Encyclopedia Titanica

Antūn Mūsà Yazbak

Antūn Mūsà Yazbak (Antoni Yazbeck), 27, originally from the Lebanon was travelling to Wilkes-Barre, PA with his bride Selini. They were travelling with Senili's sister Aminah and her children. 

They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as third-class passengers.

Antoni Yazbeck was lost in the sinking, his body, if recovered, was never identified. His wife, sister-in-law and nephews were rescued.

Mr Antūn Mūsà Yazbak (Anthony Moses Yasbeck) was born in Hardīn, Lebanon around 1885.

He came from a Maronite Christian family and was the son of Mūsà "Moses" Yazbak (b. circa 1845) and his wife Rahghey "Rose" Hassī (b. circa 1860). He had three known siblings: Joseph (1887-1970), Hannā "John" (1889-1932) and Yazbak (1893-1919), of which he was the eldest. 

Antūn and his brothers had left Lebanon at different stages with Antūn arriving in the USA in 1907, living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and working a shoemaking business with his siblings in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. His parents also joined him in Wilkes-Barre, the entire family appearing on the 1910 census as residents of 188 Sholland (?) Street in that city, Antūn being described as 25-year-old unmarried shoemaker. 

He left Pennsylvania in December 1911 and returned to Lebanon to find a wife, possibly through an arranged marriage, and his bride was Sīlānah Iskandar Nāsīf Abī Dāghir (b. 1894), also from Hardīn and whom he had known prior to his migration. Antūn's friend in Pennsylvania, Jirjis Mubārik, had asked him to escort his wife and two sons across the Atlantic upon his return; Mubārik's wife was none other than Sīlānah's sister Amīnah.

For the return to the USA, Antūn with his new bride, sister-in-law and nephews Jirjis and Halīm boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as third class passengers (ticket number 2659 which cost £14, 9s, 1d). Joining them were a number of other friends and relatives form Hardīn.

Antūn Yazbak died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. His wife Sīlānah was among the rescued.

Antūn's widow Sīlānah eventually made it to Wilkes-Barre and remarried two years later before dying in 1966.  His own family remained in Wilkes-Barre; his father died in the 1920s and his mother sometime after 1930. His last surviving sibling was his brother Joseph who died in 1970.

References and Sources

Monroe Journal, 30 April 1912,  A widow 14-years-old
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 4 May 1912, Young Woman Rescued From Titanic Here
The Evening News (Wilkes-Barre), 15 June 1912, Guardian for Woman

Newspaper Articles

North American (19 April 1912) Seven Wilkes-barre Persons Are Missing
Monroe Journal (30 April 1912) A Widow 14 Years Old
Young Syrian Girl's Husband Went Down With Titanic
Bride of Few Weeks is Forgotten But Will Seek Her Share
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr Antūn Mūsà Yazbak
Born: circa.1885
Age: 27 years (Male)
Nationality: Syrian Lebanese
Marital Status: Married to Sīlānah
Last Residence: in Hardīn, Batroun, Syria
Occupation: General Labourer
Embarked: Cherbourg on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 2659, £14 9s 1d
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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