When Was The Last Body Recovered

[Tammy Markwick]

Hi
I was wondering if anybody knows when the last body from the sinking was recovered from the ocean surface. I read that bodies were found up to a month after the sinking. Would it of been possible for some bodies to be overlooked for years, since the ocean is such a big place? I know this is far fetched but is it a possibility that there are still skeletons or life preservers still out there somewhere?
Thanks
tammy

 

[Bob Godfrey]

The last body found was that of saloon steward W F Cheverton, in June 1912 by the steamship 'Ilford'. The chances of there being any remains still awaiting discovery are virtually nil, but see this thread for some amusing revelations by the tabloid press:

encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/5811/61110.html?1051367048

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Tammy, bodies don't last out on the ocean for years. In fact, I'm amazed that Cheverton's body was recovered at all since the sea life would simply view any organic material floating around to be a snack.

The interior of the Titanic has been found to be in much better shape then previously suspected and if any skeletal remains are still extant, my bet is that they would be somewhere very deep inside and away from the acidic environment of the mud. However, I have to point out that this is more then just a bit of a stretch. The chances of any such still existing are vanishingly small.

 

[Tom Pappas]

Since that part of the Atlantic is deficient in calcium carbonate, any skeletal remains would have dissolved by osmosis within months. The bone just drifts away, one molecule at a time.

 

[Allan Clarke]

Hi Tammy and all,

The last body to be buried in Halifax was that of First Class Saloon Stewart, James McCrady which was interred on June 12, 1912. He was from Belfast and was 27 years old.

His body was recovered by the Bowring Brothers steamship the SS Algerine. The company had been chartered to send out a ship to look for bodies from the wreck. With an undertaker and coffins on board they left St. John's on May 16th and returned on June 6th after finding only McCrady's remains. They were transferred to the BB ship the SS Florizel and brought to Halifax to be interred in Fairview Lawn Cemetery. The lifejacket he was wearing was given to the Newfoundland Museum, now the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador. It received extensive conservation work a couple of years ago.

Here's something spooky. The Algerine sank a few months later on the same date, the 15th. The Florizel sank with the loss of 94 people some years later just a few miles from Cape Race, the closest landfall to which the Titanic had sunk.

Regards,
Allan

 

[CMM 6th Grader]

I'm doing a school report on the Titanic and I think it is very sad, but interesting at the same time. When I learned how the Titanic really sank, I was so fascinated. If you would like to know what really "went down" (literally), just log onto DiscoveryChannel's website and watch Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces.

I am glad the government is trying to protect the remains of the Titanic. Those who previously left plaques have disturbed the tranquility of those who died on that frightful night.

Though it was no one's fault, I still think the lifeboats should have been filled to at least 3/4 of maximum capacity. And those gates that blocked 3rd class passengers from escaping! I know the society was different back then, but that was murder! (I'm sorry, I get carried away...)

What really makes me furious is that after the sinking, White Star Line billed the family of one of the musicians for a lost uniform. It probably cost less than $20!!!!! That was pathetic!!!!!! The White Star Line was getting paid handsomely, but besides that, that was soooooo disrespectful!!!!!!!!!!

Learning about the Titanic has been soooooo fascinating, besides the fact that I get carried away talking about it.