Who was Master Akar Būlus?

Master Akar Būlus was a 7 (seven) year-old Syrian-Lebanese boy who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Sar’al, Lebanon around 1905, Akar was a third-class passenger traveling with his mother and sister to join his father in Canada when disaster struck.

Early Life and Family

Origins in Lebanon

Akar Būlus was born into a farming family in Sar’al, Lebanon. His parents were:

• Father: Harry Būlus (born 1865), a farmer
• Mother: Sultānah Rizq (born circa 1872)

Akar had several siblings, including:

• Nūr al-‘ayn (born 1902)
• Several older siblings (names unknown)

Family’s Connection to Canada

Akar’s father, Harry Būlus, had embarked on a new life in Canada several years before the fateful Titanic journey. He had:

• Emigrated to Kent, Ontario, Canada
• Worked as a bus driver for the Rankin House Hotel
• Made several trips back to Lebanon to visit his family

The Journey to a New Life

Departure from Lebanon

In mid-March 1912, Akar, along with his mother Sultānah and sister Nūr al-‘ayn, began their journey to join Harry Būlus in Canada. Their travel route included:

1. Departing from their home village
2. Traveling to Marseilles, France via Beirut
3. Onward journey to Cherbourg, France

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, the Būlus family boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg as third-class passengers. Their journey details were as follows:

• Ticket Number: 2678
• Ticket Cost: £15, 4s, 11d (equivalent to about £1,800 or $2,300 in 2021)
• Class: Third Class

Traveling Companions

The Būlus family wasn’t alone in their journey. They were accompanied by other individuals from their locality, including:

• Kātrīn Yūsuf (née Rizq) and her two young children
• Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus

The Tragic Fate

What happened to Akar Būlus on the Titanic?

Sadly, Akar Būlus, along with his mother and sister, did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. The young boy, only 7 (seven) years old, perished in the early hours of April 15, 1912, when the “unsinkable” ship met its tragic end in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

Recovery Efforts

The bodies of Akar, his mother, and his sister were never identified, if they were recovered at all. This unfortunate circumstance was common for many third-class passengers, who often had less chance of survival and recovery compared to first and second-class passengers.

Legacy

While Akar Būlus’s life was cut tragically short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. It highlights the dreams and aspirations of immigrant families seeking a better life, only to have those hopes dashed by one of the most infamous maritime tragedies in history.

The tale of Akar Būlus and his family continues to be told as part of the larger narrative of the Titanic, ensuring that even the youngest victims of this disaster are not forgotten. Their story underscores the human cost of the tragedy and the profound impact it had on families from various parts of the world, including the Lebanese community.