Titanic Saloon Steward - Titanic Commutator - 3Q 1994

Front Cover of The Titanic Commutator: The Official Journal For The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. for the Third Quarter 1995. GGA Image ID # 10431d3037

On The Front Cover: "Olympic and Titanic" at the Thompson Graving Dock by Ilariey Crossley 20 x 30" (sold).

This issue features an article on a first class saloon steward on the RMS Titanic. Through a series of correspondence with the author, F. Dent Ray recalls anecdotes of the voyage, the passengers he met and the ship.

F. DENT RAY: A TITANIC FIRST CLASS SALOON STEWARD

By Edward S. Kamuda

"I am the only man living who saw the launching and sinking of that ship... the only man to survive the Boer War (and) also the Titanic." ...Frederick Dent Ray

Those words were written in various letters sent to me over a span of more than ten years by Mr. Frederick Dent Ray when he was describing his most fascinating life.

His name first came to my attention while reading Walter Lord’s book, A Night to Remember in 1955 and to receive his recollections in his handwriting was quite an event in my life.

My correspondence began before there was a Titanic Historical Society or. as it was called when it was formally organized in September 1963 the Titanic Enthusiasts of America.

CONTENTS

• F. Dent Ray, A Titanic First Class Saloon Steward, Part 1, by Edward S. Kamuda 4
• The Theory of the Unsinkable Ship, by R.A. Fletcher, Part II Conclusion 14
• Titanic Heritage Tour II, The Sequel, by Martin Arnold and Katherine Faulkner 19
• Don Lynch's Passenger Manifest 54
• W. T. Stead: Natural and Supernatural, by Grace Eckley, Part II Conclusion 56
• More Messages From Titanic Spirits, The Methodist Protestant Herald 61
• Two Vital Wireless Messages That Should Have Prevented the Titanic Disaster, by John Booth 63
• Sea Poste 64
• The Mortal Remains of a Great Lady, John F. Gannon 65
• Olympic/Titanic Blueprint Donated to the Titanic Historical Society 66
• 12-Page Supplement on the upcoming Titanic Heritage Tour III
• Insert for The Titanic Historical Society on the Queen Mary at Long Beach, April 7-9, 1995.

Back Cover of The Titanic Commutator: The Official Journal For The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. for the Third Quarter 1995. GGA Image ID # 10435dc531

On The Back Cover "Slow Ahead." Crossing from Liverpool to Belfast during the Titanic Heritage Tour II, Malthan Jackson watches Captain Parks from the Noise Mersey's bridge wing easing the ship toward her berth. Photo: Karen Kamuda.

THE TITANIC COMMUTATOR

Published quarterly and continuously for nearly forty years by The Titanic Historical Society, Inc., (ISSN 004-8182) and mailed from Springfield, Massachusetts, the journal has been the groundbreaker in providing primary source materials.

Accounts from Titanic passengers, biographies of White Star liners and other shipping companies are standard; also varied maritime interests, illustrations, and commentaries—ensuring a permanent record.

Sixty-four pages of exceptional content make this publication the largest and best of society journals whose excellence and accuracy is renowned.

Letters, email, advertising, articles, news items, and photographs are welcome. However, articles submitted must be exclusive to The Titanic Commutator.

No remuneration is made, and the Society cannot guarantee publication. General interest, veracity, and originality are the criteria; the burden for accuracy rests with the author, and the expressed opinions are not necessarily those of The Titanic Historical Society, Inc.