Josyann Abisaab
Appearances
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
Music is a big part of Lebanese culture. There were four weddings that were celebrated by the Lebanese on Titanic, and it was actually reported that the weddings were so popular that many of the other nationalities joined in the celebrations, especially the Irish.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
His name was Jerios Yusuf Abisab. At age 45, he left his village, his wife Marta, and his six children to go on Titanic and come to the United States to work in the steel mills of Youngstown, Ohio. So he was traveling with Shaanine, his cousin, and a young girl called Banura Ayub. And Shaanine's brother, his name was Joseph Abisab, he was already established in Youngston, Ohio.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
A lot of these immigrants at the time used to kind of come and go from Lebanon. to the new world, to America, kind of sort of like the economic migrants that we see today in the world. It was the same thing. You know, Mount Lebanon was extremely impoverished and there was also famine at the time. So a lot of people just left seeking a better future for themselves and for their families.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
There were 154 Lebanese immigrants on Titanic. They made up about 10% of the Titanic passengers.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
When I found a third-class menu and I saw what was on it, it's just very foreign to typical Lebanese Mediterranean cuisine. The breakfast consisted of oatmeal and porridge and smoked herrings, jacked potatoes, ham and eggs, and marmalade. And for dinner, they had roast beef, brown gravy, sweet corn, boiled potatoes, plum pudding, and fruit.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
3. Into the Atlantic…
So I wonder whether they brought some of their own food with them. I'm sure they probably did, because even today, Lebanese, when they travel, they always bring with them either condiments or spices or, you know, typical foods from their home country. I know that I do it myself, so they probably did it back then.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
9. The Long Hours Before Dawn
They were accused of tipping the crew not to go back. He says it wasn't that and that it was just a gesture of goodwill because they said, you're all right, but we've lost everything. And he said, well, if we all survive this, I'll give you all a fiver, which is kind of better, I suppose. But I mean, the fact is he did give them all a fiver and he got into hot water because of it.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
9. The Long Hours Before Dawn
And I mean, quite interestingly to me, my parents started going out in 1934. And at one point, my father took my mother to a drinks party of one of his great aunts in Onslow Square. And she was introduced to Lady Duff Gordon, who was still alive. And my mother quite innocently said, Lady Duff Gordon, that name rings a bell. And she said, we didn't do it, you know. We didn't do it, you know.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
9. The Long Hours Before Dawn
And you realize that this was never below the surface with her for the rest of her life. They joined Ismay as being the cowards of the Titanic.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
7. Women and Children First
All of the instructions were being given in English, and the Lebanese passenger really didn't understand what was going on, which added to their confusion and to the chaos.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
7. Women and Children First
So many remained below deck, not knowing what happened. I'm sure they probably felt that they were not treated the same way as first class and second class passengers. And in fact, the survival rates for each class do speak for themselves as far as this, you know, discrimination, I would say.
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
1. The Biggest Ship in the World
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