The Iowa communities of Cedar Rapids, Central City and Mystic are forever linked to the Titanic’s first and final voyage in April 1912, which resulted in the loss of 1,502 lives.

There were 20 passengers — some survivors and others who died — who were connected to those and other Iowa communities.

Those facts and more were the subject of Darcy Dougherty Maulsby’s presentation Tuesday evening during her “Iowa’s Connection to the Titanic” event at the stately Mowry-Irvine Mansion (MIM) in Marshalltown.

Maulsby is an author, businesswoman, farmer, historian and journalist from Lake City who has spent hundreds of hours thoroughly researching the tragic sinking of the ocean liner and its connection to the Hawkeye state.

She cited numerous books — “A Night to Remember” as one — vintage Iowa newspapers and the 1997 film “Titanic” as sources during her compelling presentation to a standing-room only crowd of more than 40.

“The film by director James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet was extremely accurate,” said Maulsby.

Some guests traveled from Des Moines and Melbourne. Other attendees wore Titanic-themed t-shirts.

The Titanic was the pride of England’s White Star Line when it set sail April 10 for New York City, N.Y. from Southampton, England. Prior to its departure, it had crossed the English Channel to ports in France several times picking up and dropping off passengers.

It was considered “unsinkable” by some in the shipbuilding industry due its construction and design.

The massive ocean-liner hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 11:40 p.m. the night of April 14 and sank two hours and 20-minutes later the next morning off the coast of Newfoundland in eastern Canada.

The iceberg did not “punch a hole” in the ship’s hull, but rather it caused numerous gashes which led to its sinking, Maulsby said. The ship now rests 2 ½ miles below the surface.

Many of those who perished succumbed to hypothermia from the icy-cold waters. Only 705 survived – with many being women and children. Ships in the vicinity were able to rescue those fortunate to get into lifeboats. They also were dispatched to pick up the bodies of those who perished.

Maulsby said more than 300 corpses were recovered. More than 100 were buried at sea. The remainder were buried in three cemeteries Halifax, Nova Scotia. Because identification was difficult some headstones only cite them as victims of the tragedy.

Walter and Mahala Douglas of Cedar Rapids were on board and accompanied by Mahala’s French maid, Berthe Leroy. They were first-class passengers and were returning from a European trip, said Maulsby.

Walter perished, while Mahala and Leroy survived. Walter had made his fortune from several business ventures including the Douglas Starchworks – which later became part of Quaker Oats. The Brucemore Mansion and its 26-acres in Cedar Rapids is part of the Douglas’ family legacy.

Second-class passenger Bertha Lehmann was traveling from Switzerland to her sister’s home east of Central City, said Maulsby. She had become acquainted with a male passenger who had abducted his two children from his estranged wife.

Lehmann agreed to care for the young children during the voyage. She and the children survived, and the children were later reunited with their mother.

Later, Lehmann married and lived in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Frank Lefebrve of Mystic had immigrated to the U.S. with his older son to work in area coal mines and earn passage for the rest of his family. His wife Marie and their four young children were passengers. Sadly, they perished.

“I was extremely pleased with tonight’s attendance,” said Julie Jontz Lang of Marshalltown. “Maulsby is a true professional. Her information and graphics captivated the audience from the beginning to the end. I did not see people fidgeting in their seats or being distracted. We appreciated Bill Wilson of Marshalltown bringing a small piece of coal retrieved from the Titanic for others to see and touch.”

Lang, a retired Marshalltown Community School District educator, is a longtime HSMC board member who schedules HST programs among other duties.

“Once again Lang hit the bulls-eye with an informative program unique to Iowa or local history,” said HSMC president Michelle Roseburrough of Marshalltown. “We are grateful Humanities Iowa made this and two other programs possible. We have filled every chair or had standing-room only at several of these events.”

The program was co-sponsored by Humanities Iowa and HSMC as part of its “History on Second Tuesday” series.

The next HST will feature a program on evangelist and former Major League Baseball player Billy Sunday, who once conducted a large rally near present day Central Christian Church in Marshalltown. It is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Mowry Irvine.

It is free-of charge and open to the public. For more information, contact HSMC at 641-752-6664 or infor@hsmcia.org.