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

Today in Titanic History - with Searching

Today in
Titanic History
Thursday, October 17, 2024

1937 - 1st class survivor Mr Joseph Bruce Ismay died of cerebral thrombosis (stroke) in Westminster, London, England, UK at the age of 74.

1876 - 1st class survivor Mr Spencer Victor Silverthorne was born to Daniel K. Silverthorne and Elizabeth Johnson Silverthorne in Greenville, Michigan, USA.

1951 - 3rd class survivor Mr Ernst Ulrik Persson died of heart failure / disease in Hammond, Indiana at the age of 65.

1918 - 3rd class survivor Mrs Johanna "Hannah" O'Brien died.

1917 - Able Seaman and survivor Mr Ernest Edward Archer died of tuberculosis.

search other dates

Shop at Cafepress

more Titanic designs

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.

Making Waves

corey's interviews
history with kelly
copal's queue
site of the month
the flub report
wallpapers/quotes
graphic sets
characters
scenes
downloads
rare pictures
facts
books
columns

History with Kelly
andrews/garber
kate winslet
the astors
faithless night
children
officers
helene baxter
dna tests
life aboard
carpathia
rms olympic

get this countdown
for your website

random quote:

about back-to-titanic.com | contact us