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Lot Essay
The Cable Ship (C.S.) Mackay-Bennett was the first of four ships chartered by the White Star Line to search for bodies in the aftermath of the sinking. Even as the Carpathia was steaming to New York from the wreck site, the Mackay-Bennett was being contracted by the White Star Line at a rate of $550 US per day. She was owned by the Commercial Cable Company and sailed under the command of Captain Frederick Harold Larnder. On board were Canon Kenneth Cameron Hind of All Saints Cathedral, Halifax; and John R. Snow, Jr., the chief embalmer with the firm of John Snow & Co., the province of Nova Scotia's largest undertaking firm, hired to oversea the arrangements.
The Mackay-Bennett sailed from the wharf at 155-157 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia at 12:28 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 April 1912. Upon reaching the wreck site, it quickly became apparent that there were far more bodies floating in the ocean than anyone had expected. It did not take long for White Star Line officials to conclude that a second vessel would be required and arrangements were made to charter the C.S. Minia to assist the Mackay-Bennett.
At 7 p.m. on 23 April the Mackay Bennett lay briefly along side the Allan Line's S.S. Sardinian, Captain Robert McKillop (en route to Saint John, New Brunswick) to collect additional canvas to wrap or bury bodies.
Just after midnight on Friday, 26 April she met with the Minia and transferred additional embalming supplies at daybreak, she then departed for Halifax. After seven days of searching, the Mackay-Bennett recovered a total of 306 bodies (Body numbers 1 to 306). Of these, 116 were buried at sea and of this number, only 56 were identified. 190 bodies remained on board almost twice as many as there were caskets available.
The Mackay-Bennett arrived at "Flagship Pier" at North Coaling Jetty No. 4, HM Dockyard, Halifax early on the morning of 30 April 1912. She arrived at the pier to unload her cargo around 9.30 a.m.
It has been suggested that only those bodies which could be identified or were in good enough condition for embalming were kept on board the Mackay-Bennett, but there is no specific evidence for this. It does appears that, while class was a factor, the vessel was simply ill prepared for the number of bodies that were found. Once additional supplies were obtained from the Sardinian on the evening of 23 April all burials at sea stopped and all bodies were kept regaldless of class, identification or state.
The Mackay-Bennett sailed from the wharf at 155-157 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia at 12:28 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 April 1912. Upon reaching the wreck site, it quickly became apparent that there were far more bodies floating in the ocean than anyone had expected. It did not take long for White Star Line officials to conclude that a second vessel would be required and arrangements were made to charter the C.S. Minia to assist the Mackay-Bennett.
At 7 p.m. on 23 April the Mackay Bennett lay briefly along side the Allan Line's S.S. Sardinian, Captain Robert McKillop (en route to Saint John, New Brunswick) to collect additional canvas to wrap or bury bodies.
Just after midnight on Friday, 26 April she met with the Minia and transferred additional embalming supplies at daybreak, she then departed for Halifax. After seven days of searching, the Mackay-Bennett recovered a total of 306 bodies (Body numbers 1 to 306). Of these, 116 were buried at sea and of this number, only 56 were identified. 190 bodies remained on board almost twice as many as there were caskets available.
The Mackay-Bennett arrived at "Flagship Pier" at North Coaling Jetty No. 4, HM Dockyard, Halifax early on the morning of 30 April 1912. She arrived at the pier to unload her cargo around 9.30 a.m.
It has been suggested that only those bodies which could be identified or were in good enough condition for embalming were kept on board the Mackay-Bennett, but there is no specific evidence for this. It does appears that, while class was a factor, the vessel was simply ill prepared for the number of bodies that were found. Once additional supplies were obtained from the Sardinian on the evening of 23 April all burials at sea stopped and all bodies were kept regaldless of class, identification or state.