112 years ago today, a young Swiss farmer named Albert Wirz was on his way to Beloit, Wisconsin when the HMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. He, like so many others died in the tragedy. Unlike many, his body was found, brought to Beloit, and he is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Included here are some photos of his grave site, one on the 100th anniversary of the his death, and another when the life preserver was added in 2016. Other photos include the personal belongings he had with him when the ship went down, including his White Star Line ticket, with train passage to Beloit.
Some handy references to the story.
“‘He was on his life preserver, he was identified all the information on him, passports, insurance papers, watches things that he had on his person,’ Oakwood Cemetery Historian John Kalkirtz said. The 27-year-old Swedish farmer was bound for Beloit.”
“Albert’s body was found on April 24, ten days after the disaster, identified and assigned Number 131 by the cable ship, MacKay-Bennett, employed by the White Star Line to search for and retrieve victims of the sinking. Following is the description recorded of… what was found in his possession… Two watches, brass chain; one ink pot; match box; knife; memo book; insurance book; passport; keys; empty purse; purse containing 36¢; Third Class Ticket No. 315154.”
On the occasion of his burial in Oakwood Cemetery, the Beloit Daily News wrote: “His journey is finished. He has reached the place he set out for. But no ruddy cheeked (Swiss) lad will add his wealth of energy and labor to the industries of Beloit. Instead a little mound in the city cemetery marks the consummation of his life’s hopes and incidentally brings home to the people of Beloit, the great ocean tragedy that shocked the entire civilization of the present day and will go down in history as one of the great disasters of all time.”
