On June 30, Zorrilla Subastas, an auction house in Montevideo, Uruguay, will auction a letter written and dispatched from the ocean liner RMS Titanic during its maiden voyage in April 1912. Handwritten and signed by Ramón Artagaveytia Gómez, the then 71-year-old member of the prominent Uruguayan Artagaveytia family, the letter was received in Uruguay in the aftermath of the sinking by his brother Adolfo Artagaveytia Gómez. His descendants have kept it in the family possession since then.
Ramón Artagaveytia (1840-1912) had been a survivor of the sinking of the steamer América in 1871, recognized in its time as the most luxurious ship that made the maritime connection between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. it became one of the most notorious shipwrecks in the history of the Río de la Plata of Uruguay and Argentina. Ramón was one of just three Uruguayans on board the ship, and his letter sent from the Titanic constitutes the only example written in Spanish that has ever been offered at auction.
The letter is dated April 11, 1912 on paper with the letterhead and watermark of the British shipping company White Star Line and was dispatched in Queenstown, Ireland, at the last stop on mainland made by the transatlantic for mail dispatch. The lot consists of two separated sheets with three handwritten pages, originally a single folded sheet of paper, with water stain. A later handwritten note was added by his brother Adolfo Artagaveytia Gómez on the third page. It is accompanied by a photograph of Ramón Artagaveytia Gómez printed on a French postal letter, with a handwritten inscription located in Évian and dated August 31, 1909: “A letter and affectionate memory to my brother Adolfo. Ramón”.
The letter is translated into English here:
My dear Adolfo,
On the night of the 9th I wrote in Paris to Elisa and Manuel, and I left with the feeling of not having received a letter from her. From Manuel I have none since February 24; he, who wrote to me every week. Is he bad from his eyesight or does he have something else?
So I set out on my trip thinking that he might be sick, for which I feel sorry because, frankly, I don't know about it.
Yesterday from Cherbourg I have sent a postcard to Elisa, and as soon as I arrive in New York I will telegraph to Manuel, if they don't take it to you, because I only put R. Artagaveytia on it.
The desire is to see North America, although at full steam and seduced by the size of this 45,000-ton steamer that makes its first voyage. I closed my eyes and embarked.
Everything I say about the ship falls short. Yesterday as we approached on the steamer it was as cool as the Río de la Plata, and when I looked up I had the feeling of being at the foot of a five- story house. Upon entering there were about 50 waiters. One of them took my bags, and by elevator (there are 3) we went up to my floor on B deck. The dining room is on D deck and there are others below. The room is very good, with an electric stove, which I kept it on all night because it is cold. Today it is sunny but we are going NW, to Queenstown, Ireland, to dispatch correspondence, which will make us delay the trip, which I take advantage of in order to write.
The dining room is for 500 or so people. Yesterday we were only 340, having a width of 30 meters. The vapor is wider as there are still corridors on the sides. The food was very good and there were plenty of dishes. Last night we were a Mexican, congressman and doctor friend of Díaz, still young, a Spaniard, and a very serious English lady and American lady.
I toured what I could of the steam and its different rooms, and today, to find this one to write, and since there are more than two, it was hard for me. The corridors are painted white and some rooms, like this one, are made of carved wood, oak, I think, with green velvety satin sofas and chairs. Everything is new and rich.
The promenade is 647 feet on one side and there is an open space which was full of sun today, and there is the other promenade, somewhat smaller, so you can walk about 340 meters without turning around. Then there are the bow and the stern, the steamer being 260 meters long. The dining room is about 30 meters wide, so with the corridors the steam would be 40 or 45 meters wide.
For the description of the steam I am letting you know what might attract your attention. I will see if I put my notebooks together...
But I notice that it stops, and I see nearby land, Ireland, so I end this letter giving you all my memories and hugs.
Your brother, Ramón
On the third page, Ramón's brother Adolfo added:
Last letter my dear brother Ramón wrote. Three days after this, the Titanic sank, and he perished by drowning.
The letter is offered with an estimate of $15,000-25,000 on June 30 as part of Zorrilla Subastas' Gaucho Silverwork, Militaria & Documents sale.
