Another piece of lifebelt cork came from the Ogden family. (Louis M. Ogden, 1867-1946.)

In 1911 Ogden bought a new camera for his world tour through Algiers, the Sahara, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Greece and Austria. Unknown to him then, this new camera would prove to become very useful during a surprising and unplanned event— the rescue of the survivors from Titanic.

On a clear and cold April morning in 1912 aboard Carpathia, Ogden rushed to his stateroom to retrieve his new camera. Several lifeboats had appeared on the horizon, carrying Titanic survivors. Ogden photographed the approaching lifeboats 1, 6, and 14 and proceeded to list the names several of the lifeboats passengers in his photograph album. These included Margaret Brown, Quartermaster Robert Hichens and 5th Officer Harold Lowe. As Carpathia moved closer to the sinking site Ogden expected to see scores of bodies, however only a sea of cork pieces, an overturned lifeboat and a few chairs were visible. He photographed the desolate scene with icebergs floating ominously in the distance. He also captured the process of hoisting the Titanics lifeboats onto the Carpathia, as well as at least two views of the Leyland Line steamer Californian in the distance, which became famous for its inaction during the sinking of Titanic despite being relatively close by.

Curious about the sea of cork and the lack of remains at the site of the Titanic disaster, Ogden grabbed a few pieces of recovered debris and “cut up” some of the Titanic lifebelts, which, he thought, contained “a poor quality cork” (April 20, 1912). This small piece of cork (below) is one of the samples that Ogden collected during the rescue.

In reference to the lifebelts he saw, Ogden later wrote to a fellow Carpathia passenger, Dr. Frank Blackmarr:

“The bodies that were picked up a week later were found floating with belts properly adjusted. In these circumstances is it not fair to assume that the belts were constructed with improper materials which, becoming waterlogged, allowed the bearers to sink only to arise later owing to natural causes?” (Paris Herald, August 11, 1912).

Of the 1496 people who perished in the sinking of Titanic, 337 bodies were recovered by various ships. Contrary to Blackmarr’s and Ogden’s claims, several seamen aboard the lifeboats reported that there were scores of bodies surrounding them before their rescue. During the British Inquiry, Seaman Frank O. Evans testified, “I was afraid to look over the sides because it might break my nerves down.” Seaman Joseph Scarrot said, “There were more bodies than there was wreckage . . . We made sail and sailed back to take our other boats in tow that could not manage themselves at all. We made sail then, but just as we were getting clear of the wreckage we sighted the ‘Carpathia's’ lights.”  Scholars say that most of the people who died were probably wearing their lifebelts and were scattered by the current over a distance about 50 miles long. By daylight most of the bodies could have already disappeared, which would explain why Blackmarr and Ogden saw so few human remains.

the dimensions of the piece (3.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches) are curious because it is unusually thin in depth and wide in width for a cork block from a typical Titanic lifebelt.

A piece of cork, 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches, cut out of a lifebelt by Louis Ogden.
 - Cowens Auctions.