Did You Know This Beaver Dam, KY Native Was A Passenger on the Titanic?

Did You Know This Beaver Dam, KY Native Was A Passenger on the Titanic?

CANVA

Growing up, I was totally obsessed with learning everything I could about the sinking of the Titanic. To be honest, I still am. It has been 113 years, and we are still finding clues as to what happened when the unsinkable luxury ocean liner met its fate that tragic day.

Interesting Titanic Facts

Did you know that the first newspaper headline regarding the Titanic, which sank in the wee hours of April 15th, 1912, reported that everyone survived and the ship was being towed to shore? Or that one of the reasons so many people perished was that even as the ship went down, a lot of passengers still believed the claims that the boat was "unsinkable." It was recently discovered that the men working in the engine room kept the fires going til it was submerged.

Even if they had believed the Titanic was really sinking,  there weren't enough lifeboats for everyone on board anyway. That is just so horrible. I think part of my desire to learn about this is that it seems to have been preventable in so many ways. Or at least could not have been so tragic.

WDKS-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Exploring the Titanic Wreckage

In 1985, explorer Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic approximately 12,500 feet deep off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Out of respect for the 1,500 men, women, and children who lost their lives, there are laws surrounding expeditions that will bring items to the surface for conservation. Recent scans of the ocean floor have shown incredible details of the state of the wreckage. Researchers have been able to answer some questions remaining about the last moments of the ship.

Titanic Artifacts Exhibition

When the first collection of artifacts was brought up from the depths of the ocean, they were put into an exhibition at the Pyramid in Memphis, TN, so my parents surprised me with a trip.  My mind was BLOWN. Some of the objects displayed were life jackets, completely intact table settings, antique jewelry, and a pair of crew binoculars.  Could they have been the ones that failed to spot the iceberg? There was even an unopened bottle of champagne, much like the one that is now in Pigeon Forge, TN.

WDKS-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Part of that experience involves learning about different notable passengers on the Titanic. There were many accomplished businessmen, including a man from right here in Western Kentucky. James Hollen Bracken was a second-class passenger aboard the fated liner. Born in Ohio County, Beaver Dam to be exact, to mother Sarah A. Morris in 1881.  His father, William B. Bracken, was a Union veteran of the Civil War and worked as a farmer.
At some point in his younger years, he moved to Texas, met and married his wife Addie, and later became a landowner and stockman in New Mexico. A buying trip is what took him across the pond to Europe and eventually London in 1912. When it was time to come home, he purchased ticket #220367 for £13. According to the Bank of England, that would be about £1,260.50 today!
Unfortunately, there are no known accounts of Mr. Bracken's activity aboard the Titanic. He was 30 years old when he tragically died, and his body, if recovered, was never identified. His wife reported that James would have had $3,000-$4,000 on him on the voyage. Which was a hefty sum at the time. Sources say The Red Cross set up a trust fund for her, but she declined to accept the funds.
If you'd like to learn more about Mr. James Bracken and what happened to his poor wife, Encyclopedia Titanica is a great resource. There is also an Ohio County history blog post about him here. Do you know anything about him or his family? Could you be related to him? If so, please send me a message on AppChat and let me know.
Categories: What's New

More From WDKS-FM