Gold watch that secured spot on Titanic lifeboat up for auction

By James Gamble

A gold watch rumored to have been used as a bribe to gain a family's spot on a Titanic lifeboat is set to fetch as much as $62,500 at auction.

The watch was handed to a crew member by a passenger during the infamous sinking of the British ocean liner in 1912.

However, it remains debated to this day whether its owner used the timepiece to bribe a stoker for a lifeboat spot for his family — or merely gifted it in gratitude.

Whatever the circumstances of how it was handed across, the 19th-century watch is now set for sale with auctioneers John Nicholson’s — and is expected to fetch between $37,500 and $62,500.

The gold watch remains at the center of one of the most controversial tales involving the disastrous sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage.

The ship sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, five days into its journey from Southampton on England's southern coast to New York across the Atlantic.

Of the 2,208 passengers and crew on board, around 1,500 died, making it one of the deadliest peacetime sinkings of a single ship.

The circumstances surrounding the survival of the Caldwell family have been one of the most hotly debated tales in the aftermath of the ship's sinking.

More than a century later, the mystery has been the subject of a book as well as countless blogs, essays and interviews.

At the heart of the debate is whether Albert Caldwell bribed crew members with his watch to secure a place on one of the lifeboats.

It is known that the timepiece was definitely passed to a crew member, but the Caldwell family, once rescued, disappeared so quickly that they were left off the published list of survivors, having made their way home to Illinois.

In doing so, they also managed to avoid being picked up by an ambulance waiting for Sylvia Caldwell on the quay in New York, which had been tasked with assessing her state of health.

In 1909, the Caldwells had signed up for a seven-year mission to Thailand — then known as Siam — with the Presbyterian Church’s Board of Foreign Missions.

Sylvia Caldwell was reportedly already ill by the time she gave birth to their son, Alden, in 1911, and the couple applied for early release from their contract.

However, their request was turned down, meaning the mission wouldn't pay for their expensive repatriation journey.

Eventually, the family's pleas persuaded the Church to change its mind.

But Albert Caldwell's boss wanted his wife's health assessed before their account was settled, to determine whether they should pay for the family's return passage.

The Caldwells, having arrived on rescue boat RMS Carpathia, managed to give the waiting ambulance the slip before heading back west, where Albert secured a job as a school principal within days.

How the watch changed hands from Albert Caldwell's to one of the ship's stokers, however, has never been fully elucidated.

Caldwell himself even changed his account of his family's rescue several times throughout his long life, between 1885 and 1977.

In one recorded interview, he explained that lifeboats were initially being lowered and sent off only partially full, as passengers didn't realize the ship was sinking and were reluctant to let their wives and children set off by themselves.

However, after descending to a lower deck and speaking with some of the ship’s stokers, Caldwell said he learned the true state of affairs.

At that moment, Caldwell claimed lifeboat number 13, which was only partially filled, was lowered past their deck.

He said one of the stokers shouted to the crew above to hold it in position while the stokers and the Caldwell family climbed in.

Other stories of how Caldwell ended up in the lifeboat also emerged, however, with some damning him and others praising him as the protector of his family.

A family photograph taken two days before the ship sank shows Caldwell clutching 10-month-old Alden on the deck, with his wife standing next to them.

One argument posed was that her illness meant she didn't have the strength to carry her baby, meaning it was likely that Caldwell was also carrying him when they got on the lifeboat.

When the watch was previously sold in 1998, it had been assumed that 'Elliot C', the son of the crewman who signed a letter of provenance, was Elliot C. Everett.

However, it is now believed the signature 'Elliot C' indicates that his last name begins with C, meaning the watch could instead have been given to one of the engine room crew Albert had befriended.

The letter of provenance states: "David. Father left his much treasured pocket watch and chain/cufflinks to me upon his death and I should like you to have them as a gesture of my gratitude for your many kindnesses over the years.

"Sadly it was necessary for me to sell the gold watch chain at a time of financial need.

"The watch has some history attached to it which you will be interested to read."

Caldwell’s great-niece wrote a book called A Rare Titanic Family in 2012, which again validated the survivor's actions and a copy of which accompanies the watch.

The watch itself, originally the property of another relative before being passed to Caldwell, is an 18-karat gold-cased keyless half hunter pocket watch by Sutherland & Horne, Edinburgh, circa 1876.

It is engraved: "Presented to James Caldwell by the employees of the Pumpherston Oil Co. Ltd on his leaving to take charge of the Mining Department at Deans, June 3rd 1896."

Whether used as a bribe or a gift, the gold watch is estimated to sell for between $37,500 and $62,500 when it goes under the hammer later this month.