Mrs Thamīn Tannūs

Who was Thamīn Tannūs?

Mrs Thamīn Tannūs, also known as Thelma Thomas, was a 16 (sixteen) year-old Syrian/Lebanese passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on December 25, 1895, in Hardīn, Lebanon, she embarked on a journey that would forever change her life and become a part of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Early Life and Background

Thamīn was born to Ilyās Khūrī and Sufīyah Riyād Hassī in Lebanon. At the young age of 14, she married Iskandar Tannūs (also known as Alexander Thomas) in 1910. Her husband earned a living selling fruits and vegetables in their home village.

Why did the Tannūs family decide to emigrate?

The Tannūs family, like many others from their region, sought better opportunities in America. Alexander traveled ahead, settling in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where his brother Bashīr (Charles) had already established a dry goods store. Alexander then sent for his wife and young son to join him in their new home.

The Titanic Journey

How did Thamīn come to be on the Titanic?

Thamīn, along with her infant son As’ad, brother-in-law Charles Thomas, and several relatives from their village, embarked on a journey that would take them from Hardīn to Beirut, then to Marseille, and finally to Cherbourg. It was from Cherbourg that they boarded the RMS Titanic on April 10, 1912.

Key details of Thamīn’s Titanic voyage:

• Class: 3rd Class passenger
• Ticket Number: 2625
• Fare: £8 10s 4d
• Destination: 33 Loomis Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Who were Thamīn’s traveling companions?

Thamīn was not alone on this journey. She was accompanied by:

• Her son, As’ad Tannūs
• Her brother-in-law, Charles Thomas
• Cousins Amīnah Mubārik and her sons
• Sīlānah Yazbak and her husband Antūn Mūsà Yazbak

The Night of the Disaster

What happened to Thamīn during the sinking?

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Thamīn and Charles brought baby As’ad to the upper decks as the Titanic began to sink. In the ensuing chaos, they became separated. Thamīn managed to secure a place in a lifeboat, while Charles remained on the ship with baby As’ad.

The exact lifeboat Thamīn boarded remains uncertain. Some sources suggest she left in lifeboat 14, while others claim she departed in boat C.

In a miraculous turn of events, baby As’ad was passed to another passenger, later identified as Edwina Troutt, who entered a different lifeboat. Thamīn and As’ad both survived the sinking and were reunited aboard the rescue ship Carpathia. Tragically, Charles Thomas did not survive.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience impact Thamīn’s life?

Following the disaster, Thamīn and As’ad were hospitalized in New York for shock and exposure. They eventually made their way to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where they reunited with Alexander. Thamīn settled at 216 Stanton Street in Wilkes-Barre, where she would spend the rest of her life.

Thamīn’s family after the Titanic:

1. Sadie (b. 1914)
2. Edward (b. 1916)
3. Sarah (b. 1919)
4. Helen (b. 1921)
5. Joseph (b. 1923)
6. Mae (b. 1925)
7. Peter (b. 1927)
8. Marjorie (b. 1930)
9. Joan (b. 1932)

Thamīn and her husband continued to operate a produce store until his death in 1938.

Legacy and Later Years

How did Thamīn share her Titanic experience?

Thamīn became a local celebrity, frequently interviewed by local media about her Titanic experiences. She often spoke of the haunting screams of those struggling in the water, which gave her occasional nightmares throughout her life.

She participated in low-key survivor reunions with other survivors from her area, including Leah Aks, Selena Cook, and May Futrelle. In 1958, she was a guest at a screening of “A Night to Remember” in Washington, DC.

The Edwina Troutt Connection

In 1972, a remarkable connection was made when Edwina Troutt, the woman who had saved As’ad, mentioned the incident during an NBC “Today Show” interview. This led to Thamīn and Edwina corresponding via phone and letters until Thamīn’s death.

Final Years

Thamīn Thomas lived to the age of 78 (seventy-eight), passing away on January 7, 1974, at Valley Crest Nursing Home in Wilkes-Barre. She was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery in the same city.

Her legacy lives on through her children, who remember her as a kind, strong, and outspoken woman. Thamīn’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the enduring impact of that fateful night on April 15, 1912.