Back to Titanic: Making Waves: History with Kelly: DNA Tests on Unidentified Bodies

Today in Titanic History - with Searching

Today in
Titanic History
Thursday, January 30, 2025

1854 - 1st class passenger Mr Arthur Webster Newell was born to Benjamin Newell and Susan Bennett Newell in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA.

1867 - 1st class survivor Mr Walter James Hawksford was born.

1894 - 1st class survivor Mrs Mary Graham Carmichael Marvin was born to Frank Farquharsen and his wife.

1920 - 1st class survivor Mrs Mary Wick died at the age of 53.

2001 - 2nd class survivor Master Michel Marcel Navratil died in Montpellier, France at the age of 92.

1990 - 3rd class survivor Miss Anna "Annie" Mcgowan died in Chicago, Illinois, USA at the age of 95.

1958 - 3rd class survivor Mrs Beila Moor died at the age of 75.

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History with Kelly: DNA Tests on Unidentified Bodies

On April 15, 1912, many passengers of the R.M.S. Titanic perished, there bodies left to float across the large expanse of the Atlanic Ocean. Many of these such bodies were not picked up until days later by the MacKay-Bennett, that was scanning the water for these unfortunate souls. Only a small percentage of the 1,497 victims were picked up. The rest called the sea their final resting ground, they never got to see the land they were anxiously travelling to. Of the bodies that were discovered, 150 were buried in 3 graveyards in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Sadly, though, 43 of these bodies are unidentified.

Now, work is being done to finally indentify them. So far 2 graves have been dug up on Thursday, May 17, 2001. Another the following day. This was done in Fairview Lawn Cemetary in Halifax, or as some call it, the Titanic Graveyard. This is where most of the bodies are buried, 121 to be exact. The rest of victims are buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery and Hirsch Cemetary. The digging is being by the request of anoymous famillies that believe they be related to these unfortunate souls.

The 3 graves are 240, 281, and 4. Four is where the "unknown child" is buried. He was the youngest victim found all those years ago by the MacKay-Bennett, being only about 2 years old. He is also one of the more famous ones, and had his own funeral where hundreds of mourners came to mourn his death. On his grave stone it says, "Erected to the memory of an unknown child whose remains were recovered after the disaster to the Titanic." Now, he may finally have a name or identity.
After the graves are opened, they are going to take samples of them and send them to Ontario, where the DNA will be compared to the DNA of the people that believe they are related to them. The better condition the bodies are in, the better the chances of identification. The procedure will under the direction of Ryan Parr, who is the co-director of the Paleo-DNA Labratory at Thunder Bay University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. All I know is that the coffins were in good condition, considering they have been buried there since 1912. That's a while!

People do have problems with this, though. They have even had one man chain himself to a grave because he thought the child was remains were going to be moved. Then, there is Blair Beed's, who gives tours of the graveyard, he believes that the bodies should be left as they are.

That's all for now, more details as I learn them.

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