Bashīr Tannūs

Who was Mr Bashîr Tannûs?

Mr Bashîr Tannûs, also known as Charles Thomas, was a 30 (thirty) year-old Syrian-Lebanese passenger who tragically perished in the Titanic disaster. He was a dealer by profession and a third-class passenger on the ill-fated ship’s maiden voyage.

Early Life and Family

Lebanese Roots

Bashîr Tannûs was born on May 15, 1881, in Hardîn, Lebanon. He was the son of Tannûs Tannûs and Ramzah (Rose) Silvanie. Bashîr grew up in a family with several siblings, including his younger brother Iskandar (born 1890), who would later play a significant role in Bashîr’s life.

Immigration to America

In 1896, at the age of 15 (fifteen), Bashîr embarked on a life-changing journey by emigrating to the United States. This move would set the stage for his future and ultimately lead to his fateful encounter with the Titanic.

Career and Family Life in America

Establishing a New Life

After settling in Pennsylvania, Bashîr worked as a dry goods merchant, building a new life for himself in America. His hard work and determination paid off, allowing him to start a family of his own.

Marriage and Children

In 1903, Bashîr married She’lah Deghir, a fellow Lebanese immigrant born in 1886. By the time of the 1910 census, the couple had established their home at 192 Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Their family grew quickly, with three children born in quick succession:

• Thomas (born 1904)
• Celia (born 1906, later Mrs. Russell Joseph)
• James (born 1910)

Return to Lebanon and Fateful Journey

Family Matters

In 1910, Bashîr and his family returned to Lebanon for his younger brother Iskandar’s (Alexander’s) wedding to Thamîn Tannûs (Thelma Thomas). After the wedding, Bashîr and Alexander returned to the USA, leaving their families behind in Hardîn with plans to bring them to America later.

A Brother’s Errand

In late 1911, Alexander’s wife Thelma gave birth to a son named As’ad. Alexander then entrusted Bashîr with the important task of bringing Thelma and the infant back to Wilkes-Barre. This errand would ultimately lead Bashîr to book passage on the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ill-Fated Ship

After spending time with his own family in Hardîn, Bashîr embarked on his mission. He traveled to Beirut with Thelma and baby As’ad, then crossed to Marseille before arriving in Cherbourg. On April 10, 1912, the party boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers.

Ticket Details:

• Ticket Number: 2621
• Cost: £6, 8s, 9d

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Bashîr demonstrated remarkable courage and selflessness. He and his sister-in-law Thelma brought baby As’ad to the upper decks amidst the chaos and confusion.

A Heroic Act

In the midst of the panic, Bashîr and Thelma became separated. With Thelma in a lifeboat, Bashîr found himself still holding baby As’ad. In a moment of desperation and bravery, he approached a lone woman, pleading with her to save the infant. The woman took the child and carried him to safety in another lifeboat.

“He reportedly approached a lone woman pleading with her to save the infant, which she did, carrying the child into the next available boat.”

Uncertainty in the Chaos

The exact details of which lifeboats Thelma and baby As’ad escaped in remain uncertain:

• Some sources suggest Thelma left in lifeboat 14, with baby As’ad being passed to Edwina Troutt in boat 16.
• Other accounts place Thelma in boat C and baby As’ad with Miss Troutt in boat D.

The Aftermath

A Life Cut Short

Despite his heroic efforts to save his sister-in-law and nephew, Bashîr Tannûs did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He was just 30 (thirty) years old when he perished on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His Family’s Fate

Following the tragedy, Bashîr’s widow brought their children back across the Atlantic and resettled in Wilkes-Barre. They appeared in the 1920 and 1930 census records, but the ultimate fate of She’lah Deghir remains uncertain.

Legacy

Bashîr Tannûs’s story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. His selfless act in saving his infant nephew, even at the cost of his own life, stands as a testament to the heroism displayed by many during that tragic night. While his life was cut short, his legacy lives on through the descendants of those he helped save and in the annals of Titanic history.