Lifebelt worn by James McGrady
On May 16th, 1912, the passenger-cargo ship Algerine left St. Johns, Newfoundland, to recover more bodies from the Titanic disaster. She was fully loaded with ice and coffins for the grim task ahead. Although she searched the Atlantic for three weeks, the crew only recovered the body of 27-year-old saloon steward James McGrady. He was still being buoyed by a lifebelt and was in a poor state of decomposition. McGrady was the last to be found by the recovery ships. Although only 328 bodies in total were brought back to Halifax, his was numbered 330. It is unknown why, but in counting the recovered bodies numbers 324 & 325 were not used. McGrady was taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia where, on June 12th, 1912, he was the last of the Titanic victims to be interred at Fairview Lawn cemetery. His lifebelt was kept and is now on display in the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, known as “The Rooms.”
The McGrady lifebelt is a complete one. Although not visible in these photographs, the lifebelt still has its side straps, and the inside has no damage or discoloration.
Photos and rotating gif file: Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador (The Rooms).
Maak jouw eigen website met JouwWeb