Marta Maria Hiltunen was a Second class passenger on Titanic.
Early life[]
Marta Maria Hiltunen was a native of Kuiopi, Northern Savolax in Finland. She was born on February 7, 1894. Her father was Pekka Pekanpoika Hiltunen, her mother was Iida Muinonen. They were Finnish born. Later, the family resided in Kontiolahti, Utra, North Karelia, Eastern Finland where Marta had her studies. Today, Utra is part of the town of Joensuu.
Marta received her passport from the Kuopio county government on March 31, 1912. Having acquired it, she started a voyage on April 3 with the Polaris from Hanko to go to England. She traveled in the company of Anna Hämäläinen and her son Wiljo, who were headed for Detroit, Michigan, USA. They were to be reunited with their husband and father. It appears Marta was headed that way too as it looks like she would be a servant or housekeeper for Marta’s household in America.
Titanic[]
Marta was an unmarried, 17-year old woman when she had stepped aboard the mighty new liner in Southampton on the 10th of April, alongside her friend Anna Hämäläinen and her baby. They had tickets for Second Class.
On April 14, Titanic steamed at high speed through the cold night when an iceberg suddenly loomed out of seemingly nowhere from a close distance and couldn’t be avoided in time despite their best efforts. The ship had a collision on starboard side which was more of a graze but it was enough to open up small crevices in her hull on her bow over a good length. Seawater was filling the ship fast. On April 15, shortly after midnight, Captain Smith knew she wouldn’t stay afloat for more than a few hours and started an evacuation so that at least some passengers would be rescued.
When Marta, Anna and her son had arrived on either the A-Deck or Boat Deck when they made their way to a lifeboat, which is estimated to be lifeboat 4. Anna boarded it and she waited for Marta, who was keeping Anna’s suitcase for her. Anna expected her to follow but she didn’t and stood there, obviously not knowing what to do. Maybe she was frightened but the reason for her not saving herself remains clouded in mystery. Both Hämäläinens survived the disaster while Anna became a victim when Titanic sank, leaving many people behind in the freezing waters. Her body would not be found later.
Mrs. Hämäläinen was very sad to discover her friend was among the dead. Marta’s parents were notified of their daughter's death by the FÅA or Finska Ångfartyg Aktiebolaget.