Smithtown, A History: The Titanic Takes One of Our Own

When the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, Smithtown residents lost one of their own. He was 56-year-old James Clinch Smith, a descendant of our town’s founder and brother-in-law of well-known architect Stanford White.

According to “Portrait and Biographical Record of Suffolk County, (Long Island) New York” published in 1896, Smith was the son of Judge J. Lawrence Smith. Judge Smith became a county judge in 1858 and his home still exists today on the property of the Smithtown Historical Society.

Smith followed in his father’s footsteps studying law and passed the Bar in 1878. He started as a clerk with his father’s practice, and a few years later became a partner with Smith and Keene in New York City.

Smith took charge of the family homestead after his father’s death. According to the historical society’s website, Smith asked White to redesign the façade of the house in 1897. The central gable with Colonel Revival fanlight, the dormers and a French door on the west side were all designed by the architect.

According to Smithtown Historian Bradley Harris, Smith owned a horse racetrack in Smithtown called the St. James Driving Park. The racetrack was once located at Edgewood Avenue and Fifty Acre Road. Harris said Smith purchased it for $6,500 in 1888. For unknown reasons, he sold it for only a $1 to opera singer Ignacio V. Mathieu in 1905.

“He loved horses and loved racing them,” said Harris.

In 1895 he married Bertha Ludington Barnes a musician and composer from Chicago, Illinois, according to “Portrait and Biographical Record of Suffolk County, (Long Island) New York”. His wife’s music aspirations took them to Paris, France, and Smith would travel regularly between Europe and New York. The couple was a big part of New York and Paris society and attended events such as the once exclusive Astor’s Ball.

Harris said, “By then they were elevated to the New York 400.”

In an article published on April 27, 1907 in “The New York Times”, it was reported that during one of Smith’s visits home, he witnessed the murder of White while they were attending a show at Madison Square Garden. Smith had been talking to the murderer Harry K. Thaw and his wife before the shooting and was called as a witness at Thaw’s trials.

His last journey home was on the ill-fated Titanic. After a few years of living abroad, Smith and his wife decided to move back to Smithtown, and he returned alone to prepare the house.

His last hours on the Titanic were documented by Archibald Gracie. Smith’s long-time friend traveled on the ship with him and survived. He wrote the book “The Truth About the Titanic” and recounted the passengers attempts to survive.

“He was the embodiment of coolness and courage during the whole period of the disaster,” Gracie wrote of Smith’s conduct during his last hours.

Smith’s body was never found, and his wife died of tuberculosis 16 months later. The Smiths plans of the future tragically cut short on a day that will never be forgotten.