As new research by Rosanne MacIntyre will reveal, Blair was no slouch when it came to physical action.
Now that the December issue of the Irish Titanic Historical Society's White Star Journal has been published, Inger's unadorned reference in an earlier thread to Rosanne's research can now be embellished upon.
Under the title "David Blair: Luck, Misfortune and also Heroism", Rosanne recounts the well-known history of Blair's being bumped from Titanic in the last-minute shuffling of officers and his subsequent court-martial after the wreck of Oceanic II in 1914. She then provides an article that appeared in White Star Magazine in May 1924, three years after Blair had left White Star. At the time, he was captain of a ship called St. George, which was carrying members of the Scientific Expeditionary Research Association to the South Pacific. That article recites that Blair was with White Star from 1902 to 1921, and that "n 1913, Captain Blair received a silver medal for jumping overboard from the Majestic and rescuing a man." It also reports that he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1919 and the Legion of Honour. A photo of Capt. Blair, taken from the magazine, accompanies this article, as does a photo---which appears elsewhere on this message board---of the author.
Accompanying this is an article from The New York Times of 9 May 1913. It reports that on 6 May, two days before Majestic I arrived in New York, a 27 year-old trimmer named William Keoun jumped overboard. As other officers and seamen tried to rescue Keoun with lifebuoys and a lifeboat, Capt. Kelk guided the ship closer to him. First Officer Blair, who was in his cabin lying down, "hastily jumped into his uniform and rushed on deck to see what had happened." Spotting Keoun through the fog, Blair dove from the promenade deck railing, grabbed a lifebuoy, and swam through the cold (44F;7C) water toward the drowning trimmer. The lifeboat got to Keoun first, and both he and Blair were pulled into it.
The passengers "gave a hearty cheer for the gallant attempt made by the first officer" and later raised a purse of $50, which they gave to purser Evans to buy Blair---of all things---marine glasses.
Ro, this is great stuff and a wonderful find. Thanks and congrats!
Now that the December issue of the Irish Titanic Historical Society's White Star Journal has been published, Inger's unadorned reference in an earlier thread to Rosanne's research can now be embellished upon.
Under the title "David Blair: Luck, Misfortune and also Heroism", Rosanne recounts the well-known history of Blair's being bumped from Titanic in the last-minute shuffling of officers and his subsequent court-martial after the wreck of Oceanic II in 1914. She then provides an article that appeared in White Star Magazine in May 1924, three years after Blair had left White Star. At the time, he was captain of a ship called St. George, which was carrying members of the Scientific Expeditionary Research Association to the South Pacific. That article recites that Blair was with White Star from 1902 to 1921, and that "n 1913, Captain Blair received a silver medal for jumping overboard from the Majestic and rescuing a man." It also reports that he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1919 and the Legion of Honour. A photo of Capt. Blair, taken from the magazine, accompanies this article, as does a photo---which appears elsewhere on this message board---of the author.
Accompanying this is an article from The New York Times of 9 May 1913. It reports that on 6 May, two days before Majestic I arrived in New York, a 27 year-old trimmer named William Keoun jumped overboard. As other officers and seamen tried to rescue Keoun with lifebuoys and a lifeboat, Capt. Kelk guided the ship closer to him. First Officer Blair, who was in his cabin lying down, "hastily jumped into his uniform and rushed on deck to see what had happened." Spotting Keoun through the fog, Blair dove from the promenade deck railing, grabbed a lifebuoy, and swam through the cold (44F;7C) water toward the drowning trimmer. The lifeboat got to Keoun first, and both he and Blair were pulled into it.
The passengers "gave a hearty cheer for the gallant attempt made by the first officer" and later raised a purse of $50, which they gave to purser Evans to buy Blair---of all things---marine glasses.
Ro, this is great stuff and a wonderful find. Thanks and congrats!
