Frank Lucks Towers
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Frank Lucks Towers is the subject of an urban legend that said that he survived the sinkings of the RMS Titanic, RMS Empress of Ireland, and the RMS Lusitania. There is no evidence that anyone was involved in all three disasters.[citation needed]
The legend claims that he was a coal stoker on the Titanic, and survived after it sank on its maiden voyage on 14 April 1912. Two years later, on 28 May 1914, Frank was allegedly aboard the RMS Empress of Ireland when it collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad in the Saint Lawrence River. Although this disaster was considered the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history, Towers was one of only 465 of the 1477 aboard to survive. During WWI, Towers was serving as a crewmember aboard the RMS Lusitania. In the early afternoon of 7 May 1915, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 and sank 18 minutes later. Again, Towers escaped the sinking ship, and swam to a nearby lifeboat.
The legend also claims that the story of Frank Towers serves as the inspiration for Rod Serling's teleplay Lone Survivor for The Twilight Zone.[citation needed]
Ripley's Believe It or Not reported the legend assuming it was true.
[edit] References
- Her Name, Titanic by Charles Pellegrino
- On the Trail of ‘Lucky’ Tower by Senan Molony
