Mr Karl Alfred Backström, 32, was born on January 14, 1880. He worked as a carpenter and lived in Kejtala, Strömfors (Ruotsinpyhtää), near Lovisa, Southern Finland.

Karl had been in the USA previously, but returned about 1911 and married Mathilda Gustafsson. However, the followng year he got an offer as foreman for some construction work in USA and he and Mathilda decided to go. He wanted to work with people he knew and persuaded her brothers Johan Birger Gustafsson and Anders Vilhelm Gustafsson to accompany them. Mathilda was 6 months pregnant when they started. They travelled from Hangö to Hull on the Polaris and boarded the Titanic at Southampton, their tickets cost 618 Finnish Marks (£25.7s).

Karl, Johan and Anders were lost in the sinking and Maria decided to go back to Finland, where she arrived on 9th May 1912. She later received £325 in damages for her loss.

Karl Alfred's body was never found.

References
Claes-Göran Wetterholm (1988, 1996, 1999) Titanic. Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91 518 3644 0

Acknowledgements
Leif Snellman, Finland
Claes-Göran Wetterholm, Sweden

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Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mrs Maria Mathilda Backström