David Vartanian, a 22-year-old Armenian, fled the crumbling Ottoman Empire and secured a ticket on the Titanic's maiden voyage to America in 1912. Like many young Armenian men of the time; his plan was to establish himself in the new world and send for his young wife, Mary whom he had recently married in his hometown of Keghi, Erzurum, Eastern Turkey.
A year earlier, a few thousand young Keghetsi men had immigrated to the US as general laborers in many North American industries.
“They started to get word that the drafting of young Armenian men from the villages had begun, and the rumors were that they would be sent to the front lines without weapons. So, in his village they started trying to get some of the young men out.” says David's great granddaughter, Melissa Vartanian.
A view of Keghi. Photo via Houshamadyan.
Through the kindness of Turkish neighbors who gave David their deceased son’s papers so that he could leave the country, David walked for 7 days to Trebizond on the Black Sea and sailed to Marseilles, France, before boarding the Titanic at the port of Cherbourg as a third class passenger. His ticket number was 2658.
Titanic at Cherbourg, April 10, 1912.
Four days into the journey, on April 14, just before midnight, the Titanic hit an iceberg. The collision was fatal and the ship began to sink. David had been playing card games and gone to bed. He was woken up in the middle of the night by a thud and was directed to the ship's back end.
He watched women and children board lifeboats, but as the number of boats left dwindled, it became apparent it was every person for themselves.
David made it to the boat deck and soon thereafter found himself with no other option than to jump from the Titanic. It was his 22nd birthday.
Back in Keghi, David had taught himself to swim in a nearby creek; he would later maintain that this incidental choice saved his life that night in the Atlantic.
David's great granddaughter, Melissa recalls;
“When the boat started to sink, David had always said that the 3rd class passengers were locked down in steerage, and they had to break the gates to get up. They did, and he eventually made it to the top deck and jumped from the boat and swam to a life boat.”
“When he got to the life boat he decided to just hang on to the side. The passengers on the boat feared he would try and get into the boat so they hit his hands with the oars, and they tried to drown him, in fear that if he got in the boat it would capsize.”
Because of the language barrier, it took the passengers a while to realize all he wanted was to hold on. When he passed out, they pulled him into the boat and then onto the HMS Carpathia rescue ship.
Photo of David Vartanian, taken by the Brantford Expositor Newspaper, 1912.
After being rescued and then treated for a few days in a New York hospital, David Vartanian moved on to Ontario, Canada. He got word that his wife’s village had been invaded by Turkish forces. He was led to believe that his beloved wife, Mary, was dead--inevitably killed in the genocide of the Armenian people.
David never gave up searching for her. He wrote letters to newspapers, churches, and relatives. Six years would pass. Finally a letter arrived saying Mary was alive.
Mary had fled her village during the genocide, but had returned to live with her sister. She herself, having heard of the disaster and nothing more, had believed that David had been killed in the sinking of the Titanic.
For the next 5 years, David would send money to Mary so she finally had enough to buy her way out of the country. According to the Vartanian family, Mary kept the gold coins and wore them in the form of a necklace.
When the time had come for Mary to set sail, her family convinced her to leave the necklace behind because, as her daughter Rose Vartanian repeated decades on; “where you are going, the streets are paved with gold.”
She took a boat to Canada in 1923 and was taken to Niagra Falls by David’s friends.
“They told her to walk across the bridge, to keep a good pace, and not look back, because she was obviously entering the country illegally at the time." Melissa says.
When she made it across the Niagra Falls Bridge (commonly known as the Rainbow Bridge), David was at the other end of the Rainbow Bridge (on the American side) waiting for his lost bride.
They had not seen each other for 11 years.
The Vartanians settled in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he was known locally as "Titanic David". They had 3 children. Jack, Rose and Alice. By the 1940s they had moved to Detroit, where David worked for the McLouth Steel company.
David and Mary with their son Jack
David with his Daughter Rose
For the rest of his life, David suffered from nerve damage in his legs, walking with a limp, a cane and a blue hue along his calves.
"The lower half of my grandfather’s body had a bluish tint from being in the frigid water for so long, and remained that way,” his grandson Greg told a newspaper in 2009.
