Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus

Who was Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus?

Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus, also known as Baccos Raffoul, was a 21 (twenty-one) year-old Syrian/Lebanese farm labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. He was a third-class passenger traveling to reunite with family in the United States when disaster struck on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Origins and Parentage

Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus was born around 1891 in Sar’al, Lebanon. While his mother was identified as Manīrah, the details of his father remain unclear. This lack of paternal information adds an air of mystery to Rafūl-Būlus’s family background.

Marriage and Children

Despite his young age, Bākhūs was already a family man. He was married and had two young sons:

Rashīd (born 1908)
Sa’īd (born 1910)

Interestingly, like his father, the identity of Bākhūs’s wife is not known, leaving another gap in our understanding of his immediate family.

Occupation and Aspirations

Bākhūs worked as a farmhand in Lebanon, likely facing the challenges of agricultural life in the early 20th century. His decision to embark on a transatlantic journey suggests a desire for better opportunities and a chance to improve his family’s circumstances.

The Fateful Journey

Why was Bākhūs traveling to America?

Bākhūs was not venturing into the unknown alone. He was traveling to meet his mother and uncle who had already established themselves in Detroit, Michigan. This family connection in the United States likely offered hope for a new beginning and better prospects for the young father.

Titanic Boarding and Ticket Details

Embarkation Point: Cherbourg, France
Embarkation Date: April 10, 1912
Ticket Number: 2679
Ticket Cost: £7, 4s, 6d (7 pounds, 4 shillings, and 6 pence)
Passenger Class: Third Class

Fellow Travelers

Bākhūs was not the only one from his village making the journey. He was accompanied by several fellow Lebanese passengers, including:

Sultānah Rizq Būlus and her family
Kātrīn Rizq Yūsuf and her children

This small community of travelers likely provided some comfort and familiarity during the daunting transoceanic voyage.

The Tragic End

Sadly, Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He perished in the early hours of April 15, 1912, at the young age of 21 (twenty-one). His body, if recovered from the icy Atlantic waters, was never identified.

Legacy and Remembrance

While Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus’s life was cut tragically short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many individuals and families who sought better lives by embarking on the ill-fated Titanic. His tale, intertwined with those of his fellow villagers, paints a picture of the close-knit communities that faced the disaster together.

The loss of this young father left behind two small children and a widow, adding to the countless personal tragedies that unfolded in the wake of the Titanic’s sinking. Today, Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus is remembered not only as a victim of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters but as a representation of the hopes and dreams of many immigrants seeking a new life across the Atlantic.