John jacob astor titanic watch

Wallace Hartley's body was recovered from the sea with the violin case strapped on to him. Getty Images. The Titanic sank on the night of 14 April , with the loss of more than 1, lives. More on this story 'Remarkable' Titanic menu up for auction. Titanic hero's medals to be auctioned. British Titanic Society. He said: "They reflect not only the importance of the artefacts themselves and their rarity, but they also show the enduring appeal and fascination with the Titanic story.

Sunday 28 April , UK. Why you can trust Sky News. They were among the more than 1, who perished. His wife survived. The sale of the pocket watch comes as other items from the infamous shipwreck have also hit the auction block, most recently a photo taken on April 16, , that apparently shows the iceberg that doomed the ship. In November, a rare menu from the Titanic 's first-class restaurant sold at auction along with a pocket watch from another man who died in the disaster.

Before his death, Astor was a business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, and a lieutenant colonel in the Spanish—American War, according to the auction house. He founded the St. He asked if he could join his wife, mentioning her "delicate condition", but the officer in charge told him not until all the women and children were away.

Astor reportedly stood back and asked for the lifeboat number, then after lighting a cigarette he tossed his gloves to Madeleine. Colonel Archibald Gracie and Second Officer Lightoller , who lowered the boat, both wondered why Astor asked for the lifeboat number. Gracie thought he only wanted to find his wife, but Lightoller thought he was going to sue the company later.

Astor then went to smoke his cigarette with author Jacques Futrelle.

John jacob astor titanic watch

Both Madeleine and Mrs. Brown survived. Futrelle and Astor did not. Reports said his body was badly crushed and covered in soot but all who examined his body maintained that it was in perfect condition with no bruising. He was identified by the initials sewn on the lapel of his jacket.