The double Drake grave

As I look forward, and prepare for my yearly return trips to Venice, most times for Easter with Ann, but more recently in the past 5+ years, just taking myself and my cameras, and joining a Photographic mates, to take advantage of the fantastic sights and experiences, which make up Venice Carnivale.

As a forerunner and taster, I thought I would tell one of my favourite grave stories, from the historical cemetery on Venice’s “Isle of the dead”… A story which I have personally researched in depth… In a quiet section, of the cemetery, situated in, and on the island of San Michele in the Venetian Lagoon, lies the double grave of Mrs Sarah McLean Drake (63), and her 34 year old daughter… Janet Florence Drake. The Drake’s were visiting Venice in the Spring of 1914, but due to a catastrophic disaster, which took place on the 19th March 1914 in the Venetian lagoon… they would be destined, never to leave.

Sarah (nee West), was born in Carlisle/Cumberland, in 1851, and married her husband Dennys Drake (born:Lucknow/India) in the June of 1871. Sarah and Dennys, went on to have 6 children… Dennys J (b:1873), Dora (b:1876), Winifred (b:1878), Janet (b:1880), Lillian (b:1884) & Tom (b:1886). At the time of the 1891 census the Drake’s were living with servants, at 21 Cambridge Cardens in Hampstead/London and Dennys is listed in the 1891 census, as a Director of a Company (the 1881 census, records him as a Produce Merchant)

A family photograph of 1894

However, in 1896… records show that Sarah has petitioned for a divorce, and this is borne out in the 1901 census, by Sarah now living in 18 Minster Rd in Hampstead, and listed as ‘Head’ of the household.

     
18 Minster Road     and     The National Liberal Club

Also in the 1901 census, Dennys is now living in rooms, at his Gentlemen’s club… The National Liberal Club, situated at No.1 Whitechapel Place/London. In the census records, it lists Dennys as a ‘Retired Colonial Merchant’… Dennys’s death is recorded in January 1908, at the age of 61. His Estate was worth £17,762. (£2m+ in today’s money).

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Sarah & Janet’s – Visit to Venice

A typical ferry steamer of the era

It is unclear, whether Sarah and her daughter Janet, were simply visiting Venice as a one off destination, or if they were on a European touring holiday… However, what is clear…. they had only arrived in the city, the day before the disaster, and had booked into, one of the fashionable hotels in the centre of Venice, the Pensione Boston in the Sestiere (district) of Dorsoduro.

On the 13th. Sarah & Janet had been visiting the Lido for their first days excursion, enjoying a religious festival, and upon the brief return to the city, had just boarded one of the passenger steamers, which ferried locals and tourists alike, on the short journey from the Lido, to St. Mark’s Square, in the heart of Venice.

It was a cold afternoon, on the 19th March 1914, when Sarah and her daughter Janet, boarded the ferry steamer, for the short trip across the lagoon… to keep warm, they descended into the cabins below, when above decks, an Italian Hydro-biplane, was to be seen circling the lagoon… as this was such an unusual sight in these early 1910’s days, the captain, slowed the ferry down to a stop, and both passengers and crew took some time to watch and enjoy the spectacle…

Around the same time, the Italian Navy, Torpedo Boat no. 56J, was exiting the ‘Arsenale’ (Venice’s Military Shipyard)… The officers and crew, were just as amazed to see this spectacular sight in the sky’s above them, that they never saw the halted ferry steamer ahead… and slammed into the side of the ferry steamer…

British Newspaper Report of the day…

It is feared that over 50 lives have been lost by a collision at Venice yesterday between a small steamer and an Italian Torpedo Boat. The Steamer sank almost immediately, and the bulk of the passengers, who were in the cabin, had no chance of escape. Two English lady visitors are reported to be among the dead.

