Surrogate Accepts Proof That William F. Hoyt Perished in Disaster
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The first victim of the Titanic disaster to be pronounced legally dead
was William F. Hoyt. Surrogate Cohalan accepted proof of Mr. Hoyt's
death yesterday and granted letters of administration to his brother,
Gordon C. Hoyt of 7,919 Franklin Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The Surrogate
required the administrator to furnish a $40,000 bond.

Mr. Hoyt, who was a member of the firm of Houghton, Lee & Hoyt, sailed
on the Titanic in the first cabin. Gordon Hoyt told the Surrogate that
be had received word of his brother's sailing in a cablegram from Paris,
and as soon as he heard of the disaster he telegraphed to his brother's
firm in this city and came here April 18. He said other relatives live
at Ocean Park, near Los Angeles, Cal. Both parents live there with two
brothers, Charles S. and Carl H. Hoyt. Mr. Hoyt's estate probably does
not exceed $25,000 in personal property and he had no real estate.

Harold G. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, told Gordon Hoyt that
after the Titanic sank he had heard moaning and had found a large man
held up by a life preserver. The man was so heavy that it took all the
strength of the lifeboat's crew to get him on board. The man died after
being rescued. An affidavit by Lowe was attached to the application for
letters of administration. This told how Mr. Hoyt's body had been
identified. In his pockets were cards and papers and a watch and chain
of peculiar workmanship. The cards included a membership card in the New
York Athletic Club and an identification card issued by the Fidelity and
Casualty Company of New York. Mr. Hoyt was buried at sea from the
Carpathia on April 16, Lowe stated.