Karen Marie Abelseth (September 14th, 1895 - July 27th, 1969) was a Third Class passenger of the Titanic. She survived the sinking.
Biography[]
She was traveling with Olaus Abelseth (no relation, but he was a family friend to accompany her), Anna Salkjelsvik, Peter Søholt, Sigurd Hansen Moen and Adolf Humblen. They all set sail from Ålesund to Newcastle via Bergen and boarded the Titanic at Southampton as Third Class passengers. Karen's destination was Los Angeles, California where her sister Anna lived. She shared a cabin with Anna Salkjelsvik and some Swedish girls.
She slept through the collision but was woken up by Adolf Humblen. When she went out in the corridor the people had risen "and came dragging their trunks." She became very scared. Sigurd Moen had to hold on to her because she was shaking with fright. Up on deck she was escorted by Olaus, Moen and Søholt to a lifeboat (probably Lifeboat 16). Moen said to her to be brave, all would be well in the end. Then the boat was lowered. Olaus survived in the very last collapsible lifeboat, swamped with swimmers and half-sunk in the icy water. He was saved by Lifeboat 14 just in time.
In popular culture[]
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Karen Marie Abelseth in S.O.S. Titanic
Karen has appeared several times in S.O.S. Titanic, portrayed by an uncredited actress.
During the sinking, Olaus Abelseth helped her put on her life jacket and the two of them joined the group consisting of James Farrell, Martin Gallagher, David Charters, Daniel Buckley, Kate Gilnagh, Kate Mullins, Bridget Bradley and Mary Agatha Glynn, to go find their own way to the boat deck.
The group then got lost in the First Class Dining Saloon and was stopped by Master at-arms Thomas King because he thought they were going to steal or looting something. But King finally allowed the women to go to the lifeboats after Farrell begged him.
Karen (left) with the girls and Olaus Abelseth on board the Carpathia
The girls parted ways with the gentlemen, and managed to find the Collapsible D that was being filled. The girls were helped in by Violet Jessop and were immediately surprised to see Daniel Buckley hiding in the bottom of the lifeboat. Kate Gilnagh immediately gave him her shawl and told Daniel to stay down.
The gentlemen died in the sinking but Olaus Abelseth and Daniel survived. Karen was last seen in the Carpathia sitting thoughtfully beside the girls.