Mrs Mantūrah Būlus Mūsà Franjīyah

Mrs Mantūrah Būlus Mūsà Franjīyah, also known as Mantora Boulos Moussa Frangie, was a Syrian-Lebanese passenger who survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Her story is one of resilience, confusion, and eventual settlement in the United States.

Early Life and Background

Born around 1860 in Zghartā, Syria (now Lebanon), Mantūrah came from a Maronite Christian family of Assyrian ethnicity. While initial reports suggested she was a 35-year-old widow, her family later disputed this information, claiming she was older and still married at the time of her Titanic journey.

Family Life

• Husband: Būlus Mūsà Franjīyah (Paul Moussa)
• Children:
  1. Peter
  2. Mary
  3. Lillian

The Titanic Journey

Embarkation and Ticket Details

Mrs Franjīyah boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a third-class passenger. Her ticket details were as follows:

Travel Companions and Connections

Initially believed to be traveling alone, it’s now speculated that Mantūrah may have connected with a group of Syrian passengers from Hardīn during her journey. She shared a cabin with another woman, possibly Thamīn Tannūs (Thelma Thomas), whose ticket number was sequential to Mantūrah’s.

Survival and Aftermath

How did Mrs Franjīyah survive the Titanic disaster?

Mrs Franjīyah survived the sinking of the Titanic, though the specific lifeboat she boarded remains unknown. After her rescue, she was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in New York for recovery.

Post-Titanic Confusion

Upon arrival in New York, Mantūrah, unable to communicate in English and likely disoriented from the traumatic experience, provided conflicting information about her destination:

• Initially reported to be heading to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
• Actually intended to go to Troy, New York, where she had family

Life in America

Settlement in Troy

After her recovery, Mantūrah was reunited with her family in Troy, New York. Her niece’s husband, Georges Joseph Nohra, a dry goods merchant, brought her to Troy on April 21, 1912.

Legal Action

“Mrs Mantora Moussa, of St. Mary’s Avenue, was a passenger on the Titanic, which was lost a year ago today and she celebrated her escape from a watery grave by filing through her attorney, Harry E. Clinton, a claim for $5,000 against The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company.” - Troy Times, April 15, 1913

Family Reunification

In the years following her arrival, Mantūrah was joined by her daughter Mary, who married Jamil (James) Karam. The family’s movements included:

1. Initial settlement in Troy
2. Relocation to Gloversville, New York
3. Final settlement in Springfield, Massachusetts

Return to Lebanon and Final Years

In the 1920s, Mantūrah made a significant decision to return to Zghartā, Lebanon (formerly Syria). She went back to care for her ailing husband, who passed away around 1925. It is believed that Mantūrah remained in Zghartā until her own death, which her family reports occurred around 1944.

Legacy

Mrs Mantūrah Būlus Mūsà Franjīyah’s story exemplifies the complex narratives of many Titanic survivors, particularly those from immigrant communities. Her journey from Syria to America, survival of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters, and eventual return to her homeland paints a picture of a resilient woman navigating the tumultuous early 20th century.

Her daughter, Mary Karam, carried on her legacy in America, passing away in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1974. Mary was laid to rest in Saint Michael’s Cemetery, alongside her husband and children, leaving behind a family line that continues to remember their matriarch’s extraordinary life and survival.