The Italian torpedo boat No. 56J collided with a small boat at Venice yesterday, sank it, and fifty passengers were drowned. The latest Reuter telegrams say that the vessel sunk by collision with the torpedo boat, was a small steamer belonging to the Municipal Shipping Company, coming from Santa Elizabetta di Lido with about eighty passengers. She collided broadside on, with the torpedo boat. The majority of those on board were drowned, it is believed about fifty. Among the dead bodies recovered is that of the Russian Vice-Consul.

Assisted by powerful searchlights divers from the submarines will search for the bodies and try to discover exactly where the vessel sank. The town is in deep mourning. The theatres have closed their doors and so have many restaurants. All receptions arranged in honour of the German warships at Venice have been cancelled.

A TERRIBLE IMPACT. Central News Venice telegram says: The steamer which sunk yesterday after colliding with a torpedo boat was coming from Lido, where many men, women, and children had been celebrating the feast of St. Joseph and had embarked. The steamer was proceeding towards San Marco and had embarked other passengers when, about five o’clock in the evening, torpedo boat, No. 56, steaming at a high speed across the direction taken by the steamer, struck the vessel with terrible force. The weather was cold, and the passengers were below in the saloon cabin. A few succeeded in leaping into the sea, but the majority were unable to escape and were drowned in the cabin. Fifteen persons who were saved were sailors and workmen who had remained on deck. Some bodies have been recovered, but the depth of the sea prevented immediate recovery of others. The exact number victims has not been ascertained, but it is believed it will exceed 50, and one account states that 58 persons lost their lives.

SUNK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. An Exchange telegram says that only 11 passengers were saved, the remainder sinking with the launch. The victims are largely Lido residents, chiefly women and children. The torpedo boat struck the launch at right angles, carrying away her poop and sinking her almost immediately.

TWO ENGLISH VICTIMS. Thirty Bodies Recovered. The bodies of victims have been recovered from the pleasure steamer which was sunk by a torpedo boat at Venice yesterday, and they include those of two English ladies, Mrs. Drake and her daughter, M. Merichinski, the Russian Consul, four sailors belonging to the Imperial yacht Hohenzollern, three Italian officers, and the captain of the wrecked steamer. The victims also included two honeymoon couples. An American lady who was saved states that her husband and two children are missing. The tragedy has plunged the whole city into mourning, and the festivities in honour the German Sovereign’s visit have been suspended. When the disaster occurred the passengers were watching a hydro-aeroplane passing. The Drake family arrived at Venice the previous day intending to spend the spring there, and were staying at the Hotel Boston.

Pope Pius X

THE POPE IN TEARS. On being informed of the shipping catastrophe at Venice the Pope wept. All audiences for the day have been suspended. Central News. It is reported, says Reuter’s correspondent, that there are still bodies on board. Steps are being taken to raise the boat.

HEROIC RESCUES. Bereaved mother’s wild grief. The Venice newspapers to-day contain numerous graphic details of the disaster, and describe many acts of heroism and thrilling scenes. A sailor named Scarscelli saved four persons in succession, and a fireman named Russini also effected many rescues. A boat from the cruiser Ferruccio picked up a young French lady who was scarcely able speak. When she had somewhat recovered she uttered piercing cries, and in the intervals between distressing fits hysterical laughter kept calling for her two children who had perished. The German Imperial yacht Hohenzollern rescued a young Hungarian gentleman who was on his honeymoon, and whose wife, to whom he had only been married four days, was drowned. Lieutenant Bossi, who jumped into the water to save a young woman, was surrounded by a number of struggling people, who dragged him down with them. A Hungarian and two Germans saved themselves by swimming to one of the rescue boats.

The steersman, in order to see the flight better, left the helm and so did not hear the shrill whistle of Torpedo boat T56 which was approaching the steamer. When at last the helmsman returned to his post, and sent orders to the engine-room, they were not obeyed, because the engineer and stoker had gone away to watch the aeroplane. Consequently the collision took place, despite the torpedo-boat’s efforts to avoid it. A few seconds later the bows of the torpedo-boat had pierced the side of the steamer and destroyed the engine. The steersman, named Tadova was drowned. A boiler explosion which took place accounts for numerous injuries, both to the persons saved and to the bodies of the drowned. The Italian ship San Helena, which was only a few yards from the spot, immediately lowered two lifeboats. They threw out ropes, which were seized and taken to the drowning people by sailors who had leapt into the water. In some places there were desperate fights between those in the water who tried to grasp the ropes, so that not one person was saved by them.

