PASSENGER AGENT WHITE STAR LINE CABLES THE WIDOW

CONFIRMED REPORT OF WM JAMES ELSBURY'S DEATH

SUN HAS FIRST INTERVIEW

SUN REPORTER CALLS AT ELSBURY HOME; 

New York City, April 19, 3 pm – Mrs Walter Dunlap, Elsbury residence, Gurney, Ill.: Your brother, Wm. James Elsbury, was on board the SS Titanic when she sailed from Liverpool [sic], April 10. He was not among the passengers rescued by the SS Carpathia. – (Signed) passenger agent, White Star Line.

At a late hour Friday afternoon, Mrs Walter Dunlap, a sister of the late William James Elsbury, received a telegram from the passenger agent of the White star steamship company, New York City, confirming the report of the death of her brother by drowning.

The telegram was sent in reply to a query sent earlier in the day from the Elsbury home. 

The message is the only word Mrs Elsbury has received from the owners of the Titanic. Whether they are making an effort to rescue from the depths of the sea the 1,000 odd passengers who drowned, is not known.

Mrs Elsbury is a nervous wreck. When a son reporter called at the Elsbury home at 6 o'clock Friday evening, he was advised that he would be unable to talk with Mrs Elsbury, Mrs Walter Dunlap, a sister of the man who drowned when the Titanic sank, volunteered to give any information desired.

She said Mrs Elsbury had born up well under the strain of the first few days, but had taken ill immediately after the receipt of the telegram from the passenger agent of the white star line.

Mrs Dunlap confirmed the report that letters had been received by relatives to the effect that Elsbury intended to bring a number of relatives to the States with him. Mrs Dunlap said to nephews and a niece figured on making the trip to the States. They have not received word from England confirming the report that the nephews sailed with Mr Elsbury.

William James Elsbury came to Lake County when a lad of but 18 years. He resided at Grayslake a number of years, then he moved onto a farm for 3 miles west of Gurnee. He was born Sept 3, 1863.

He leaves to mourn his death demise his loving wife; three sons, Abbott, Geo., and Lloyd; one daughter, Bernice; one sister, Mrs. Walter Dunlap, and one nephew, William Beckey. The name of the niece who had planned to make the states a visit is Miss Sarah Kingsley.

Mrs Edward Moody of Waukegan is a sister of Mrs Elsbury.