Hanna Elias Samaan

Who was Mr Hanna Elias Samaan?

Mr Hanna Elias Samaan was a 40 (forty) year-old Syrian/Lebanese general labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. He was traveling with his two sons from their home in Hardin, Syria (modern-day Lebanon) to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, embarking on what they hoped would be a new chapter in their lives.

Early Life and Family

Born in 1872, Hanna Elias Samaan hailed from Hardin, a town in what was then Syria but is now part of modern-day Lebanon. While details about his early life are scarce, we know that he was a father to at least two sons:

Elias Samaan
Youssef Samaan

As a general labourer, Samaan likely worked hard to provide for his family in their homeland. The decision to emigrate to America was undoubtedly a significant one, driven by the hope of better opportunities for himself and his children.

The Journey to a New Life

Why did the Samaan family leave Syria?

The early 20th century saw a significant wave of emigration from the Ottoman Empire, particularly from the region of Mount Lebanon. Many, like the Samaan family, were seeking economic opportunities and escape from political instability.

Hanna Elias Samaan and his sons were part of a larger group of Lebanese passengers all bound for Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. This suggests a possible chain migration, where established immigrants would encourage friends and family from their homeland to join them in America.

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Mr Samaan and his two sons boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg, France. They were traveling as third-class passengers, a testament to their modest means but also their aspirations for a better life.

Key details of their Titanic journey:

Ticket number: 2662
Ticket price: £21 13s 7d (equivalent to about £2,500 in 2023)
Class: 3rd Class
Point of embarkation: Cherbourg

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink. As third-class passengers, the Samaan family would have faced significant challenges in reaching the lifeboats. The chaos and confusion of the evacuation, combined with possible language barriers, may have contributed to their tragic fate.

What happened to the Samaan family?

Sadly, Hanna Elias Samaan and both of his sons perished in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified. This heart-wrenching loss represents not just the end of three lives, but the extinguishment of a family’s dreams and aspirations.

Legacy and Remembrance

While the Samaan family’s journey ended tragically, their story is an important part of the larger Titanic narrative. It highlights the diverse backgrounds of the ship’s passengers and the universal human desire for a better life.

Entries for the Samaan family can be found in the Casualty List (PRO BT 100/259-260) at the Public Record Office, serving as a somber reminder of their fate.

Today, descendants of other Lebanese passengers who survived the Titanic disaster have gone on to establish lives in America, fulfilling the dreams that families like the Samaans held. In this way, the spirit of those lost lives on through the achievements of their compatriots.

The story of Hanna Elias Samaan and his sons serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster, and the myriad of personal stories and dreams that were cut short on that fateful night in April 1912.