On a relatively small area were floating some fifty persons, madly striking about them and struggling with death. Heads and limbs were to appear above the surface of the water and then to disappear. But the number of persons in the water grew smaller and smaller, one after another sinking. Many of the shipwrecked clung together and spent their strength in wild and desperate efforts to escape death, which seemed inevitable. Shrieks, cries for help, and curses were heard. It was a tragic and afflicting sight.

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Bodies taken to the Hospital Mortuary

Ospedale al Mare

Upon recovery, the bodies of the victims, were taken to ‘Ospedale al Mare’ (Hospital to the Sea), which is situated on the far side of the Lido, facing the Meditarian Sea. Although the Hospital still exists, it was abandoned in 2004, and now lies derelict… You can click this link to view further information.

An Italian report of the day, records the event and subsequent examination of Janet Drake…

” To the hospital has been brought the body of a young woman of the apparent age of twenty-five, of medium height, dark haired, elegantly attired in dark brown, wearing a beautiful hat. She was wearing a splendid bracelet and an expensive necklace and was wearing small brown boots. From information already collected we know that this is the body of Miss Drake, whose mother has also been a victim of this disaster and whose body has just been taken to the mortuary of San Nicoletto di Lido. Mother and daughter had come for the first time to Venice from London, arriving the other evening, and had taken up lodgings in the Pensione Boston. They were counting on remaining in Venice until the 1st of April. They had gone out of the Pensione at 4pm and had ordered their dinner for 7pm. Unfortunately they never returned. The foreign ladies must have been quite wealthy as they had brought much jewellery with them on their voyage.”

Translated from IL GAZZETTINO, Friday 20th.

Identifications

Keeping up with the Rueters tick-a-tape news reports of the day, Fred Francis, the husband of Sarah’s youngest daughter ‘Lillian’… identified the Sarah & Janet mentioned in the news reports as indeed, their own family members. Upon this news, both Fred & Lillian, caught the train from London to Venice, and arrived to face the sad task of travelling over to The ‘Ospedale al Mare’ on the Lido, to identify Sarah and Janet’s bodies. a few days later, they attended their funerals’ at St. George’s, and subsequently, their Interments on San Michele, Venice’s cemetery island.

Family photograph of Fred Francis & his wife Lillian (nee Drake)

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The Funerals

A WATER FUNERAL FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE RECENT SHIPPING DISASTER AT VENICE : THE PROCESSION OF BOATS BEARING THE COFFINS.

Nearly fifty people were drowned at Venice, when a small passenger-steamer, crowded with people, plying between the famous Lido and the Riva degli Schiavoni, was run down and sunk by an Italian torpedo-boat. The accident is alleged to have been caused through the man at the helm of the steamer letting his attention be diverted by a passing hydroplane. Among the drowned were two English ladies, Mrs. and Miss Drake, the Russian Vice-Consul, M. Merkinski, and an Italian Naval officer, Lieutenant Bossi, who lost his life in attempting to rescue others.

St. George’s Church (Anglican) on Campo S. Vio.

The Altarpiece / Reredos

Wall plaque… dated 1892.

The funeral barge, tied up at Campo San Vio, on the Grande Canal at 10:00.am on the morning of 24th March, to take the Drakes coffins into St. George’s Church, an Anglican Church in Venice, for their funeral service, which was attended by the family (Fred & Lillian), The Mayor of Venice, British Consul, and a large contingent of the British community in the city. After the Service, the coffins were placed back on the barge, and carried to Venice’s cemetery Island of San Michele, where they were interred in the ‘Evangelist’ (non-Roman Catholic) section of the cemetery.

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Isola San Michelle (cemetery)

The double Drake memorial stone.

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