death. Among them were the Danboms and Anderssons.
Anna’s family was compensated for the loss of their relative. On October 15, 1914, her mother Anna Lena received SEK 462 plus an addition of SEK 184:80 in damages for her two daughters.