Mrs Sultānah Būlus

Who was Mrs Sultānah Būlus?

Mrs Sultānah Būlus was a 40 (forty) year-old Syrian/Lebanese passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in 1872 in Sar’al, Syria (now Lebanon), she was traveling to Canada with her two young children to join her husband when tragedy struck.

Early Life and Background

A Family Separated by Emigration

Sultānah Būlus, née Rizq, was born around 1872 in Sar’al, Syria (modern-day Lebanon). She married Harry Būlus, a farmer born in 1865, and together they had several children. Their life took a significant turn when Harry emigrated to Kent, Ontario, Canada, several years before 1912.

While Harry worked as a bus driver for the Rankin House Hotel in Canada, Sultānah remained in Lebanon, tending to the family farm and caring for their children.

The Decision to Reunite

By 1912, Sultānah made the life-changing decision to join her husband in Canada. She planned to bring their two younger children with her:

Nūr al-‘ayn (born 1902)
Akar (born 1905)

This decision would set in motion a journey that would tragically end in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

The Titanic Journey

Embarking on a New Life

In mid-March 1912, Sultānah and her two children bid farewell to their home village, embarking on a journey that would take them through:

Beirut
Marseille, France
Cherbourg, France

It was at Cherbourg that they boarded the RMS Titanic on April 10, 1912, as third-class passengers.

Ticket and Travel Details

Detail	Information
Ticket Number	2678
Fare	£15 4s 11d
Class	3rd Class
Port of Embarkation	Cherbourg

Traveling Companions

Sultānah and her children were not alone in their journey. They were accompanied by several others from their local area, including:

Kātrīn Yūsuf, née Rizq, and her two young children
Bākhūs Rafūl-Būlus

These connections likely provided some comfort during the initial stages of their voyage.

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Sultānah Būlus and her children?

Tragically, Sultānah Būlus and her two children, Akar Būlus and Nūr al-‘ayn Būlus, did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. They were among the many third-class victims who lost their lives in the early hours of April 15, 1912.

The bodies of Sultānah and her children, if recovered, were never identified.

This heart-wrenching outcome underscores the disproportionate impact the disaster had on third-class passengers, many of whom were immigrants seeking a better life in North America.

Legacy and Remembrance

A Family’s Dream Unfulfilled

The story of Sultānah Būlus and her children serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. Their journey, which began with hope for a reunited family and new opportunities in Canada, ended in tragedy.

Connecting Threads of History

While Sultānah and her children did not survive to tell their own story, their experience is woven into the larger tapestry of the Titanic’s history. They represent countless families who risked everything for a chance at a new life, only to have their dreams shattered by fate.

A Lasting Impact

Today, the story of Sultānah Būlus and her family continues to resonate, reminding us of the personal stories behind historical events. Their tale, along with those of other passengers, ensures that the human element of the Titanic disaster is never forgotten, serving as a testament to the importance of preserving and sharing individual histories within larger narratives.