David died in 1966 at the age of 76.
Ninety-seven years after the Titanic sunk, in 2009, David's great-granddaughter, Melissa Vartanian and her fiancé, Vache Mikaelian were married at the Milwaukee Museum’s “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” after the couple won a contest for a free wedding at the venue.
“Vache and I were engaged at the time and were planning a destination wedding. I looked up the contest, purely because the mention of the Titanic struck my interest,” Melissa said.
“I read that the winning couple would get married in the Exhibit! So, I decided to apply.”
Melissa Vartanian, her husband Vache and her grandmother Rose Vartanian pose for a photo in 2009 at the Milwaukee Public Museum's Titanic Exhibit.
It’s no surprise they won, considering Vartanian’s great grandparents’ amazing tragedy and triumph on both sides of the Atlantic.
“While I do agree that the sinking led to great loss and devastation, the Titanic was also a vessel of hope to so many that were fleeing persecution, or searching a better life." said Melissa.
"It was a tragedy, an absolute tragedy that happened. The difference for my family is that it was ultimately about hope and freedom. For my family, it brought life."
33 comments
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James Bilezikian
I am first generation born in the USA. Raised with the stories of redemption and godly courage. Read my published short story. Google my name and it will come up.
I am first generation born in the USA. Raised with the stories of redemption and godly courage. Read my published short story. Google my name and it will come up.
Carol Tavitian
This story of survival, stirs the heart. The journalism is impeccable! My husband, is first generation.
This story of survival, stirs the heart. The journalism is impeccable! My husband, is first generation.
Ed Khachatourian
I went through the Titanic Experience in Orlando FL, they handed us names of passengers and at the end of the experience, we were asked to check to see if the person whose name we were holding survived, I had David’s name. Made me so proud to know that an Armenian had survived, even though there were other Armenians on board that were not as fortunate. I wept for them. For as small a portion of the entire world population that we make up, even one Armenian death is too much.
I went through the Titanic Experience in Orlando FL, they handed us names of passengers and at the end of the experience, we were asked to check to see if the person whose name we were holding survived, I had David’s name. Made me so proud to know that an Armenian had survived, even though there were other Armenians on board that were not as fortunate. I wept for them. For as small a portion of the entire world population that we make up, even one Armenian death is too much.
Paul
My grandfather had very similar story of surviving Armenian genocide
All his siblings and parents were killed during 1915 in Erzurum
His Turkish neighbor helped him to escape and get on the ship to France
He was 9 years old that time
My grandfather had very similar story of surviving Armenian genocide
All his siblings and parents were killed during 1915 in Erzurum
His Turkish neighbor helped him to escape and get on the ship to France
He was 9 years old that time
Hilda Eramian
I heard that story when I moved from Bulgaria to Canada.First 6 years we lived in Niagara Falls -city in Canada.We had a friends from St Catherine’s ,they told us this story that time 30 years ago.Incredible!This show Armenian’s power to survive when have a love, eager to live and strong family values.Thank you sharing this article.
I heard that story when I moved from Bulgaria to Canada.First 6 years we lived in Niagara Falls -city in Canada.We had a friends from St Catherine’s ,they told us this story that time 30 years ago.Incredible!This show Armenian’s power to survive when have a love, eager to live and strong family values.Thank you sharing this article.
Gary
My GM was Vartanian. Survived genocide march with her brother from Anatolia to Aleppo. Rest of her family did not. Eventually adopted moving to India and married my GF Rayo. Died in India 1953. Unfortunately, never met my grandparents, just my cousins living in Vancouver.
My GM was Vartanian. Survived genocide march with her brother from Anatolia to Aleppo. Rest of her family did not. Eventually adopted moving to India and married my GF Rayo. Died in India 1953. Unfortunately, never met my grandparents, just my cousins living in Vancouver.
Edwin Garibian
That’s incredible story of
Passion of life, Surviving,Hope & Beautiful Love story. RIP.
That’s incredible story of
Passion of life, Surviving,Hope & Beautiful Love story. RIP.
