Elias Samaan
Who was Mr Elias Samaan?
Mr Elias Samaan was a 17 (seventeen) year-old Syrian/Lebanese third-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic who tragically perished in the ship’s sinking on April 15, 1912. A young general labourer from Hardin, Syria (modern-day Lebanon), Samaan was part of a larger group of Lebanese passengers embarking on a journey to start a new life in America.
Early Life and Background
Syrian Origins
Born in 1895, Elias Samaan hailed from Hardin, a town in what was then Syria but is now part of modern-day Lebanon. The region, at the time, was experiencing significant emigration due to economic and political factors, with many young men like Samaan seeking opportunities abroad.
Family Ties
Elias was not travelling alone on this fateful journey. He was accompanied by:
- His father, Hanna Samaan
- His brother, Youssef Samaan
This family group was part of a larger contingent of Lebanese passengers all bound for the same destination.
The Titanic Journey
Embarkation and Ticket Details
- Embarkation Point: Cherbourg, France
- Ticket Number: 2662
- Ticket Cost: £21 13s 7d (equivalent to approximately £2,500 in 2023)
- Passenger Class: Third Class
Destination and Dreams
The Samaan family, along with their fellow Lebanese travelers, had their sights set on Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. This industrial city in the northeastern United States was a common destination for immigrants seeking work in the coal mines and factories of the region.
The Tragic Sinking
Final Moments
On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, the fate of the Samaan family, like many third-class passengers, was sealed. The limited access to lifeboats and the confusion during the evacuation meant that Elias, his father, and his brother were unable to escape the sinking ship.
Aftermath
Tragically, all three members of the Samaan family perished in the disaster. The official Casualty List (PRO BT 100/259-260) from the Public Record Office confirms their deaths. However, their bodies, if recovered, were never identified, adding to the heartbreak of their story.
Legacy and Remembrance
While Elias Samaan’s life was cut tragically short at just 17 years of age, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. It also highlights the dreams and aspirations of immigrants during this era, seeking better opportunities across the Atlantic.
Today, Elias Samaan’s name is memorialized along with the other victims of the Titanic, serving as a testament to the human cost of the tragedy and the unfulfilled potential of a generation of immigrants whose journeys were cut short on that fateful night in April 1912.
Related People
- Knows
- Knows
Andre Nolan is an avid Titanic historian and the creator of TitanicUniverse.com, a website dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and forgotten details behind the famous ocean liner.
With a lifelong passion for maritime history, Andre has spent over a decade researching the Titanic, from the personal lives of passengers and crew to the engineering marvels that made the ship an icon of its era.
When he's not immersed in Titanic lore, Andre enjoys connecting with fellow maritime history lovers, exploring historic ships and shipwrecks.