Wing Sun Fong clung to life, lashed to a piece of wood paneling, a scrap of shipwreck adrift in the North Atlantic Ocean.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm$4@C6D @7 5625 2?5 5J:?8 A6@A=6 DFCC@F?565 9:>[ D@>6 4CJ:?8 @FE 7@C 96=A 2D E96J 7C@K6 E@ 562E9 @C 5C@H?65 @? E96 C:D:?8 2?5 72==:?8 DH6==D @7 E96 =6E92==J 4@=5[ ag 568C66 H2E6C]k^Am
kAmu@?8[ C64@C565 :? D9:A >2?:76DED 2D u2?8 {2?8[ H2D `f J62CD @=5[ 2 D9:A H@C<6C :? E96 E9:C5\4=2DD 3@H6=D @7 E96 %:E2?:4[ E96? 2 3C2?5\?6H =FIFCJ D9:A[ H96? :E 9:E :46 2?5 3682? E@ E2<6 @? H2E6C] u@?8 2E E96 E:>6 H2D 6? C@FE6 E@ 2 ?6H D9:A 2DD:8?>6?E D@>6H96C6 :? E96 r2C:3362?]k^Am
Support local journalism
Help support reporting that brings important issues to light. By subscribing, you can help us continue to serve the area and keep local journalism thriving. Local news matters.
Subscribe today for as little as $9.95/month.
kAm#64@C5D :?5:42E6 (:?8 $F?—@C u2?8 @C {2?8—AC@323=J H2D E96 =2DE >2? C6D4F65[ AF==65 7C@> HC64<286 2?5 D2G65 7C@> E96 7C:8:5 pE=2?E:4 :? E96 62C=J 9@FCD @7 pAC:= `d[ `h`a[ E96 >@C?:?8 E96 8C62E %:E2?:4 D2?<]k^Am
kAm%@> u@?8[ (:?8 $F?’D D@?[ :D 2 y2?6DG:==6 C6D:56?E 2?5 E96 =@?8E:>6 AC@AC:6E@C @7 E96 r@KJ x?? r9:?6D6 C6DE2FC2?E :? E96 4:EJ’D 5@H?E@H?] u@?8 DA6?E >@DE @7 9:D =:76 :? E96 52C< 23@FE 9:D 72E96C’D 2>2K:?8 DFCG:G2= DE@CJ] xE’D 2 DE@CJ u@?8 D2:5 9:D 72E96C ?6G6C D92C65 H:E9 9:>]k^Am
kAm}@H[ 2E 286 dh[ u@?8 92D 368F? E@ =62C? >F49 23@FE 9:D 72E96C’D DFCG:G2=] u@C u@?8 9:>D6=7[ :E’D 2 DE@CJ @7 2=>@DE :?4@>AC696?D:3=J =@?8 @55D—36:?8 E96 D@? @7 2 %:E2?:4 DFCG:G@C E92E 9:DE@CJ 7@C8@E]k^Am
kAm$@@?[ E96 H@C=5 H:== <?@H 9:D 72E96C’D DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmp ?6H 5@4F>6?E2CJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^E96D:I5@4F>6?E2CJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm“%96 $:I[k^2m” :D D=2E65 7@C :?E6C?2E:@?2= C6=62D6 =2E6C E9:D 72==[ u@?8 D2:5] %96 5@4F>6?E2CJ E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 (:?8 $F? u@?8 2?5 7:G6 @E96C r9:?6D6 ?2E:@?2=D H9@ H6C6 2>@?8 E96 f__ D@>6 A6@A=6 H9@ DFCG:G65 E96 %:E2?:4 5:D2DE6C[ A6C92AD E96 36DE\<?@H? D9:AHC64< :? >@56C? 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 DE@CJ @7 “%96 $:I” 925 366? 3FC:65 :? E:>6[ F?E@=5 7@C G2C:@FD C62D@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 p>6C:42’D 62C=:6C A@=:E:42= 6I4=FD:@? 2?5 2?E:\r9:?6D6 D6?E:>6?E[ 2?5 F?E:= ?@H[ 2 =24< @7 9:DE@C:42= C64@C5D E@ E:6 2 92=7\5@K6? r9:?6D6 D62>6? E@ E96 %:E2?:4’D ?@E@C:@FD 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm{2DE J62C 2?5 E9:D J62C[ %@> u@?8 EC2G6=65 E@ r2?252[ t?8=2?5 2?5 r9:?2 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 7:=>:?8 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? @7 2 5@4F>6?E2CJ =65 3J >2C:E:>6 9:DE@C:2?[ 2FE9@C 2?5 7:=> AC@5F46C $E6G6? $49H2?<6CE]k^Am
