The Most Depressing Titanic Tale No One Discusses

The emotional farewell of Jack and Rose in Titanic left many of us in tears, but the real-life narratives from the tragic sinking of the renowned ship were equally poignant. Born in 1886 to a prosperous family in Haiti, Joseph L Ro faced the challenge of growing up without a father. His mother, a self-made and respected merchant, and his uncle, the country's leader, played influential roles in his life. Fluent in French, Creole, and English, Joseph aspired to become an engineer at the age of 15.

With no engineering schools in Haiti, Joseph embarked on a journey to France to pursue his education, lasting a staggering 83 days. During his student years in Paris, Joseph met Juliet through a mentor, and their friendship blossomed into something deeper. The couple decided to marry, but Joseph struggled to find a well-paying job due to racial discrimination, even after completing his studies. Faced with the need to support his growing family, he accepted his uncle's promise of a mathematics professor position in Haiti.

To reunite with his family, Joseph's mother gifted them first-class tickets for the French liner La France. However, due to peculiar rules that separated parents and children for meals, the Lar Ro family opted to exchange their first-class tickets for second-class ones on the RMS Titanic's maiden voyage. The plan was to switch to another ship in New York for their final destination in Haiti.

Boarding the Titanic on April 10th, 1912, the Lar Ro family enjoyed three days of luxury in the ship's state rooms, dining salon, library, and outdoor promenade decks for second-class passengers. Juliet sent a letter to her father during a stop in Queenstown, Ireland, expressing their contentment with the accommodations. The family made friends with fellow passengers, and everything seemed promising until the night of April 14th.

Ignoring warnings about drifting ice, the Titanic collided with an iceberg around 11:40 p.m., 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. Despite being touted as unsinkable, the ship lacked sufficient lifeboats for its passengers. In the chaos that ensued during the evacuation, Joseph ensured his wife and daughters secured spots in Lifeboat 14 but couldn't join them. Wrapping his coat around Juliet, he promised to reunite with them in New York. Tragically, Joseph Lar Ro was among the 1,500 lives lost when the Titanic sank.

Juliet and her daughters were among the 700 survivors rescued by the Carpathia. Reaching New York, they searched for Joseph in vain, forcing them to navigate their future without him. Juliet, lacking English proficiency and the money that went down with the ship, survived in America for only three weeks before returning to France. In December 1912, she gave birth to a son named Joseph, never fully recovering from the loss of her beloved husband.

Decades later, in 1995, Louise, the last surviving Lar Ro child and the final French survivor of the Titanic, shared the heart-wrenching story in an interview with the Titanic Historical Society. Though inspiring some plays and articles, their story never gained the same attention as other passengers' tales.

The text also briefly touches on the poignant story of Isidor and Ida Strauss, a wealthy couple who chose to stay together and face their fate on the Titanic. Born in Germany, they were known for their love and devotion during their 40-year marriage. Despite their wealth, they opted for the Titanic's luxury liner for their journey back to New York, leading to their tragic end on that fateful night. Love for others is a precious gift anyone can recieve on this planet. The couple has shown the strenght of their love even though the others prevent that union at all costs.