After 95 years, a name for the Titanic's unknown child; DNA IDs ENGLISH TODDLER.Byline: By EMILY NASH Nash , Ogden 1902-1971. American writer known for his droll epigrammatic verse, much of which appeared in the New Yorker. Noun 1. Nash - United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971) Ogden Nash THE mystery identity of a baby who died on the Titanic was solved yesterday after 95 years - when DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. tests proved he was English toddler Sidney Leslie Goodwin Sidney Leslie Goodwin (September 9, 1910 – April 15, 1912) was a 19-month-old English boy who died during the sinking of the RMS Titanic. His unidentified body was recovered after the sinking, and for decades referred to as The Unknown Child . Sidney, 19 months, died with parents Fred and Augusta and five brothers and sisters as they headed to the US for a new life. The baby, buried in a cemetery in Halifax, Canada, that holds the bodies of many of the Titanic's 1,500 victims, was called "the unknown child." He became a poignant symbol for the 53 youngsters who died in 1912 when the huge liner struck an iceberg. There have been many attempts to identify the toddler. Researchers initially believed him to be Irish lad Eugene Rice. It was then decided he was two-year-old Gosta Leonard Palsson from Sweden. In 2001 the body was exhumed and DNA samples suggested he was 13-month-old Eino Panula of Finland. Members of the Panula family made a pilgrimage to the grave. But more detailed tests showed the DNA was not an exact match. Then new research found a surviving relative of Augusta whose DNA matched. Dr Ryan Parr, of Canada's Lakehead University Lakehead University, at Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada; founded 1946 as Lakehead Technical Institute. It achieved university status in 1965. Lakehead has faculties of arts and science, business, education, engineering, forestry, library and information studies, nursing, , said yesterday: "It's been a difficult project - like a detective story detective story: see mystery. detective story Type of popular literature dealing with the step-by-step investigation and solution of a crime, usually murder. . Just when you think you have your suspect, they elude your grasp." Fred Goodwin, 42, an electrical engineer and Augusta, 44, were taking Lillie, 16, Charles Edward, 15, Willie, 13, Harold, 12, Jessie, 10 and little Sidney to Niagara Falls. Fred's brother Thomas had settled there and the Goodwins sold a house in Fulham to fund the move. They were booked on another ship but transferred to a Third Class Titanic berth at the last minute. After the disaster Augusta's sister Clara told the Daily Mirror how she learned the entire family had died when she was handed a telegram from Thomas that read simply: "All gone." DO you know a relative of the Goodwins? Ring us for free on 0800 282 59. ALL five children sailing First Class survived. SO did all 24 in Second Class. BUT 53 of the 76 children in Third Class perished. emily.nash@mirror.co.uk CAPTION(S): SAD: Mum and Dad with Sidney's brothers and sisters; POIGNANT: Baby's grave |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion