Daniel Buckley

Daniel Buckley Jr. was born on September 28, 1890 to Daniel Buckley Sr. and Abigail Sullivan in County Cork, Ireland. He boarded the Titanic at Queenstown on April 11, 1912, but before he left, he had a party with his friends. At the party, he is said to have sung "When the Fields Are White with Daisies, I'll Return." These 3 friends were traveling with him on the Titanic. On April 14, 1912, he was in his 3rd class bunk when the Titanic struck an iceberg. The Titanic was designed to withstand only 1-4 compartments flooded. The iceberg opened up 6. This doomed the Titanic. Daniel Buckley was in the bow when the iceberg struck and made as Daniel later said, "a grating noise."  Daniel got right out of bed with water just barely in the cabin.  He tried to wake up his fellow bunk mates who did not listen to him at first. But, they got up too realizing the situation and all 4 got dressed.  Presently, stewards came by, shouting "All up on deck!  Unless you want to get drowned."  He left the cabin, shutting the door behind him. He made his way upwards through the maze of passages and hallways.   He had to face some obstacles however. When he got up to one of the stairs, he found it blocked with other 3rd class passengers. The way was blocked by a steward. One man tried to get past the steward, who angrily shoved him back and locked the gate.  One of the men broke the lock saying that if he got a hold of the man that locked them down below, he'd throw him into the ocean, and all of them made their way up including Daniel Buckley, leaving the floor at the bottom of the stairway leading to the gate just slightly beginning to flood. Daniel somehow found his way up to the Boat Deck.  He realized that other people had lifebelts on.  He felt sorry, and went back to his cabin to get a lifebelt.  He made his way down, passing boys and girls.  The some of the girls were excited, but others were crying with boys consoling the girls and assuring them that nothing was wrong.  All were trying to get up to the Boat Deck as fast as possible.  Daniel was stopped from going any further, at a flooded stairway.  Realizing that he couldn't get back to his cabin and that he especially couldn't get neither his possessions nor his lifebelt, he made his way back up again. He and several other men jumped into Boat 13, but the officer threw them out.  He was crying, when a woman suddenly threw her shawl (he claimed it was Madeline Astor, but it was more than likely Mrs. Appleton) over him, and he snuck into the lifeboat. It was lowered, but they had difficulty cutting the falls. Descending right above them, was Boat No. 15. they cried out to those on deck, and they stopped the descent. They finally cut the falls and were able to get away.  Daniel Buckley survived, after seeing the Titanic's stern rise up, and the lights go out.  Then, he said that he heard a thundering loud noise (which we now know was the ship breaking up).  He awoke on the decks of a ship, which a fireman told him was the Carpathia.  The fireman also told him he though that the Titanic sank by a boiler explosion instead of an iceberg (we are certain that it was an iceberg).  Daniel Buckley later wrote an account of the disaster in a letter. Several movies use Daniel Buckley's account, and show stewards fighting panicking, angry, and mobbing 3rd class passengers. According to Daniel's account compared to other 3rd class accounts, this only happened in at least one or two places. Many stewards actually unlocked many gates to allow 3rd class passengers up to the Boat Deck. However, the hallways were complete mazes and many unfortunately got lost and either never made it up at all, or were too late when they got up to the Boat Deck to get into a lifeboat like the Goodwins. It is possible that several gates were missed, and I do believe Daniel's account that there was a steward that tried to keep the passengers down for some reason or another. He also gave an account before the U.S. Senate Inquiry (see 3rd link below).  Daniel Buckley went on to join the US Army (he was an Infantyman). He fought in WWI and was killed. He was buried in Cork, Ireland.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=sh&GRid=17885462

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/daniel-buckley.html

http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq13Buckley01.php

Millvina Dean's Ashes Have Been Scattered

The last of the Titanic's passengers have been laid to rest.

Click HERE to see an article.

Click HERE to see another article.

May God rest her soul.

The Biggest Family on the Titanic

John George Sage was born in 1867 in Hackney, London. Annie Elizabeth Cazaly was born also born in 1867 in Hackney, London to a family whom was descended from a French Hugenot line. John and Annie married on November 2, 1890. Together, they had Stella Anne (born in 1891), George John (born in 1892), Douglas Bullen (born in 1894), Fredrick (born in 1895), Dorothy Florence (born in 1897), Anthony William (born in 1899), Elizabeth Ada (born in 1901), Constance Gladys (born in 1904), and Thomas Henry (born in 1907). In case you lost count, that's 7 kids. They did have two other children, but they died as infants. In 1900, John became a landlord and owned a family-run bakery. Some time after 1900, John and his oldest son George became dining car attendants in Canada on the Canadian Pacific Railway. They did come home to visit though. In 1911, John bought some land in Jacksonville, Florida. George stayed in Florida where he became engaged. His wife was not thrilled, due to her fear of water after their daughter Dorothy almost drowned in a well in the backyard. The furniture (including the family piano) was sent on ahead. The family boarded the Titanic in Southampton, England on April 10, 1912. You can imagine that the mother felt a little better, especially with that huge leviathan towering above them with solid iron plates firmly fixed together, to protect them during the voyage. The entire family was in steerage and you can suppose, that they attracted some attention with 9 children. You can also almost imagine them meeting the Goodwins (The Goodwins had 8 and none of them survived). The Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and began to sink. The Sage family came up on deck almost too late. One account says that Stella boarded a lifeboat, but came back on the steadily sloping decks after hearing that there wasn't enough room for her whole family. The entire family died in the disaster, and only Anthony's body was recovered by the Mackay Bennett.

Millvina Dean Sells Mail Bag And Receives It Back

The auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, featured memorabilia belonging to 97-year-old Millvina Dean. She was lowered to safety from the deck of the sinking cruise liner as a two-month-old baby. Ms Dean faces monthly bills of £3,000 at her Southampton nursing home and sold a canvas bag from her rescue which raised £1,500. The bag was used to carry her belongings back to England from New York after she, her mother and two-year-old brother were rescued. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told BBC News: "There's a really nice story to this. A young man from London bought it, paid the money and then told us he wanted it returned to Ms Dean." Ms Dean's father perished in the icy waters of the north Atlantic, one of 1,517 to die when the ship sank in 1912. Also included in the sale at Henry Aldridge & Son auctioneers was a flask another passenger on the ill-fated ship used to give hot milk to his wife and two daughters. This lot sold for £37,500. The provenance states the man shinned down the rope of a rescue boat to hand over the flask, before returning to the deck and perishing as the ship went down. A chunky key to a door on the ship's E deck was sold for just under £60,000 - and was the most expensive item sold. A letter from a Henry Wilde on Titanic notepaper went for £27,000, and another by passenger Adolf Saalfeld, reached almost £28,000. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the sale had gone well. "We had several hundred people in the sale room and interest in the auction was very good, as is the case with our Titanic auctions. "Overall, we've raised a very substantial sum."

(This article is from BBC News)

(This act of kindness I really like and if the man that did this act is reading this, I say God Bless).

97 Anniversary

Today is the 97th Anniversary of the Titanic's last day. According to my clock now, it's around 9:00 P.M. By now, some passengers would have retired to bed while the men in 1st class would have gone to the smoking room playing cards, smoking, drinking brandy, and talking about politics. In 2nd class, men would have been doing the same or in their cabins. Lawrence Beasely was reading in his cabin. In 3rd class, there would have been some dancing, music, and men would have played cards while smoking. The women probably would have sat on the benches talking while the children were dancing and playing. There is one account that says that a mouse ran across the floor which caused the women to scream and stand on the benches while the boys tried to catch it. At 11:40 P.M., Fredrick Fleet (a survivor) spotted an iceberg directly in the Titanic's path. He rang the bell and called the bridge. 6th officer James Moody (who perished) answered the phone and relayed the report to 1st officer Murdoch (who also perished), in charge of the bridge during that time. The ship tried to swing towards port and just as it looked like Titanic would clear it, it struck putting holes in the 6 compartments when it could only take damage to 4 compartments. This meant that the weight of the water would drag the Titanic down, spilling into the next compartment. After they realized the ship was doomed, they ordered the boats swung out. All the boats except for two were lowered. The two collapsibles on top of the officer's quarters. The water swept up as the boats came crashing down on the deck. Collapsible B was overturned and A was swamped. These two boats would save around 25-30. Soon after, the 1st funnel fell on men including the richest man on the ship, John Jacob Astor. After that, the heart of the ship, the Grand Staircase flooded. This was at 2:10 A.M. The 2nd funnel disappears underwater later to fall. The stern rose up, and then the lights went out, flickered, and went out for all eternity. The stern detached between the 3rd and 4th funnel and fell back almost even. The bow still a little attached to the stern, pulled the stern under. The stern was almost perpendicular like a finger pointing to heaven. Then, the stern very slowly disappeared from sight at 2:20 A.M. leaving 1,500 people in pitched dark and in the icy 28 degree waters. 705 people were in the lifeboats listening to the horrific cries as people died and only one came back 20 minutes later to save only 4 people.

Titanic Barber Shop

The Barber Shop was used not only for cutting hair, but for souvenirs too. There was one for 2nd class(located on E-Deck), and 1st class (located on C-Deck) too. It also served as a sort of lounge for the maids and valets brought by the passengers. The 3rd class passengers had to make due and either have a haircut before, or after the voyage. The Barber Shops for 1st class and 2nd class were small. They had a bench on one side, and chairs on the other. The benches were used for waiting while the chairs were used for cutting hair. The souvenirs were hanging from the ceiling, or on the walls. They sold penknives, banners, dolls, hats, tobacco, ribbons with RMS Titanic embroidered on it, and other things like that. The photograph above is from the Titanic's almost identical sister ship, Olympic. The barbers were Arthur White(formerly the J.P. Morgan's private barber who owned of White Star Line) in 2nd class and Charles Weikman in 1st class. Nothing is known about what happened to either of the Barber Shops during or after the sinking. No one has visited them yet. The Barber Shop in 1st class is accessible, with it being just off the Grand Staircase. The one in 2nd class, was in the stern. As far as I can tell, it might be still standing but it is more than likely inaccessible. There may be a souvenirs that were carried off by the passengers into the lifeboats from the Barber Shop, but I'm not aware of any.

The Last Survivor

Elizabeth Gladys (Milvina Dean) was born on February 2, 1912 in London, England. Her parents were Bertram Frank Dean and Georgetta Eva Light. She had an older brother, also named Bertram, who was born in 1910. Ms. Dean's parents decided to immigrate to Wichita, Kansas later that same year, so that her father could open a tobacco shop. Her father saved and saved money, until he got his ticket to a new life. Mr. Dean got a ticket on another ship, but were transferred to the Titanic due to a coal strike in 3rd class. The Titanic set sail when she was only 9 weeks old. She and all her family had 3rd class all the way, which was like 2nd class in most ships. The Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Her family was woken up by a steward, told to put their lifejackets on, and go up on deck. The family made it up to the boat deck where Georgette, Bertram Jr., and Millvina were put into the lifeboat while her father was left on the sinking ship. No one knows what happened to Bertram Sr. after that, except that he unfortunately died. Mrs. Dean was holding Millvina, and realized that she didn't have her brother Bertram Jr. They later found him on the rescue ship Carpathia. He had been cared for by another passenger. The passengers took turns holding Millvina, and taking care of her. When the Carpathia docked, the company that owned Titanic called the White Star Line, provided passage back to England for those that wanted to return. The Deans returned to England after learning that their father and husband died, on the Adriatic. Mrs. Dean worked to support her family, and Millvina grew up not knowing about the Titanic or, that she lost her father on it. It was not until she was 8, that she knew about the disaster, when her mother Georgetta planned to remarry. Millvina Dean never married, but worked for the government. She drew maps during WWII, and worked in the purchasing department of the engineering firm. She later became a celebrity when she was in her 70s. She completed her family journey in 1997 on the Queen Elizabeth 2, and was invited to see the Titanic movie by James Cameron in a private viewing with Prince Charles on Whales. She refused, especially after seeing A Night To Remember in the 50s. She didn't like that they supposedly "publicized the deaths of 1,500 people". As of 2007, she was the last living survivor. She had no memory of the disaster however. Recently, she had to sell a suitcase and some clothing that were donated by the people of America, to pay for her keep at a nursing home. Later, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet donated $30,000 (her bill was 3,000 pounds per month). However, she died later that year (of an infection in her lungs caused by pneumonia) on May 31, 2009 at the age of 97 on the 98th anniversary of the Titanic's launching.

The A La Carte Restaurant

The A La Carte Restaurant was located between the third and fourth funnel on B-Deck, and was very grand. It had french walnut paneling, with gilt and elegant carvings. It was not owned by the White Star Line, but was a french restaurant. It was used for lunches, dinners, and parties. On April 14, 1912, wealthy Pennsylvanians George and Eleanor Widener hosted a dinner party dedicated to Captain Smith since this was his last voyage. This is the only recollection of the room, before the ship sank. As the Titanic was sinking, a 3rd class girl recalled asking her mother if she could break a window, go through it to see all the 1st class finery inside it. Her mother still believing that the ship was not sinking, told her that she might have to pay for it after wards. The room was in the middle of the place where the ship broke apart, and there is nothing left but some china on the seabed. However, you can see the panels from the Olympic in a small castle dining room in England and on board a cruise ship.

A Night To Remember: The Movie

The movie called A Night to Remember was made in 1958. It was directed by William McQuitty, and co directed by Walter Lord, the book that it's based off of. It is in my mind, the most accurate Titanic drama movie of all time. It begins with the launch, which has one of the few innacurate parts of the movie. it has a woman christening the Titanic, although the ship never was christened. The footage of the Titanic going down the gantry way into the sea, is actually the Queen Elizabeth. Next, they show the people from all lives leaving their homes along with their homes and friends, to go to America. After that, comes the main character of the movie, Charles Lightoller played by Kenneth More. We next go down to the docks where they introduce the other main characters of the ship, Thomas Andrews played by Micheal Goodliffe, J. Bruce Ismay played by Frank Lawton, and Captain Edward Smith played by Laurence Naismith. They show the Titanic leaving, using footage of the Titanic's sister ship, Olympic. The next scenes are of a ship that was about to be scrapped, that they bought and made into the hull of the ship. The scenes of the full Titanic, are actually an 11 foot model, and could be made to look like the actual thing, with it being in black and white. The sets were built with the greatest detail that the designers could use, that would be closest to the original, and they used the plans and photographs to create the sets. The people were dressed in period clothes, and they even brought survivors in, to see the sets and watch the production. Joseph Boxhall the 4th officer of the Titanic served as technical advisor. The passengers on the sets were Edith Russell, Lawrence Beasely, and several others. Mrs. Lightoller the wife of Charles Lightoller, came too. The survivors would walk around the boat decks, corridors, cabins, bridge, and engine room, lost in memories of their experiences. When they had Thomas Andrews in the Smoking Room, awaiting his fate, the place would creak and groan as the tilt grew. It was very dramatic, and you can hear it in the movie. They actually had the end of the movie where everyone is in the lifeboats of the water, in a lake during the winter. They did use precautions, and no one got hypothermia. The movie became the most popular movie of the decade. When the young survivors saw it, they were reminded a lot of their fathers, lost in the disaster. It's because of this that when Ms. Millvina Dean was invited to have a private viewing of the 1997 version with Prince Charles of Wales, she refused because she couldn't bear another movie like that. The movie had made Captain Stanley Lord, the captain of the Californian, a lazy man that didn't care about the ship that was firing white rockets. It has been unproven, and Captain Lord's family was quite upset. This movie was liked by most survivors however, and the audiences have loved it. If you are wanting to see the 1997 version but you don't want to watch it because of a few bad parts in it, try this movie. It's far better, and more accurate.b

Titanic Aquatic

(A model of the wreck in the middle of the lobby)

/> (Me with a replicated telemotor in the lobby)

Titanic Aquatic 1

Titanic Aquatic 2

For my birthday, my parents took me to the Georgia Aquarium, where they had an exhibit, called "Titanic Aquatic". We entered, and the first thing we saw was one of the bollards, from the stern. I could almost see people hitting the bollards, with the stern vertical. Then, we saw things that were used to build the ship. You then went to the next room, where there was the recreation of a 1st class cabin. It was nice, however the panels weren't exactly correct, and the china on the table wasn't White Star Line. They had a sink that came from one of the cabins, and you could almost hear the water running and someone's hands reaching in there. They also had currency from the wreck that were arabic and english. In the next room, there was china from 1st and 2nd class. Then, they had 3rd class china. In the next room, they had a replicated 3rd class corridor, with a replicated 3rd class cabin. In the next room, they had pots and pans from the kitchen. The room after that had a place where you could try to steer the ship from the iceberg. On the other wall, they had an iceberg that was the same temperature, as the water. I don't think I would've lasted more than 10-15 minutes. However, some died immediately while others died within half an hour. The next room had plates in the way they were on the sea bed, and other things. One wall had quotes from the survivors, describing the sinking. They had a model in front of the Titanic sinking and little lifeboats, in the gel that looked like water. The next place was a hallway where you saw the Titanic in 1912 on one side, and the Titanic in 1985 when Robert Ballard discovered on the other side. The last room had clothes that were in trunks, and are almost perfectly preserved. They also had personal items such as Major Peuchen's calling card, that they found in his wallet and spectacles that belonged to someone on board. One the other side were the stories of those on board that were from Georgia, and perfume bottles from a passenger, of which still had their scent. On the last wall, they had a list of all the passengers that were on board, and you could use the boarding pass they gave you at the start to see whether you survived or not. I was 2nd class passenger Edward Giles, and he died. At the end, I bought a piece of coal recovered in the 1994 expedition and is the only artifact from the actual wreck site, that the law allows you to own due to the abundance of 40 tons of it. If you live near Georgia, or you're passing through Atlanta, you might want to consider going. It's pretty cool, but you need to go through it with great reverence for those that died on board.

When Weather Changed History

Video

This movie talks about the sinking of the Titanic, as told through accounts. It also goes through the iceberg, and how they're preventing another Titanic disaster.

TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibit

Earlier this year, we went with our church to see a TITANIC artifact exhibit, in downtown, Atlanta. I dressed up in my costume that made me look like an officer on the ship, complete with a hat bearing the White Star logo. We were each given tickets that had the names and info about the passengers on board (I was David John Barton). We different rooms replicated from rooms actually on board the ship along with the bell that was rung when the Fredrick Fleet saw the iceberg. We also saw the tools that built the ship, and some personal affects that the builders owned. We came into a room that was replicated with to look like Southampton Dock. When we entered, there was a room that had personal affects from passengers, like purses, money, cards, and many other things. We even saw the jewelry box with the Duff-Gordon initials. There was also a replica of a 1st and 3rd class cabin . There was a replica of the bridge, that was cool. It had telemotors (that actually went on the stern bridge, since the bow bridge equipment were blown away and possibly destroyed. The we came into a room that had an iceberg that you could touch, in order to feel how cold it was that night. In another room we saw dishes that were in a crate in the cargo hold, but fell out of the ship when she broke apart. The crate dissolved, leaving stacked plates in perfect condition.  We also the side to a deck bench, and a part of the big piece of the hull itself was there too. In the final room, there was perfumes from that a perfume salesman that still had their scent. In the back, was a wall with the list of passengers that were on board separated between who lived, and died. I found out that Barton died.  The experience was pretty good, and in the end, I bought a replica of a 2nd class bowl. It's very beautiful, and rests on my shelf right now, as a prized possession.

The Cat with 5 Lives

Gurshon (Gus) Cohen was born on December 31, 1893. He learned the printing business but the company was sold out. He borrowed 32.00 pounds and booked passage on the Adriatic but the coal strike transferred him to the TITANIC in 3rd class. After the TITANIC struck an iceberg, he was awoken and told to get his lifebelt on and go up on deck. He was not able to enter a lifeboat so he jumped all 60 ft. and swam to Boat No. 12. He testified that the orchestra didn't play Nearer My God to Thee as the TITANIC sank. During WWI, Gus came back to England and volunteered. He was shot in a battle in the head but survived loosing sight in one eye and being disabled. During WWII, he had a cloth store and it was hit by a German bomb while Gus was outside and he survived. During the blackouts of London, Gus was at a subway and accidentally stepped on the third rail and still survived. At the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the TITANIC, he was asked to come and be interviewed via the radio. The taxi driver stopped across the street and asked if he wanted help crossing the street and Gus said no. On the way, he was hit by a drunken driver and still survived! He finally died of Renal Failure on August 4th, 1978 at the age of 85. His friends called him The Cat and in the end, he escaped death 5 times.

