Dear Mary Pat:

I have been aware since I was a child that a great uncle of mine "went down with a ship" in an ironic twist of fate story.

Apparently, my great uncle, Arthur Guiler (my paternal grandmother's brother), was a purser by trade. He sent all of his luggage and personal effects home ahead of himself, as he was set to travel home, too. (Home was in the Port Dover area of south western Ontario).

As the story goes, another purser became ill, and Art decided to stay and "take his place" for one final voyage before returning home.

Obviously, his luggage arrived (along with a wonderful photograph in full native buckskin garb!), and, much later, uncle Art arrived, too, having been recovered after the wreck and shipped home for burial in the family plot.

I'm just trying to verify if my information is correct, and if, indeed, my great uncle perished on this ship's last voyage.

Thank you!

Cari Fallis