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Claus Peter Hansen was from Lolland. He had at the age of 19 migrated to thel USA and had setteled in Racine Wisconsin, where he married Jennie Howard, born ini Raymond Wisconsin. Claus Hansen, who was known as Peter, sold his barbershop at 1104 Villa Street in order to visit his parents and three brothers and sisters whom he had not seen for 21 years. The journey vould also bring them to Southampton where Jennie had friends and relatives. They started their journey on the 14th .February, St. Valentines day. Jennie had for long time been weak. She was affraid for the journey and said to her brother that she had a feeling that she vould not return alive. She even tould her brother Tomas how she wanted her funeral to be held in case her body was found. During the voyage she often wrote home, and mentioned the Titanic in one of her letters. | ||
Afet the collision Claus got his wife in one of the lifeboats with the words: Jennie you better go so one of us can tell the story back home. Jennie remember that there was panic near the lifeboat and that the captain shot a man attempting to hide in the lifeboat. "The bullet seemed to whiz right past my face" she said. The body was thrown overboard by a sailor. SHe remember the band p´laying Nearer my god to thee while standing in a feet of water. She also tells how crowded the lifeboat was and that a steward Donald Steward McKay had to sid on her lap. Jennie Hansen was the only one in her party to survieve. | ||
After the fundering Jennie took over Claus Peters estate and erected a monument on the local cemetary in Racine. Jennie later married Elmer Emerson but she never had children. She was near death twice beside the Titanic. She was working as a cook at Blake Opera House and Hotel, which on the 27th. December 1884 burned down to the ground. Jennie escaped in an elevator while the flames was engulfing the shaft. Some month before, she was found lying unconsious in the kitchen which was filled with gas. Jennie Hansen Died in Racine on the 12th . December 1952. | ||