Jay Yates

[Elaine Barnes]

In "A Night to Remember", Walter Lord talks about a passenger named Jay Yates, who was supposed to be a gambler ( pg 78 ). Does anyone know if this person is real, as I cannot find him on this site. Thanks for any info...

Emily& G.W.

 

[lucy]

You have to look hard, but according to ET...

Mr Jay Yates, an American, wrote the following note, which was later delivered to a New York Newspaper:
"If I am saved, inform my sister F. J. Adams of Findley Ohio, Lost. J. H. ROGERS."

In fact Yates was never on board the Titanic and the note was a hoax. Yates wrote the note in New York and then had a woman accomplice pose as a survivor and deliver the note to the newspaper. Yates did this in order to make the police think he was dead. They didn't fall for the ruse, though, and Yates was captured a couple of months after the sinking. (He was wanted on federal charges connected with postal thefts.)

 

[Tracey McIntire]

Hi! If you would like a really in-depth account of this story, the latest Commutator (magazine) from the Titanic Historical Society has a great article!

 

[Elaine Barnes]

Thanks for the information,ladies!

Emily

 

[David Bass]

Hello...
My name is David. I am proud to be taking part in our school's performance of Titanic the Musical. We are getting closer and closer to opening night, and I am still having trouble finding information for my part. I am playing J.H. Rogers, or Yates (his real name). I have found that he was not on the ship actuually, but is it possible that someone has an idea of where to look for information on him? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

David

 

[Daniel Klistorner]

I don't know how deep you want to go, or how much time you have to search for him, but there were a few article in the Titanic Historical Society's "Commutator" on Yates - at least 3 that I can think of. Also, there might be a little bit about him on this site. Try a search for Yates.

Regards,

Daniel.

 

[Arne Mjåland]

In the Courier,Findlay, Electronic Edition there are articles about Jay Yates on the following dates: January 7 1998, January 16 1998. and August 11 2000.

 

[Arne Mjåland]

Patrick Fitch has spent years of his life to try to find out what happend to Jay Yates. During a visit in Findlay, he found out that Jay Yates, aka J.H. Rogers was arrested in Baltimore, Md., in June of 1912, using yet another alias, that of A.P. Berger.(Source The Courier, Findlay August 11 2000)

 

[Tad G. Fitch]

I wrote a couple of articles which were included in the Titanic Historical Society's journal, The Titanic Commutator, on Jay Yates, AKA J.H. Rogers. Does anyone have any information on his ultimate fate?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

I'm sure that one of the passenger researchers can shed more light on this then I can but if you check the passenger lists, you'll find out that Jay Yates was no hero because he wasn't there. He used the whole Titanic affair as a smokescreen to try and get away from the police.

Didn't work either.

 

[Kay]

Hi, Smith!

On a general note, it's worth remembering that authors often have a tendency to borrow information from previous authors in the mistaken belief that the research of those earlier authors was 100% accurate. (e.g. That's how gambler Jay Yates mistakenly reappeared in Dan Butler's recent Titanic book; Butler obtained his Yates info from a 1955 Titanic volume without knowing that the Yates legend had been disproved in 1983.)

If a Titanic book gives a specific source for a certain claim (e.g. "Lucy Duff Gordon saw gambler Harry Homer dealing from the bottom of the deck"), it at least gives the reader a basis for researching the subject for himself in order to confirm that Lucy D-G actually made the statement in question. However, if a book merely says that "Harry Homer dealt from the bottom of the deck" without providing any source for that claim, it is sometimes wise for the reader to treat such a statement with caution until specific documentation turns up to confirm its accuracy.

For what it's worth.

All my best,

George

hello George, Have you uncovered any new information about Jay Yates in the last 10 years, like where and when did he die? I have not been able to find any death records.

[Moderator's note: This post, posted in another passenger thread has been moved to here, which is discussing Jay Yates. JDT]

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Hello Kay,

hello George, Have you uncovered any new information about Jay Yates in the last 10 years, like where and when did he die? I have not been able to find any death records.

Please note George has not posted or been seen in the forum for almost 18 years. It is unlikely he will see your message. Jay Yates was not on board, but I have sent George a message on your behalf.

 

[Kay]

Hello Kay,

Please note George has not posted or been seen in the forum for almost 18 years. It is unlikely he will see your message. Jay Yates was not on board, but I have sent George a message on your behalf.

thank you

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Hi Kay,

I heard back from George. He has not found Jay Yates' date of death yet, but he can say 'with certainty that Senan Molony was 100% wrong in claiming that Yates died in prison in 1915'. (The man in question was not Jay Yates.) One of his upcoming books will be a vastly-expanded version of his old Commutator article "Fate Deals a Hand" and will tell everything he has learned about the gamblers since the 1980s.