Fatal Voyage: The Titanic

A different rescue ship, the cable-laying Mackay-Bennett, searched for bodies. One hundred ninety were in good enough shape to return to families. Additional bodies were buried at sea because of gross disfigurement caused by the wreck. Bodies that were returned to families were embalmed on board the Mackay-Bennett.

John Jacob Astor’s body was one that was recovered. Marked as Body #124, it was mangled and covered with soot. He had probably been hit by a falling funnel. The money he had in his pocket helped to identify him.

Other ships assisted in the search for bodies. More were found, but the total was disappointingly low. Of the 1491 dead, about 1200 were crew and third-class passengers, including 52 children. The entire Goodwin family - who had boarded at Southampton - died.

The town of Southampton, where most of the crew lived, was stunned. At least 500 families lost loved ones. Survivors told their stories. 

People mobbed White Star Line offices with requests for information. Survivors had to be processed through regular channels once they reached New York. It would take days before loved ones knew who survived and who did not. Hundreds of bodies - many unidentified - were buried in Halifax, Nova Scotia.