Titanic Historical Society Commutator 243
THS Commutator No. 243, Fall 4th Quarter, October to December 2023
Contents
A Titanic Love Story: Henry Sutehall and Ruth Allcock
The Sutehall family settled in Buffalo, New York after emigrating from England in 1895. Before settling down, young Henry wanted to travel and see the world. He and his best friend, Howard Irwin, left home in January 1910 realizing they would have to work their way doing temporary jobs. When they reached Australia they found work at a small company. Henry also found his true love, Ruth Allcock.
Contributed by Bob Sutehall
A “New Phileas Fogg” on Board Olympic-Vintage Vignettes
Salvaging the Rich Cargo of the Laurentic-Vintage Vignettes
Whiskey and Cigars Seized, Oh, My!-Vintage Vignettes
Titanic Survivor in Virginia
To give some background how my interest began, I was eight years old when my parents literally dragged me to see the 1953 movie Titanic starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb. I wasn’t particularly interested in ships, more into Westerns. Later in life my mother said dragging me to see this movie was a very big mistake for I was hooked for the rest of my life. My
grandfather brought me a book by Logan Marshall, Titanic and Great Sea Disasters. From that day on I read every book I could get my hands on.
By Ray Lepien
Oceanic (II) Sinks an Irish Steamer-Vintage Vignettes
At about 1:15 a.m. on August 8, 1901 in fog off the Tuskar, Oceanic II commanded by Capt. Cameron, on her way to New York, collided with the Waterford Steamship Company’s cross-channel steamer, Kincora, en route from Limerick to Liverpool. Kincora sank in less than ten minutes.
A Wednesday Ship, Olympic in New York Extended––Vintage Vignettes
Carrying Canadian Troops: Olympic as a First World War Troopship
In the long, adventurous life of White Star’s Royal Mail Steamer Olympic, the time she spent ferrying Canadian troops during the First World War is a notable but frequently overlooked part of her career. Olympic was cheered enthusiastically by Canadian troops who sailed
aboard, nicknaming her “Old Reliable,” praised for services rendered to other ships and honoured for her own success in attacking an enemy submarine. Carrying more Canadian soldiers than any other vessel, Olympic was an important part of Canada’s war effort.
By David R. Gray
Early Reports of Titanic Saved The First Reports of the Titanic Disaster on April 15, 1912
A number of reports about Titanic were inaccurate, perhaps a bias towards optimism. There was limited information available at the time and the news that did come in was delivered via telegraph. Like breaking news today many Titanic reports were hampered by confusion in
the chaos, as well as by opinions presented as fact. Accounts that Titanic was being towed were little more than conjecture and wishful thinking, the product of a very rushed newsroom with looming deadlines and scant solid information. Little did they realize that Titanic was already long gone by the time these stories hit the streets. As an example of news on that chaotic April 15, 1912, here are two articles from the Springfield Mass. Daily News, evening edition April 15, 1912 that include news that Springfield’s first-class passenger, Milton C. Long, was rescued when we know he lost his life in the disaster. By Springfield (Mass.) Daily News, Monday evening, April 15, 1912.
Covers:
Two photos from the Henry Sutehall collection: Front: The Sutehall family on their front porch with young Henry (middle row right). Back: Henry’s going-away party; Henry is standing in the back on the right.
