As Second Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, John Borland Thayer, 49, was a guest of the American Consul General in Berlin two weeks before he boarded the Titanic, accompanied by his family. His wife, Marian, made it on to a lifeboat while his son Jack, was rescued from the wreckage. Later, Jack recounted his experience: “The second funnel…seemed to be lifted off, emitting a cloud of sparks. It looked as if it would fall on top of me. It missed me by only 20 or 30 feet. The suction of it drew me down and down struggling and swimming, practically spent.” John Thayer was never found.