The Six: The Untold Story of the TITANIC’s Chinese Survivors

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is honored to host author Steven Schwankert for a special presentation on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2:00PM to discuss his groundbreaking book, “The Six: The Untold Story of the TITANIC’s Chinese Survivors.” The event will be an insightful discussion of Schwankert’s meticulous research, which uncovers the incredible journey of the six Chinese men who survived the TITANIC disaster. Admission to the program is free.

In his book, Schwankert explores the lives of the little-known Chinese passengers aboard the RMS TITANIC, whose survival against all odds challenges the traditional narrative of the ill-fated voyage. On the fateful night of April 15, 1912, when the TITANIC sank, only about 700 passengers survived. Among them were six Chinese men—Ah Lam, Chang Chip, Cheong Foo, Fang Lang (or Fong Wing Sun), Lee Bing, and Ling Hee—whose survival stories had been largely erased from history.

Upon their arrival in New York, these survivors faced immediate suspicion and racial discrimination. Within 24 hours, they were expelled from the United States and virtually disappeared from public memory. Schwankert’s years of investigation, including interviews with descendants, led to the rediscovery of their stories. The Six paints a poignant portrait of these men, revealing their struggles against racism, their hopes, and the harsh reality of the early 20th-century immigrant experience.

A key guest at the event will be Tom Fong, whose father, Fang Lang, was one of the six TITANIC survivors. Tom Fong will share his personal insights into his family’s history and the lasting impact of his father’s story on his life. The event will provide a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone whose family was intimately tied to this remarkable chapter of Titanic history.

We invite history enthusiasts, Titanic aficionados, and those interested in untold stories of the past to join Schwankert and Fong for an afternoon that promises to be both informative and deeply moving.

For more information on upcoming Museum programs and events, please visit our website: https://bit.ly/WMMEventsCalendar