Who was Antūn Mūsà Yazbak?

Antūn Mūsà Yazbak, also known as Antoni Yazbeck or Anthony Moses Yasbeck, was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old Lebanese immigrant and Titanic passenger who tragically lost his life in the ship’s sinking on April 15, 1912. A skilled shoemaker and general laborer, Yazbak was returning to the United States with his new bride when disaster struck, cutting short a life filled with promise and adventure.

Early Life and Family

Born around 1885 in Hardīn, Lebanon, Antūn came from a Maronite Christian family. His parents were:

Father: Mūsà “Moses” Yazbak (born circa 1845)
Mother: Rahghey “Rose” Hassīb (born circa 1860)

Antūn was the eldest of four known siblings:

Antūn Mūsà Yazbak (born 1885)
Joseph Yazbak (1887-1970)
Hannā “John” Yazbak (1889-1932)
Yazbak Yazbak (1893-1919)

Immigration and Early Career

When did Antūn first come to America?

Antūn arrived in the United States in 1907, settling in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He and his brothers had left Lebanon at different times, seeking better opportunities across the Atlantic.

What was Antūn’s profession?

In America, Antūn worked as a shoemaker, operating a business with his siblings in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. The 1910 census listed him as a 25-year-old unmarried shoemaker residing at 188 Sholland Street in Wilkes-Barre, along with his parents and siblings who had joined him in America.

Marriage and Titanic Journey

In December 1911, Antūn made a pivotal decision to return to Lebanon in search of a wife. This journey would ultimately lead to both his marriage and his fateful encounter with the Titanic.

Who did Antūn marry?

Antūn’s bride was Sīlānah Iskandar Nāsīf Abī Dāghir, born in 1894. She was also from Hardīn and had known Antūn prior to his migration to America.

What were the circumstances of their Titanic voyage?

The newlyweds boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as third-class passengers, with ticket number 2659, which cost £14, 9s, 1d. They were not traveling alone:

Antūn’s friend, Jirjis Mubārik, had requested that he escort Mubārik’s wife and two sons across the Atlantic.
Mubārik’s wife, Amīnah, was Sīlānah’s sister.
The group included Amīnah’s sons, Jirjis and Halīm.
Several other friends and relatives from Hardīn joined them on the journey.

The Titanic Tragedy

What happened to Antūn during the sinking?

Tragically, Antūn Yazbak did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body, if recovered, was never identified. This heartbreaking loss came mere months after his marriage and at the young age of 27 (twenty-seven).

Did any of Antūn’s family members survive?

While Antūn perished in the disaster, there were survivors among his traveling party:

His wife, Sīlānah, was rescued.
His sister-in-law, Amīnah, also survived.
His nephews, Jirjis and Halīm, were among the saved.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The sinking of the Titanic had profound effects on Antūn’s family:

Sīlānah, Antūn’s widow, eventually made it to Wilkes-Barre as planned.
Two years after the tragedy, Sīlānah remarried.
Sīlānah lived until 1966, carrying the memory of her brief marriage to Antūn and their ill-fated journey.

Antūn’s immediate family remained in Wilkes-Barre:

His father passed away in the 1920s.
His mother died sometime after 1930.
Joseph, Antūn’s brother, was the last surviving sibling, living until 1970.

An Immigrant’s Dream Cut Short

Antūn Mūsà Yazbak’s story is a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations of many immigrants in the early 20th century. His journey from Lebanon to America, his return to find a bride, and his tragic end on the Titanic encapsulate the hopes, loves, and sorrows of countless individuals seeking a better life across the ocean. Though his life was cut short, Antūn’s memory lives on as part of the enduring narrative of the Titanic and the immigrant experience in America.