kAmu@C u@?8[ “%96 $:I” 92D @A6?65 2 C62=:EJ 96 DE:== 42?’E 7F==J HC2A 9:D 9625 2C@F?5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 4C2KJ] x >62?[ E96 DE@CJ D@F?5D D@ 4C2KJ E@ 2?J3@5J J@F E6== :E E@] tG6? 27E6C x =62C?65 @7 :E[ 27E6C x 7@F?5 @FE[ x ?6G6C C62==J E@=5 2?J3@5J] x H2D 27C2:5 E@[” %@> u@?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE’5 36 =:<6 E6==:?8 D@>6@?6 J@F H6C6 :?D:56 @7 2 &u~ @C J@F’5 D66? 2=:6?D] (9@’5 36=:6G6 J@Fn %96J’5 E9:?< J@F H6C6 4C2KJ]”k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 E9C@F89@FE 9:D 49:=59@@5 2?5 2D 2 J@F?8 25F=E 9:D C6=2E:G6D 925 9:?E65 E92E 9:D 72E96C 925 DFCG:G65 2 D9:AHC64<[ 3FE u@?8 D2:5 9:D 72E96C ?6G6C DA@<6 23@FE E96 244:56?E E@ 9:> @C 9:D >@E96C[ |2C:6[ 2 y2?6DG:==6 C6D:56?E H9@ :D ?@H ge]k^Am
kAmu@?8[ 2 |:=H2F<66 ?2E:G6[ ?6G6C D@ >F49 2D 962C5 E96 H@C5 “%:E2?:4” 4C@DD E96 =:AD @7 9:D 72E96C[ 2 C6DE2FC2?E H2:E6C :? |:=H2F<66 H9@ H2D ed J62CD @=5 H96? u@?8 H2D 3@C?] (:?8 $F? DA@<6 =:EE=6 t?8=:D9 2?5 5:65 2=>@DE c_ J62CD 28@[ u@?8 D2:5]k^Am
The Titanic at the docks of Southampton, England, before embarking on its doomed journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Wikimedia
kAmx? a__b[ H96? u@?8 2?5 2 >2=6 4@FD:? H6C6 G:D:E:?8 %96 w@FD6 @? %96 #@4< :? $AC:?8 vC66?[ u@?8’D 4@FD:? A@:?E65 E@ 2 76H 4FC:@D @? E96 H2== E92E H6C6 =236=65 2D :E6>D C64@G6C65 7C@> E96 HC64<286 @7 E96 %:E2?:4]k^Am
kAm%96 4@FD:? 42DF2==J E@=5 u@?8[ “*@F <?@H[ E96 %:E2?:4i %92E H2D E96 D9:AHC64< J@FC 525 DFCG:G65]”k^Am
kAm“w6 E9@F89E x <?6H 2== 2=@?8[ 3FE x 5:5?’E <?@H] }@3@5J 925 E@=5 >6 E92E 367@C6[” u@?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 96 2?5 9:D D@? 3682? E96:C @H? x?E6C?6E :?G6DE:82E:@? E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE (:?8 $F?’D =:76 2?5 23@FE 9:D E:6D E@ E96 %:E2?:4 HC64<] u@C J62CD[ E96 @?=J 4=F6 u@?8 4@F=5 7:?5 42>6 7C@> 2 EC2?D4C:AE @7 2 &]$] $6?2E6 962C:?8 E92E >6?E:@?65 2 76H r9:?6D6 DFCG:G@CD]k^Am
