William Byles
Brother of Father Thomas Roussel David Byles
Late into the cold night, rain batters against my umbrella
as my fiancé and I wait with tens of thousands of other hopefuls at Cunard’s Pier 54.
I cling to hope until the last of Titanic’s survivors disembark the Carpathia.
Lowering my gaze, I silently weep.
Katherine holds me close. “Oh, darling, let’s go now.”
We drive to her family’s home in Brooklyn.
But for the next two days, I check the list of survivors,
still searching for my brother’s name,
though in my heart I know he would never abandon those facing death.
Roussel was my eldest brother.
He was to marry Katherine and me at St. Augustine’s on Sunday.
Two thousand guests are expected to attend.
We consider rescheduling,
but Katherine’s mother says it will only bring bad luck.
With grieving hearts, we decide to proceed with our plans,
but because of the circumstances, we cancel most of the invitations.
Reverend William McGinnis, a longtime friend of Katherine’s family,
agrees to officiate at a private ceremony.
On April 21st, a small group of family and friends gather at St. Paul’s Church.
Katherine looks like an angel in her white satin gown.
I squeeze her warm hands. She squeezes mine back.
As the priest blesses our marriage,
I imagine Roussel standing before us joyously giving us God’s blessing.
My beautiful bride meets my kiss.
Then as Reverend McGinnis announces us husband and wife,
church bells remain respectfully silent--
just as we had requested.
Following the ceremony,
we hurry home and change into our mourning clothes,
then gather again at St. Paul’s, where the church rector, Father Flannery,
delivers a funeral Mass for the repose of Roussel’s soul.
After the service, we solemnly file out of the church.
Then Katherine and I pay a visit at St. Vincent’s Hospital,
where we speak with Titanic survivors,
who recall seeing my brother throughout the voyage.
Roussel led third-class passengers up the stairs to the upper deck,
giving women and children words of encouragement
as he helped them into the boats.
A woman remembers how a sailor more than once
urged Roussel to get into a lifeboat to save himself.
He refused and returned to the passengers left on deck,
absolving them of their wrong doings and leading them in the Rosary.
Imagine, all of those poor people at prayer,
Our Lady at the other end pulling some into lifeboats,
and others to hear the happy command,
“Enter thou into the Joy of the Lord.”
Note: William Byles emigrated from England to New York where he met his wife Katherine Russell. Months after the tragedy, the newlyweds traveled to Rome where they met with Pope Pius X, who declared Father Thomas Roussel David Byles a martyr for the Catholic Church.
Brother of Father Thomas Roussel David Byles
Late into the cold night, rain batters against my umbrella
as my fiancé and I wait with tens of thousands of other hopefuls at Cunard’s Pier 54.
I cling to hope until the last of Titanic’s survivors disembark the Carpathia.
Lowering my gaze, I silently weep.
Katherine holds me close. “Oh, darling, let’s go now.”
We drive to her family’s home in Brooklyn.
But for the next two days, I check the list of survivors,
still searching for my brother’s name,
though in my heart I know he would never abandon those facing death.
Roussel was my eldest brother.
He was to marry Katherine and me at St. Augustine’s on Sunday.
Two thousand guests are expected to attend.
We consider rescheduling,
but Katherine’s mother says it will only bring bad luck.
With grieving hearts, we decide to proceed with our plans,
but because of the circumstances, we cancel most of the invitations.
Reverend William McGinnis, a longtime friend of Katherine’s family,
agrees to officiate at a private ceremony.
On April 21st, a small group of family and friends gather at St. Paul’s Church.
Katherine looks like an angel in her white satin gown.
I squeeze her warm hands. She squeezes mine back.
As the priest blesses our marriage,
I imagine Roussel standing before us joyously giving us God’s blessing.
My beautiful bride meets my kiss.
Then as Reverend McGinnis announces us husband and wife,
church bells remain respectfully silent--
just as we had requested.
Following the ceremony,
we hurry home and change into our mourning clothes,
then gather again at St. Paul’s, where the church rector, Father Flannery,
delivers a funeral Mass for the repose of Roussel’s soul.
After the service, we solemnly file out of the church.
Then Katherine and I pay a visit at St. Vincent’s Hospital,
where we speak with Titanic survivors,
who recall seeing my brother throughout the voyage.
Roussel led third-class passengers up the stairs to the upper deck,
giving women and children words of encouragement
as he helped them into the boats.
A woman remembers how a sailor more than once
urged Roussel to get into a lifeboat to save himself.
He refused and returned to the passengers left on deck,
absolving them of their wrong doings and leading them in the Rosary.
Imagine, all of those poor people at prayer,
Our Lady at the other end pulling some into lifeboats,
and others to hear the happy command,
“Enter thou into the Joy of the Lord.”
Note: William Byles emigrated from England to New York where he met his wife Katherine Russell. Months after the tragedy, the newlyweds traveled to Rome where they met with Pope Pius X, who declared Father Thomas Roussel David Byles a martyr for the Catholic Church.
