Mr Ṭannūs Ḥannā Mu’awwad ṬANNŪS

Mr Ṭannūs Ḥannā Mu’awwad ṬANNŪS was a 16 (sixteen) year-old Syrian-Lebanese scholar who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in Tuḥūm, Lebanon around 1896, he was a third-class passenger on the ill-fated maiden voyage, embarking on a journey that would ultimately lead to his untimely demise.

Early Life and Background

A Family Divided by Opportunity

Ṭannūs was born to Ḥannā Ṭannūs Mu’awwad, who had emigrated to the United States shortly after his son’s birth. His father settled in Columbus, Ohio, becoming a naturalized US citizen in 1902 and changing his name to John Thomas. While Ṭannūs remained in Lebanon, his father built a life in America:

• Worked as a clothing salesman
• Employed at the Princess Theatre
• Accumulated a fortune, later losing a significant portion due to bank failures

The young Ṭannūs also had uncles who had sought opportunities abroad:

• Uncle Joseph operated a dry goods store in Columbus
• Uncle Shaheen lived in Owen Sound, Ontario

A Father’s Vision for His Son’s Future

In February 1911, Ṭannūs’ father made a pivotal decision that would set the course for his son’s fate. He planned to return to Lebanon with the intention of:

1. Bringing Ṭannūs to the United States
2. Completing his education
3. Eventually enrolling him at Ohio State University

During this visit, Ṭannūs’ mother became pregnant, giving birth to his younger brother, Yūsuf, in 1912.

The Titanic Journey

How did Ṭannūs come to be on the Titanic?

Ṭannūs and his father boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg as third-class passengers. They were not alone in their journey, as several relatives accompanied them:

• Jirjis Yūsuf Abī Sa’b (Gerios Youseff)
• Sha’nīnah Abī Sa’b
• Ṭannūs Dāhir (his uncle)
• Bannūrah Ayyūb-Dāhir

Ticket and Fare Details

The Fateful Night

What happened to Ṭannūs during the sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, Ṭannūs and his father were asleep in their cabin when the Titanic struck the iceberg. The impact awakened them, and they gathered with their relatives in the ship’s communal areas.

A tragic series of events unfolded:

1. Ṭannūs became separated from the group
2. His father went searching for him, descending a staircase
3. Ṭannūs appeared on another staircase
4. Bannūrah Ayyūb-Dāhir informed Ṭannūs of his father’s whereabouts
5. The young man set off to find his father

“Ṭannūs set off in search for his father and Bannūrah and the others in her party never saw them again.”

Both father and son were lost in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

Legacy and Impact

A Dream Unfulfilled

The tragic loss of Ṭannūs Ḥannā Mu’awwad ṬANNŪS at the young age of 16 (sixteen) represents not only a personal family tragedy but also a poignant example of the dreams and aspirations cut short by the Titanic disaster. His story embodies the hopes of many immigrants seeking better opportunities in America, only to have their journeys end in tragedy.

Remembering the Young Scholar

Ṭannūs’ designation as a “scholar” on his passenger record hints at a bright future that was never realized. His father’s plans for his education, including potential enrollment at Ohio State University, speak to the aspirations and sacrifices made by immigrant families in pursuit of the American dream.

As we remember the victims of the Titanic, Ṭannūs’ story serves as a reminder of the many young lives lost and the potential that sank with the ship on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.