Bege Madoian Koroghlian
Thank you for telling this amazing family story. Truly the Armenian spirit and will to live gave both David and Mary the survival instinct. Beautiful tribute to your ancestors.
Thank you for telling this amazing family story. Truly the Armenian spirit and will to live gave both David and Mary the survival instinct. Beautiful tribute to your ancestors.
Rachael Geyer
My great grandfather Zakar Atanesian also had a ticket for the Titanic but ended up getting the chance to come to America early on the Olympic with the same Captain Smith. What a wonderful story.
My great grandfather Zakar Atanesian also had a ticket for the Titanic but ended up getting the chance to come to America early on the Olympic with the same Captain Smith. What a wonderful story.
CandaceGregorian
My grandparents came from Keghi and settled in haverhill ma. What a wonderful story! Thank you
Candace Bedrosian
My grandparents came from Keghi and settled in haverhill ma. What a wonderful story! Thank you
Candace Bedrosian
Mariam Saian
This is yet another incredible story of Armenian strive for survival. No matter how many times they try to bring us down, we prevail through our sheer will to survive in the face of incredible adversity.
This is yet another incredible story of Armenian strive for survival. No matter how many times they try to bring us down, we prevail through our sheer will to survive in the face of incredible adversity.
Martha Khatchatooriantz
Thank you for sharing this story! So happy David survived the sinking of the Titanic and found Mary! God bless their souls! ♥️🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼♥️
Thank you for sharing this story! So happy David survived the sinking of the Titanic and found Mary! God bless their souls! ♥️🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼♥️
Diane Dulgerian Monroe
Thank you for sharing this amazing story of a fellow Armenian and his courageous survival of the sinking Titanic—my ancestors also fled from Turkey during the genocide and settled in Detroit.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story of a fellow Armenian and his courageous survival of the sinking Titanic—my ancestors also fled from Turkey during the genocide and settled in Detroit.
Seda
What a touching story, brought tears in my eyes. Thank you my friend Diane for forwarding this to me.
What a touching story, brought tears in my eyes. Thank you my friend Diane for forwarding this to me.
Knar Solakian
A great story of perseverance! My maternal grandfather was also a Vartanian!
A great story of perseverance! My maternal grandfather was also a Vartanian!
Mary Kris Bedigian
My Grandparents, Aunts, and my Mother are buried at the same cemetery in Detroit. I happened to find a realtor with the same last name Vartanian. Turns out her husband was the grandchild of David Vartanian.
My Grandparents, Aunts, and my Mother are buried at the same cemetery in Detroit. I happened to find a realtor with the same last name Vartanian. Turns out her husband was the grandchild of David Vartanian.
Seta Margossian
Charlene Vartanian
Interesting to read for sure! I have a brother named David Vartanian. I have never heard this story before. What perseverance.
Interesting to read for sure! I have a brother named David Vartanian. I have never heard this story before. What perseverance.
Gary Khachatoorian
Truly an incredible story…
Truly an incredible story…
Crusty Yohan
Bravo! Great journalism and such a wonderful story.
Bravo! Great journalism and such a wonderful story.
Maral Nersesian
Such an interesting story. Thank you for sharing :)
Such an interesting story. Thank you for sharing :)
Margo Takouchian
What a beautiful story of survival and resilience. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful story of survival and resilience. Thanks for sharing.
Pam Avdoian
What a wonderful story, my family is also from Keghi. Many Armenians settled in Niagara Falls, note: not Niagra, most are from Van. Across the border in Saint Catherine’s Ontario most are from Keghi.
What a wonderful story, my family is also from Keghi. Many Armenians settled in Niagara Falls, note: not Niagra, most are from Van. Across the border in Saint Catherine’s Ontario most are from Keghi.
Armen
Thank you for sharing this incredible story.
Thank you for sharing this incredible story.
John Terzian
Wow this was really interesting, I had never heard of his story before.
Wow this was really interesting, I had never heard of his story before.
Roupina
Thank you for posting this. What an inspirational story. Should be turned into a movie.
Thank you for posting this. What an inspirational story. Should be turned into a movie.
Zara Rostomian
This is an incredible story!
This is an incredible story!