Onida Man Saved When Titanic Sank

Hedman Recalls Event 27 Years Ago

Onida, S. D., April 11. – April 14 is a memorable date for Dr. Oscar Hedman of Onida. Twenty-seven years ago Dr. Hedman was a third class passenger on the ill-fated Titanic. He had visited his parents in Sweden and was returning to the United States via the giant steamship Titanic, the largest vessel then afloat, on its maiden trip from Liverpool to New York.

Shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912, the ship suddenly struck an iceberg and the stewards ordered the passengers to get on deck. Dr. Hedman said, "We dressed but were not excited as this was considered the unsinkable boat. When we went on deck the officers asked us what we wanted and we told them we were ordered there but they told us to go on back to bed. By this time there was quite a commotion and women were crying and people gathering on deck. My berth companion, Carl Johnson, was a seaman and knew the 'ropes' as he was a steward bound for New York to get aboard his ship.

Officers Had Guns

"He suggested that we walk toward the front of the ship and told me to stay right by him. In the front part of the ship we found great heaps of ice and my pal said that he thought the boat would sink as he had seen a couple other such jams. By this time the life boats were being lowered and we started back to try and get in one, but they were already roped off and officers with guns ordered us to stand back for the women and children.

"Then rockets were sent up and my pal said that was the last thing a ship did as a distress warning and for me to prepare to swim. I took off my coat and gave it to a lady who had come on deck partly dressed. Soon the electric lights went off and water was up to our knees on deck. We made as a long a jump as possible and tried to stay together. Both of us were expert swimmers but I became chilled in a short time and my friend grabbed something that floated by and told me to hold on to it. It proved to be a dead man inside a life-preserver. I climbed on and rode like I was on horseback. We came near a lifeboat that had been overturned and people were trying to hang on and here my pal disappeared with many others who were shoved off in the struggle.

Women Sang Hymn

"After riding my gruesome raft for over a half hour, I came close to a lifeboat and some one yelled and asked if I could row and I assured him that I was an expert rower. This boat had about 40 passengers and was overcrowded but soon the officer in charge equalized the loads in the few boats.

"Soon we saw the majestic Titanic rear up and heard four loud explosions and then the ship gradually sank.

"The story that the band played 'Nearer My God to Thee' was not true, but one lady did sit down at the piano and sing that hymn.

Rescued in Morning

"We were rescued by the Italian liner Carpathia about 1,600 miles northeast of New York about 7 o'clock in the morning and I was reported among the 1,500 missing."

Dr. Hedman was 27 years old at the time of this story and had lived in the United States for 10 years. He was engaged to Miss Tillie Anderson of Colton, S. D., and they were married soon after his return.

Dr. and Mrs. Hedman are prominent residents of Onida and very popular. They have a beautiful spacious home that is shared generously with all their friends. Dr. Hedman is a chiropodist and chiropractor and has patients from all parts of the state. Dr. Hedman is county coroner, city councilman, and a member of the recreation board of Onida.

We would like to thank Wolfric Rogers for contributing this article. If you would like to contribute a primary source to Titanic Archive, please contact us.