Collections Item Detail

B+W photo of funeral of 7 S.S. Vestris victims at Trinity Church, 7th & Washington Sts., Hoboken, Nov. 24, 1928.

Photograph

DescriptionBlack-and-white photo of caskets of seven of the S.S. Vestris victims leaving [probably entering] Trinity Church after [probably before] funeral, Hoboken, Nov. 24, 1928. 8" x 10" wide print. Photo taken by International Newsreel Corp., 210 South Street, New York City with the company ink stamp on reverse; attached caption by the company. Caption reads: "Last rites for seven Vestris victims." "Hoboken, N.J....Photo shows caskets of seven of the Vestris victims leaving the Hoboken Trinity Church after funeral services were read." Although the caption states that they are leaving the church, it appears from the direction the pallbearers are facing that they are entering the church. All the caskets have the British Union Jack flag on them. Six hearses are seen. The elevated view of the church at Seventh and Washington Street is northeast from atop a building in the 600 block of Washington St. See notes.

Entry/Object ID

2008.012.0039

Acquisition

Accession

2008.012

Source or Donor

Lukacs, Claire

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Museum Collections. Gift of a friend of the Museum.

Made/Created

Artist

International Newsreel Corporation

Date made

1928 - 1928

Place

Location

Hoboken

Notes

Date: 1928-1928

Dimensions

Height

8 in

Width

10 in

General Notes

Note

Notes: This Lamport & Holt Lines (a British line) ship departed Hoboken for the West Indies. The vessel sank on November 12, 1928 in a storm off the Virginia coast. There were 112 deaths from among circa 129 passengers and circa 196 crew members. A major investigation by American and British authorities ensued. The tragedy was considered one that was preventable (apparently a coal loading door near the waterline was not secured.) The causes and rescue efforts regarding the vessel were detailed in their reports. It led to an important change to the international regulations regarding life jackets that required kapok in their construction. Lamport & Holt was found liable and soon thereafter left the passenger business in the United States although it continued freight service. (Piers 15 and 16 were their Hoboken base.) The disaster became the subject of a major novel, "S.S. San Pedro," by James Gould Cozzens. Original or Copy: Original Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2008-05-11