kAm%92E C64@C5 >:89E 92G6 =65 E@ 5:DE@CE65 @?=:?6 9:DE@C:42= 244@F?ED[ @7 H9:49 E96C6 H6C6 ;FDE 2 76H[ E92E 492C24E6C:K65 E96 r9:?6D6 >6? H9@ DFCG:G65 E96 %:E2?:4 2D D9:A DE@H2H2JD @C 9F4<DE6CD H9@ 925 EC:4<65 E96:C H2J @?E@ C6D4F6 3@2ED 3J 5C6DD:?8 :? 5C28 2?5 F?7FC=:?8 E96:C =@?8[ 3C2:565 A:8E2:=D D@ E96J H@F=5 2AA62C E@ 36 H@>6?]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 96’5 =62C?65 E9C@F89 E96 AC@5F4E:@? @7 “%96 $:I” E92E E9@D6 244@F?ED 2C6 F?ECF6] qFE >@C6 E92? 2 564256 28@[ E96 5:DE@CE65 492C24E6C:K2E:@?D @7 9:D 72E96C 96 7@F?5 @? 2 76H %:E2?:4 9:DE@CJ 492EC@@>D AC6G6?E65 u@?8 7C@> ECJ:?8 >@C6 E92? 2 76H E:>6D E@ D6E E96 C64@C5 DEC2:89E @? H92E 96 36=:6G65 H6C6 :?244FC2E6 A@CEC2J2=D @7 9:D 72E96C]k^Am
Janesville resident Tom Fong holds a photo of his father, Fang Lang, known later in life as Wing Sun Fong, who was one of six Chinese survivors rescued after the Titanic sank in 1912. A forthcoming documentary, “The Six,” tells the story of Fang Lang and the five other Chinese Titanic survivors.
Anthony Wahl
kAmp7E6C 2 76H J62CD[ u@?8 76== 2H2J 7C@> EC24:?8 9:D 72E96C’D DFCG:G2= DE@CJ @C 7:89E:?8 =:6D 23@FE E96 %:E2?:4’D r9:?6D6 A2DD6?86CD] qFE 2 D:?8=6 >6DD286 u@?8 925 A@DE65 :? 2 %:E2?:4 492EC@@> =65 AC@5F46CD @7 “%96 $:I” E@ 9:D 5@@C :? y2?6DG:==6]k^Am
kAmx? a_`d[ u@?8 D2:5 96 8@E 2 42== 7C@> AC@5F46CD @7 “%96 $:I” H9@ D2:5 E96J H6C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 9F?E 5@H? E96 DFCG:G:?8 72>:=J @7 D:I r9:?6D6 DFCG:G@CD @7 E96 %:E2?:4 H9@ 925 ?6G6C 366? >6?E:@?65 :? 2?J >2:?DEC62> 9:DE@C:42= 244@F?E @7 E96 D9:AHC64<]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@5F46CD 36=:6G65 2 D6E @7 ?62C=J 564256\@=5 %:E2?:4 492EC@@> D?:AA6ED E92E D9@H65 u@?8 ECJ:?8 E@ C62D@? H:E9 D<6AE:42= 9:DE@C:2?D >2E4965 FA H:E9 2 ?2>6 2?5 C2H 324<DE@CJ @7 @?6 %:E2?:4 DFCG:G@C—2 E66?286 D62>2? 2?5 ?2E:G6 @7 ):249F2? xD=2?5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 =@?8 D62C49 2?5 724:?8 @55D @7 23@FE ` :? f]d 3:==:@? WE96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 H9@ ?@H =:G6 @? t2CE9X “%96 $:I’D” AC@5F46CD 36=:6G65 E96J 925 EC24<65 5@H? (:?8 $F?’D 72>:=J] w:D D@?[ ?@ =6DD]k^Am
kAmp?5 u@?8 H2D 368:??:?8 E@ =62C? E96 ECFE9 23@FE 9:D 525[ H9@ C64@C5D ?@H D9@H >@G65 @? 7C@> E96 %:E2?:4 5:D2DE6C E@ =2?5 :? tFC@A6 2?5[ 6G6?EF2==J[ :? E96 &]$] %92E H2D 2E =62DE 7@FC 564256D 367@C6 u@?8 H2D 3@C?]k^Am
kAm“%96J H6C6 4964<:?8 @FE >J DE@CJ] p?5 x H2D 4964<:?8 @FE E96:C DE@CJ] xE H2D 2 H6:C5 DE2?5@77 2E 7:CDE[” u@?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“|J 525 H2D D@ @=5 H96? x H2D 3@C?[ 2?5 E92E H2D @?6 E9:?8] w@H 4@F=5 x 36 E96 D@?[ 2?5 ?@E E96 8C2?5D@? @C 8C62E\8C2?5D@? @7 2 %:E2?:4 DFCG:G@Cn %96 286 DAC625 36EH66? >6 2?5 >J 525 ]]] H@F=5 36 92C5 7@C 2?J3@5J E@ 36=:6G6]”k^Am
kAm(:?8 $F?’D F?E@=5[ A@DE\%:E2?:4 DE@CJ C@==D @FE 36EH66? (@C=5 (2CD x 2?5 xx—2 E:>6 >2C<65 3J E96 C:D6 @7 r@>>F?:D> :? #FDD:2 2?5 r9:?2 2?5 7=2G@C65 3J 2?E:\r9:?6D6 76CG@C E92E C6:8?65 :? D@>6 A2CED @7 E96 &]$] 2?5 8=@32==J]k^Am
