Miss Ūwjīnīyā al-Ba’qlīnī

Who was Ūwjīnīyā al-Ba’qlīnī?

Ūwjīnīyā al-Ba’qlīnī, also known as Eugenie Baclini, was a 3 (three) year-old Syrian-Lebanese passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in 1909 in Al Shwayr, Syria (now part of modern-day Lebanon), she was one of the youngest survivors of the tragic maritime disaster.

Early Life and Background

A Family Seeking New Opportunities

Ūwjīnīyā was born into a family seeking to escape religious persecution and build a better life in America. Her father, Sulaymān Dāwūd al-B’aqlīnī, was a pharmacist who had left their village in late 1908 with the intention of establishing his own pharmacy in New York. However, his journey took an unexpected turn:

• Spent time in San Cristóbal, Venezuela
• Entered the USA on June 7, 1910
• Established a dry goods business in Brooklyn by 1912

Ūwjīnīyā’s mother, Laṭīfah al-Haj Qurbān, remained in Syria with her daughters until her husband could afford to bring them to America. By April 1912, Ūwjīnīyā had two sisters:

1. Mārīyā al-Ba’qlīnī, born in 1906
2. Hilānah al-Ba’qlīnī, born in 1909

The Journey to America

A Delayed Departure

The family’s journey to America was not without complications. Their initial travel plans were disrupted when Ūwjīnīyā’s sister Mārīyā was diagnosed with conjunctivitis in Cherbourg, France. This forced them to delay their trip and board the next available ship - the Titanic.

Titanic Voyage Details

• Class: 3rd Class
• Port of Embarkation: Cherbourg
• Ticket Number: 2666
• Fare: £19 5s 2d

Ūwjīnīyā, along with her mother, sisters, and teenage neighbor Adāl Najīb Qiyāmah, boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers. Their ultimate destination was 217 Washington Street, Brooklyn, New York, where Ūwjīnīyā’s father awaited their arrival.

What Happened on the Night of the Sinking?

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Laṭīfah al-Ba’qlīnī, Ūwjīnīyā’s mother, managed to navigate her way to the upper decks with her three young children and Adāl Najīb Qiyāmah. In a remarkable turn of events, all five were able to enter a lifeboat and escape the sinking ship.

The al-B’aqlīnī family is a rare example of a larger third class family group surviving intact.

This survival was particularly noteworthy given the lower survival rates among third-class passengers on the Titanic.

Life After the Titanic

A Short-lived New Beginning

Upon arriving in America, Ūwjīnīyā became known as Eugenie and settled with her family in their new home in Brooklyn. However, her new life in America was tragically cut short.

A Heartbreaking Twist of Fate

Just a few months after surviving one of the most famous maritime disasters in history, Eugenie faced another battle:

• Contracted meningitis
• Admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York City
• Passed away on August 30, 1912, at the age of 3 (three)

Eugenie became the second of the 712 Titanic survivors to die, preceded only by Mariyam Nakid, another Lebanese passenger.

Legacy

An Unmarked Resting Place

Eugenie was laid to rest in a pauper’s section of Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York:

The Family Carries On

Despite the loss of young Eugenie, the al-Ba’qlīnī family persevered:

• Remained in Brooklyn
• Welcomed two more children: David and Isabel

Final Thoughts

The story of Ūwjīnīyā al-Ba’qlīnī serves as a poignant reminder of the complex fates of Titanic survivors. While she escaped the immediate tragedy of the sinking, her untimely death just months later underscores the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of survival. Her brief existence, spanning from Syria to the Titanic and finally to New York, encapsulates a unique moment in history where personal journeys intersected with one of the most famous events of the 20th century.