Discussions

On the night of April 14 - 15 1912 The Titanic sank en route to New York 640 km south of Newfoundland. In all, approximately 1500 passengers and crew died, 10 were residents of Manitoba.  
 
I could not find a specific Brandon reference but the fact that dozens of new immigrants were coming to Canada (at least 16 were registered for Manitoba) who knows where they would have ended up. I did find a Minnedosa, Eden and Portage la Prairie connection, though.  
 
The most interesting story of the Manitobans who died happens to be the one from Minnedosa  
 
Leonard Hickman moved to Neepawa in 1908 and worked as a farm hand in Eden, Manitoba. When his body was found people in the town paid to have it shipped to Neepawa for burial. Weeks later, however, it was discovered that this wasn't Leonard after all but rather his brother Lewis (he had convinced his brothers Lewis and Stanley to come back to Neepawa with him on the voyage). When the error was pointed out by Lewis' widow the tombstone was changed to be a memorial for all three Hickman boys.  
 
On Friday 3rd May, the Neepawa Press reported:  
 
"Amongst the bodies of the Titanic victims found was that of Leonard Hickman of Eden who went home last December and was returning with two brothers and several other young men to accept positions with farmers in the neighbourhood. Private correspondence from Fritham tells of the terrible affliction of two families there as a result of the Titanic disaster. Parents of Mssrs. Leonard, Stanley and Lewis Hickman are so prostrated that there are fears for their recovery, and a Mrs Davies, whose son was also on the lost vessel en route to Eden is believed to be hopelessly unnerved."  
 
A report from the May 10th funeral, incorrectly, states:  
 
"Thus was laid to rest the remains of Leonard Hickman, an efficient English farm labourer. Had he been a state dignitary or a millionaire, there might have been more pomp, but there could not have been more genuine sorrow and respect manifested. All honour to Neepawa, the farthest west resting place of a Titanic hero."  
 
Also from Manitoba:  
 
The FORTUNE Family of 393 Wellington Crescent in Winnipeg were traveling first class: Mark 64 Land Speculator; Mary 60 (nee MacDougald of Portage La Prairie); Ethel 28; Alice 24; Mabel 23; Charles 19. Mark and Charles died, their bodies were never recovered.  
 
GRAHAM, George E 38 (1st Class) was head of the China Department at Eaton's in Winnipeg and returning from a European buying trip. In honour of Graham, the street running behind Eaton's was renamed. He was originally buried in Ontario but when his wife died in 1960 and was buried next to their son in St. Mary's cemetery his body was exhumed and sent to Manitoba to be buried with them.  
 
BEATTIE, Thomson 36 (1st Class) was owner of Haslam Land Co. in Winnipeg and lived at 560 River Ave. He died of exposure on makeshift boat and was found a month later and buried at sea.  
 
ROSS, John H 36 1st Class, Winnipeg Land Merchant, had his office in the Merchants Bank Building.  
 
Some Links of Interest:  
 
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/state/43/ - list of Manitobans lost and those en route to Manitoba. Includes pictures and biographies of each person on board.  
 
http://www.britannica.com/titanic/01_01.html - Encyclopedia Britannica Titanic page