In the story of aftermath of the catastrophic sinking of Titanic one man stood out to me who selflessly, morally jumped out at me. He is an inspiration to me and although I do not know a lot about him I felt I knew all I needed to know about him. He is one of probably many unsung heroes around the tragic event. Physician, DR. John Barnstead of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
John Barnstead was about to retire from public services in Halifax Nova Scotia when he heard the news of the Titanic. The previous shipreck off Nova Scotia where many lives had been lost had been badly handled so he took it upon himself to act quickly and Barnstead viewed this as a chance to put things right. He invented a system of records and his method is still used today with the coastguard, fire and police. Barnstead knew this was going to be an overwhelming challenge as no one knew how many bodies were to be pulled out.
It was a race against time as bodies were decomposing rapidly, despite the below freezing temperature of the water. Rescue vessels the CS Minia, CGS Montmagny, the SS Algerine, the RMS Oceanic and the SS Ilford also assisting were sent out including a medical examiners to retrieve as many bodies as possible. The crew had full intention of bringing as many bodies back as possible the boat physically couldn't hold around 328 bodies that was recovered as well as storing them when returning to Halifax. The bodies of the victims were first laid down on the deck and stripped of clothing and possesions. Then everythign was recorded into files. The files were handwritten by a medical examiner to take reference of physical characteristics and belongings with any other document generated like business cards or labels during the disposing of the bodies. Their items were later placed on show to furthermore help with the identifying of victims but the clothes were later burnt to prevent souveneer hunters. some files had very little written whilst others were very detailed each file is signed by the "provincial secretary's office" as it was there job to manage the bodies and possesions and talk to families trying to see if their loved ones were discovered. This wasn't done before.
Out of the around 328 bodies recovered 209 bodies were brought back and around 120 left at sea. The fatality list has been posted online here --> http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/titanic/results.asp?Search=
The 209 that were brought back, a sport stadium was set up as a giant fridge to store the bodies and Dr. John Barnstead measured, took photos, matched numbered items to numbered bodies so memebers of the public could come and try and find their loved ones. But out of 209 only 59 were claimed and shipped to other locations; the remaining 150 were buried at Fairview Lawn, Mount Olivet and Baron de Hirsch cemeteries.This took him around 14 months to complete and hardly slept until he was finished.
I am aware that there were many others that selflessly helped out in the aftermath also but to me Dr. John Barnstead went beyond by reinvented how the world handles tragedy and cared enough to try his best to reunite loved ones when he could have retired and left it for someone else to "clean up the mess".
Well that is one of my favourite guys and this is my first blog of something I love (not like my very whiney counterproductve last blog anyway!)
I only put this blog together in a day so hopefully next weekks blog with be a bit more polished!
Franny x
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