Ilyās Dībū

Who was Ilyās Dībū?

Ilyās Dībū, also known as Paul Elias Dibo, was a 29-year-old Syrian (now Lebanese) passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born around 1883 in Tripoli, he was a third-class passenger traveling to Houston, Texas, when he tragically lost his life in the sinking of the great ship on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

A Syrian Family with American Ties

Ilyās Dībū was born into a family with strong connections to both Syria and the United States. His parents were:

• Father: John Dībū Antar (born circa 1865)
• Mother: Mary Nader (born 1860)

Ilyās had four known siblings:

1. William (1888-1948)
2. Edward (1890-1975)
3. Richard (1892-1975)
4. Bahīyah (1883-1947)

The Family’s Migration to America

The Dībū family’s story is one of gradual migration to the United States, particularly to Texas. Here’s a timeline of their moves:

• Circa 1905: Brother Ed emigrates to America
• 1910: Brother William follows suit
• Prior to 1912: Ilyās himself is believed to have made at least one trip to Texas

It’s worth noting that upon settling in America, the family name evolved from “Dībū” to “Debo,” a common practice among immigrants to ease assimilation.

What Brought Ilyās to the Titanic?

A tragic event in 1911 set the stage for Ilyās’s fateful journey on the Titanic. On June 17, 1911, his mother died in Houston, reportedly due to a house fire. This loss apparently motivated Ilyās to make plans to return to America, leading to his booking passage on the Titanic.

Ilyās’s Titanic Journey

Embarkation and Ticket Details

• Embarkation Point: Cherbourg, France
• Passenger Class: Third Class
• Ticket Number: 2674
• Ticket Cost: £7, 4s, 6d (equivalent to about £850 or $1,100 in 2023)

A Discrepancy in His Description

While passenger manifests described Ilyās as a married laborer, this information is contested. According to Elias (2011) and interviews with relatives, Ilyās was:

• Unmarried
• Involved in teaching back in Lebanon

This discrepancy highlights the often complex and sometimes inaccurate nature of historical records, especially concerning immigrants of the era.

The Tragic End

Ilyās Dībū, like so many others, perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The loss of Ilyās had a profound impact on his family, yet life continued:

• November 9, 1912: His sister Bahīyah gives birth to a daughter named Mary
• March 19, 1917: Ilyās’s father passes away and is buried near his wife in Hollywood Cemetery, Houston
• January 3, 1947: Sister Bahīyah dies in Galveston, Texas
• 1948: Brother William dies in Houston
• 1975: Brothers Ed and Richard both pass away in Texas

A Reflection on Ilyās Dībū’s Life

Ilyās Dībū’s story is a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger disaster of the Titanic. A young man of 29 (twenty-nine), possibly a teacher, seeking to reunite with his family in America, became one of the many victims of that fateful night. His journey from Syria to the decks of the Titanic encapsulates the immigrant experience of the early 20th century – full of hope, fraught with danger, and ultimately, for some like Ilyās, cut tragically short.