Encyclopedia Titanica

Titanic victims died of hunger

St. Paul Daily News

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- Tooth marks on cork and collapsible lifeboat tell grim tale - Liner found three -

New York, May 16.- Bits of cork in their mouths and tooth marks on the cork and wood portions of the boat indicated that starvation killed the three Titanic victims whose bodies were in a Titanic collapsible lifeboat picked up by the White Star liner Oceanic, which arrived here today.

Two of the bodies were secured to thwarts by pieces of chains. The body of a cabin passenger was identified by the clothing as that of Thompson Beattie, Chicago. The other two were members of the crew.

A fur coat with the name Williams inside the pocket and a woman's ring inscribed "Edward to Cerda," indicated that there had been others in the lifeboat. The bodies were buried at sea.

White Star line officials say that the lifeboat is that mentioned by Third Officer Lowe of the Titanic, who said he left three bodies in the lifeboat of which he had charge when his 21 passengers were transferred to the Carpathia. This does not conform with the evidence of starvation."

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Christine Geyer

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  1. Dr. Austin Louis Dr. Austin Louis
    The abandonement of three bodies on the raft is definitely in agreement with the starvation of the occupants over a months time.
  2. Clayton allen Clayton allen
    Agreement?! The implication is that “bodies” don’t attempt to eat cork or wood. The lifeboat was unloaded and set adrift. The question is, were these men alive and/or possibly presumed dead when left on the boat when it was rescued by the Carpathia or could they have made their way aboard after and subsequently starved? The original occupants of the lifeboat were rescued the day after the Titanic went down, not nearly long enough for those aboard to starve.
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Encyclopedia Titanica (2004) Titanic victims died of hunger (St. Paul Daily News, Friday 17th May 1912, ref: #2953, published 22 May 2004, generated 12th January 2025 03:09:25 AM); URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victims-died-hunger.html