Tom Fong’s father Fang Lang, left, known later in life in the U.S. as Wing Sun Fong, was one of six Chinese nationals who survived the Titanic sinking in 1912. Fifth Officer Harold Lowe, right, captained the lone lifeboat that returned and discovered Fang Lang floating on a piece of wreckage in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Anthony Wahl
kAmu@?8 ?@H <?@HD 9:D 72E96C 2?5 E96 7:G6 @E96C r9:?6D6 D9:A H@C<6CD C6D4F65 2?5 3@2E65 E@ }6H *@C< 27E6C E96 %:E2?:4 ?6G6C :?:E:2==J D6E 7@@E @? &]$] D@:=[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 @7 E96 r9:?6D6 tI4=FD:@? p4E] %96 24E H2D 2? :>>:8C2E:@? 32? @? >@DE r9:?6D6 ?2E:@?2=D] xE H2D 6?24E65 :? `gga 2?5 =2DE65 :? @?6 7@C> @C 2?@E96C 7@C D:I 564256D]k^Am
kAmu@?8 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 v2K6EE6[ E@@< A2:?D ?@E E@ F?G6:= >2?J DA64:7:4 56E2:=D @7 9:D 72E96C’D DE@CJ E92E 96 D92C65 H:E9—2?5 =62C?65 7C@>—AC@5F46CD @7 E96 2D\@7\J6E F?C6=62D65 “%96 $:I]”k^Am
kAm%96 7:=> C6>2:?D F?56C 46?D@CD9:A C6G:6H 3J r@>>F?:DE r9:?6D6 @77:4:2=D—DE2?52C5 AC24E:46 H:E9 7:=>D AC@5F465 :? A2CE @C :? 7F== :? r9:?2] u@?8 D2:5 96 36=:6G6D E96 7:=> H:== 86E C6=62D65 =2E6 E9:D 72==[ 3FE 96 <?@HD 23@FE @?=J A@CE:@?D @7 E96 7:=> 96 A2CE:4:A2E65 :? =2DE J62C 2?5 62C=J E9:D J62C[ :?4=F5:?8 7:=>:?8 2E 9:D 9@>6 @? y2?6DG:==6’D 62DE D:56 2?5 5FC:?8 7:=>:?8 EC:AD u@?8 >256 7@C E@ r2?252[ t?8=2?5 2?5 ):249F2? xD=2?5]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 C6D62C496CD ?@H <?@H (:?8 $F? HC@E6 E@ C6=2E:G6D @? ):249F2? 23@FE 9:D DFCG:G2=]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 96’D =62C?65 E92E @?6 A6CD@? @? E96 :D=2?5 92D A@6ECJ u@?8 HC@E6 E@ E96> 56E2:=:?8 9:D DECF88=6 E@ DE2J 27=@2E :? E96 7C:8:5 @462? 2D @E96CD :? E96 7C:8:5 H2E6C 4C:65 7@C 96=A 7C@> E96 52C<?6DD DFCC@F?5:?8 9:>]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 2E D@>6 A@:?E 96 3642>6 2H2C6 @7 2 D46?6 7C@> E96 3=@4<3FDE6C `hhf 7:=> “%:E2?:4” E92E =:G6D @?=:?6i ~?6 E92E D9@HD 2 A:8\E2:=65 J@F?8 r9:?6D6 >2? :? E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 E96 %:E2?:4 D:?<:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? :? E96 >@G:6’D D46?6 :D D9@H? 27=@2E @? E96 7C66K:?8 2?5 52C< pE=2?E:4 ~462?[ H2G:?8 9:D 92?5D 7@C 96=A 2>@?8 D4@C6D @7 E96 5625] w6’D D9@H? 4=:?8:?8 E@ 2? @C?2E6 A:646 @7 A2?6=:?8[ @C 2 5@@C[ HC64<286 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 8=:EKJ >2:? 7=@@CD @7 E96 =FI %:E2?:4]k^Am
Tom Fong stands for a portrait inside his Janesville home.
