Historic Preservation Group Recalls Beverly's Ties To The Titanic

BEVERLY, MA -- With everything happening in New England on Patriots Day Weekend, Historic Beverly made sure another anniversary did not get overlooked. Sunday marked the 106th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and the local historic preservation group posted entries on its Facebook page from the diary of a local resident and her reactions to the news that first broke.

"News of a horrific accident came last night. The Titanic on its maiden voyage 2-N.Y., with nearly 3000 on board has collided with an iceberg. News came by wireless Nothing yet authoritative," Anna Endicott wrote in her diary on April 15, 1912. Endicott was the wife of Robert Rantoul Endicott, who was president of the Beverly Savings Bank.

Endicott wrote a follow-up entry on April 16, 1912, as more details were confirmed. "Only 800 of the passengers on the Titanic saved. The steamer sank in four hours. The survivors reach N.Y. on Thursday, then more difficult news of this horrible disaster- it is perfectly appalling!" she wrote.

Beverly had another notable disaster to the maritime disaster: Henry C. Frick had booked passage on the ship but canceled his voyage when his wife Adelaide sprained her ankle and needed to be hospitalized, according to Historic Beverly. While Frick is most often associated with Pittsburgh, his summer estate was on Hale Street in Beverly and known as Eagle Rock.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).