What would have happened?

Here is what might have happened if the TITANIC had not sunk:

TITANIC
The TITANIC would have gone into military service during WWI and would have either become a troop ship (like the Olympic) or had her fittings taken out and become a hospital ship (like the Britannic). After the war, she would resume as a passenger ship. She would have been scrapped after the Cunard merged with the White Star Line.

Joseph Bruce Ismay
Ismay would have been chairman until he retired at an old age. He died in 1937.

Thomas Andrews
Andrews would have gone on as chief designer for the White Star Line and would have become chairman of the Harland and Wolff ship-yards after his uncle Lord Pierrie died.

Captain Edward John Smith
Smith would have finished his career and retired after the TITANIC's maiden voyage.

1st officer William Murdoch
Murdoch would have soon been Captain of some other ship and had a nice career such as Capt. Smith.

Jack Phillips
Phillips would have gone into service during WWI on one of the Royal Naval Ships as wireless operator. He would have more than likely spent the rest of his days in Ireland.

The White Star Line
White Star would have not lost regular travelers that usually booked passage on the White Star Line ships. They would have probably gone out of business anyway.

Steerage
The Steerage/3rd class would have left the ship in the New World and many would have prospered.

Boarding the TITANIC

1st class entry doors



2nd class entrance and stairway



3rd class entryway



One of the ship's huge side doors

There were several doors on each side of the ship and each class had it's own way of boarding. When 1st class boarded,They would come into a room with beautiful hite paneling and then go through a set of exquisitely carved doors into a beautiful room with white paneling and ornately carved ceiling. You then are greeted by a steward or stewardess and are escorted to your room. In 2nd class, you would have entered into a stairway with beautiful oak banisters and lovely oak paneling with windows that made the room look nice and bright. Then, you would have to find a steward or stewardess to escort you and carry your luggage. In 3rd class, you would enter through the lowest gangway and see a room with white metal and wooden deck floors with also teak strips on the walls. In front of you is three stairs leading downward with metal deck railings and wooden deck stairs. These passengers boarded in elegance all in their own eyes. 1st class expected the elegant furnishings and lovely oak. Some 2nd class probably thought that it was too grand for them seeing as though their surroundings were 1st class on any other ordinary ship. 3rd class probably had never seen such elegance in their section and would have gazed at 2nd class and would have marveled at 1st class.

A Despicable Movie

I assume you know about the 1997 James Cameron movie TITANIC but I don't think you've heard about the movie that came out in 1996. That movie is so inaccurate, it's not even funny. The staterooms look like they belong on a modern day vessel and most of the women dress like they're going to a prom instead of the clothes of the Edwardian Age. It tells a mostly false story about the Allisons and Alice Cleaver. It also adds passengers that were not there. The themes are this woman whom is married meets a former boy-friend and they fall in love all over again. And a man whom is a pick-pocket falls in love with a 3rd class fellow passenger. The Grand Staircase has an oversized clock, midget cherub, and low chandelier. These people make a mockery of Christianity and I advise you NOT to watch it. The only thing good is some allegories.

Going Down Scotland Road

Scotland Road is the passageway that went almost half of length of the ship and was used by the crew to get anywhere quickly.  It was also used by the crew when either going from the top deck or boiler rooms to the sleeping quarters.  Scotland Road is actually a maze of roads that run throughout Scotland and has been for over 200 years. Scotland Road on the Titanic was used by crew members but some speculate that while the Titanic was sinking, some of the 3rd class passengers went through Scotland Road trying to reach the lifeboats. It's also possible that the list towards port during the sinking was contributed to by Scotland Road which didn't went through the bulkheads.  It would've allowed water to enter the port side unaltered.  When James Cameron went down into the ship, he was able to go a little way down it.  It's a rust covered hallway with fallen pipes that used to be on the ceiling today.

