Identifying The Dead

On May 13, 1912,The White Star Line hired several death ships, so called because their job was to find dead bodies of Titanic victims.  

Since only embalmed bodies were accepted at ports, each ship was equipped with a supply of embalming fluid, coffins, an undertaker and a member of the clergy.  

The Mackay-Bennet recovered 306 bodies, 116 were buried at sea. 190 were brought back to Halifax for interment. When the ship started to run out of embalming fluid, Captain Lardner decided they would only bring back First-class passengers. The others were buried at sea.

May 13, 1912

The first victim found at sea was Walter John Van Billiard. Given identification number one, he was 9 years old, dressed in a grey coat, a blue coat, a grey jersey, a white shirt, grey knickers, black socks and black boots.

In his pocket was a purse with some Danish coins, a ring, and two handkerchiefs embroidered with "A."

His father's body was also found and both were sent to Pennsylvania for burial.  Ten-year old James William Van Billiard was also traveling with them but his body was never found.

The death ships also recovered some famous victims:  John Jacob Astor IV, Isidor Straus and an architect Edward Austin Kent.