Minia

The Cable Ship Minia 1 was the second of four ships chartered by the White Star Line to search for bodies in the aftermath of the sinking. As soon as the Mackay-Bennett had reached the search area, it was apparent that a second recovery vessel would be needed.

The Minia was owned by Western Union (formerly the Anglo-American Telegraph Company) and sailed under the command of Captain William George Squares deCarteret 2. On board were Rev. Henry Ward Cunningham 3 of St. George's Church, Halifax, embalmer William H. Snow4, and assistant undertaker and surgeon Will Mosher 5.

The Minia left Halifax on Monday, April 22nd, 1912 and arrived in the search area on the following Friday. Bad weather hampered the search and only 17 bodies (body numbers 307 to 323) were eventually recovered after a week of searching. Two, those of unidentified firemen, were buried at sea. The fifteen brought to Halifax included Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway; Joseph Fynney, a second class passenger; three third class passengers, and ten crew members.

The Minia returned to Halifax on Monday, May 6th where all of her unused coffins and embalming fluid were transferred over to the third ship that was to engage in the search, the steamer Montmagny.

Notes

C. S.Minia, Official No. 56,762; Call Sign HRJL; built 1860; length 328.5 ft., breadth 35.8 ft., draught 25.1 ft.; registered tonnage 2,061 tons.
Captain William George Squares deCarteret lived at 99 South Park Street, Halifax (the house was owned by George Wright, a passenger on the Titanic).
Rev. Henry Ward Cunningham was rector of St. George's Anglican Church, Brunswick Street, Halifax and lived at 43 Cornwallis Street, Halifax.
William H. Snow, undertaker, Snow & Co. Ltd., 90 Argyle Street, Halifax, lived at 12 Henry Street, Halifax.
Dr. Byard William (Will) Mosher, ship's surgeon, acted as assistant undertaker on the voyage; lived on board ship at the Centreal Wharf, Halifax.

Available Documents
List of Recovered Bodies
Record of Bodies and Effects: 1-110, 111-220, 221-330,
Record of Unidentified Bodies: 3-328
Victims: Buried at Baron De Hirsch Cemetery, Halifax
Victims: Buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax
Victims: Buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax

References
Public Archives of Nova Scotia
John P. Eaton & Charles A. Haas (2000) Titanic: A Journey Through Time.
John P. Eaton & Charles A. Haas (1994) Titanic: Triumph & Tragedy, 2nd ed. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1 85260 493 X
Alan Ruffman (1999) Titanic Remembered: The Unsinkable Ship and Halifax. Formac Publishing Company Ltd., Halifax ISBN 0-88780-467-5
Alan Ruffman (2001) Personal Communication. Captains, Clergy and Undertakers on Board the Canadian Vessels which Went to the Titanic Loss Area. 23 July Revision, 2pp.
Alan Ruffman (2001) Personal Communication. Timetable and Details of the Five Trips of Canadian Vessels to the R. M.S. Titanic Loss Area. 23 July revision, 2pp.

Contributors
Earl Chapman, USA
Bob Knuckle, Canada
Alan Ruffman, Canada
Garry Shutlak, Canada

Bodies recovered by the Minia - 14

Crew whose current ship was the Minia - 0

Crew whose previous ship was the Minia - 0

Articles etc.

ARTICLE: 60 OF TITANIC DEAD TO BE BURIED TO-DAY

RESEARCH_ARTICLE: CLASSIFIED IN DEATH : RECOVERING THE TITANIC'S DEAD

ARTICLE: MINIA REPORTS TWO BODIES