kAmxE’D 2 D46?6 D9@E 2D A2CE @7 E96 72>@FD C6D4F6 D6BF6?46D :? E96 p4256>J pH2C5\H:??:?8 7:=>] p?5 :E H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlzwC7#9+r\$|Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm56=6E6k^2m5 :? A@DE\AC@5F4E:@?[ 2 564:D:@? E92E 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 564256D 92D :?25G6CE6?E=J <6AE E96 DE@CJ @7 u@?8’D 72E96C 2?5 E96 @E96C r9:?6D6 DFCG:G@CD =@DE E@ E:>6]k^Am
kAmu@?8 D2:5 96’D ?@E DFC6 :7 y2>6D r2>6C@?[ E96 AC@5F46C @7 “%:E2?:4” <?6H @C <?@HD E92E u@?8 6I:DED @C E92E 96’D E96 D@? @7 (:?8 $F?—E96 r9:?6D6 >2? AC@5F46CD :? E96 EC2:=6C 7@C “%96 $:I” :?5:42E6 >:89E 92G6 366? E96 7:?2= A6CD@? C6D4F65 7C@> E96 %:E2?:4 367@C6 E96 D9:A’D D>2== C6D4F6 3@2ED 962565 2H2J 7C@> E96 HC64<]k^Am
kAmu@?8 <?@HD >@C6 ?@H 23@FE 2 >@?F>6?E2= 9:DE@C:4 6G6?E E92? 96 6G6C 5:5[ 3FE 96’D DE:== 4@>:?8 E@ C64<@? H:E9 E96 F?<?@H? =:76 @7 2 72E96C 96 @?=J <?6H 2D 2? 6=56C=J >2? H9@ H2D BF:6E J6E AC@F5 @7 9:D p>6C:42? 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmp >6>@CJ <66AD 7=@2E:?8 324< E@ u@?8] w6 C6>6>36CD 9@H @7E6? 9:D 72E96C H@F=5 AF== 2 E9:4<[ =62E96C ;@FC?2= 7C@> 9:D A@4<6E E@ HC:E6 6?EC:6D :? 2 7@C6:8? D4C:AE u@?8 4@F=5?’E C625] u@?8 H@?56CD H92E 96 4@F=5 =62C? 7C@> E92E ;@FC?2=[ H96E96C :E H@F=5 D965 =:89E @? E96 A2DE[ E96 3:8 D9:AHC64< 2?5 H92E :E 2== >62?E E@ 9:D 6?:8>2E:4 72E96C]k^Am
kAm}@ @?6 :? E96 72>:=J 42? C6>6>36C D66:?8 E92E ;@FC?2=] xE =:<6=J H2D 3@I65 2H2J @C 5:D42C565 :? 9:D 72E96C’D H2?:?8 J62CD]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E92E ;@FC?2= :D =@?8 8@?6[” u@?8 D2:5]k^Am
Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SIGN UP NOW