The Escapade

3rd class was at the very bottom of the ship and was segregated from 2nd and 1st class.
In order to escape waters in the bow, you had to either run through corridors to the deck and then try get to the higher decks. Or the other way would be to go up stairs next to the 3rd class kitchen which would lead you to 2nd class and then you would need to find the deck. If your cabin was in the stern, you would need to get to the General
Room, get to the poop deck, and then go up 3 decks to get to the top deck. If you were
in 3rd class, it was not as easy as you would think. Most of the gates which were used
in segregating 3rd class and the rest of the ship were locked. Because many didn't know the design plans of the ship, most died standing there waiting for someone to unlock the gates. Also, a disadvantage was that some didn't understand a word of english so they couldn't understand directions. You also had to battle open doors that
wouldn't close, luggage and other things floating out of the cabins, and other people in those narrow passageways. Today, the gates are still locked as if just closed. For more info, go to my post called "Poor 3rd class".

The Youssefs

Anna Youssef was born in 1875 to the Thomas family. Through tradition, the children would obtain the father's middle name as a last name until married. Anna was living in a small village and was one of about five Christians in the whole village. She married Darwin Youssef when he was 29 and she was 14. At that time, it was a custom in Lebanon to be eligible for marriage after puberty. They lived in the village of Tibin where there were mostly Muslims in the region.

Darwin decided that instead of being paid little and having to do bible study in secret, that they would go to America where you could be free and be paid a decent wage. Darwin saved up for weeks before he and his brother, Abraham. By this time, they had children: George born in 1905 and Maria born in 1899. When Darwin went to America, they had to wait a long time before he and his brother found employment. The money came slowly. Every month, he sent a letter and a little bit of money. It had been seven years and Abraham had enough money so he sent the money and wanted to surprise his brother. Abraham also sent a paper indicating where they lived and on it said Dowagiac, Michigan U.S.A. They and other villagers whom saved up on their own traveled by camel for six days too. Then, they took a ferry for five days to France where they were to meet the TITANIC at Cherbourg.

They boarded the TITANIC as 3rd class. To them, it was very lavish and grand. The children explored the 3rd class sections (much to Anna's dislike) and used dormant cabins for playing. On the night of April 14, 1912 it was 11:30 and Maria was missing and George was almost ready for bed and Anna was speaking with a fellow Arab when the iceberg struck. This caused a small jolt which caused her cabin door to slam shut injuring her finger. A few villagers went up on deck to see what happened while Anna went to the infirmany. Anna came back with a bandaged hand . the villagers came back and told her to go back to her cabin and pray. She wanted to know what to pray for so she went with George to investigate. She went up on deck and made it to the top deck where she saw the boats being lowered. She decided to be safe. She told George to stay there and she went back down to the bowels of the ship. She found Maria napping in her cabin and woke her up and grabbed her money and her precious note that had where she was supposed to go. As they were going up some stairs, she looked behind her and saw the crew locking the gates. They found George right where she left him and got into Collapsible C. Anna put her shawl over the children so that they would not see the ship sink. It also muffled the cries of the hundreds in the water. They were the only people left form those who came with them from their village of about 10 that survived in their village. Anna however, would remember everything she saw and heard. Later, they rode the train to Michigan where they were joyously reunited after seven years.

Maria died of disease in 1921 and George lived to have 4 children. She later went to live with her grandson and her grandson wrote down her story. The story was made into a book called "Grandma Survived the TITANIC" (pictured above). She became weak and was moved to the nursing home. As she was leaving, she gave him an 1871, 91.7 gold coin which was given to her by the purser on the TITANIC. As a coin collector, I'd price that coin at auction to about $12,000. She died in 1978. George became owner of a grocery store and attended TITANIC conventions and interviews. He died in 1991.

The 3rd Class General Room

The 3rd class General Room was one of the grandest rooms in 3rd class. As you came aboard, the first thing you saw was the General Room with pine paneling and teak furniture. Located just below the poop deck, the General Room was easy to reach for all passengers. It was very lively and every night, there would be a party where there would be no rules nor dance steps. During the day, men would talk play cards, smoke, drink, and have a so called good time. Since there was no band, a group of passengers whom brought instruments would get together and play songs that all of them knew. Even some of the crew came down when they were off duty and joined in. On Sunday morning on the night of April 14, 1912, the band played hymnals for church service and after the meeting, a few men stayed to do their usual routine. That night, there was shrieking from women and the diving of boys onto the floor trying to catch a mouse running across the feet of ladies sitting on the benches chatting. The stewards then asked them to leave because they were turning the lights out for the night. When James Cameron went down there, he found a bar, the bases to benches, and a table for about 8 people.