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Titanic Survivors Linked to Middle Bass Island
By Marie Demer Rader
The voyage of the Titanic included early members of the Middle Bass Club, Mrs. Sallie Newsom Beckwith and her daughter Helen who lived in the current Taliak cottage on Grove Avenue. Coincidentally, my first trip to Middle Bass was as a guest of Dr. Taliak’s daughters, Jennifer and Mary Alice and we stayed in the Newsom cottage described in the story below. Dr. Taliak has spent decades researching and compiling historical newspaper articles and photographs which he has shared with the community. I’m happy to have discovered this interesting history about his cottage.
Logan Conway (L.C.) Newsom joined the Middle Bass Club (MBC) in 1897. L.C. founded the Newsom-Monypeny company and served as Secretary & Treasurer of the Columbus Electric Light and Power Company. At the same time, L.C. was a prominent banker, contractor and real estate broker in Columbus. L.C. married Sarah “Sallie,” the daughter of Columbus millionaire William Monypeny in 1885. Sallie’s father started the wholesale grocery business Monypeny-Hammond and was involved with banking, the grain business, the Columbus Machine Company and the Columbus Electric Light and Power Company. In fact, Monypeny Avenue in Columbus (between E Broad Street & E Long Street in Woodland Park) is named after Sallie’s father. Like other MBC members, L.C. and Sallie moved within prominent business and social circles. They were often described as one of the “handsomest couples” in Central Ohio.
According to the Club House Guest Register books, the Newsoms spent a lot of time at the MBC, so they decided to buy their own cottage where they could gather with Columbus friends and Sallie’s family. In 1899, Sallie Monypeny Newsom purchased a cottage on Grove Avenue from Ohio Governor Asa Bushell which was situated on the northern side of the MBC, away from the Club House, but close to the chapel and cottages owned by fellow Columbus residents T. Ewing Miller (featured in the May Gazette article “Columbus Titan’s Middle Bass Ties”), Jonas M. McCune and John P. McCune. When they bought the cottage, L.C. was 48, Sallie was 34, their son William was 11 and their daughter Helen was 7. Their beautiful cottage remains on Grove Avenue and is now owned by Dr. Martin and Lynn Taliak.
Unfortunately, on June 28, 1901, L.C. Newsom died at the family cottage on Middle Bass Island with his wife and children at his bedside along with Sallie’s mother and brothers in attendance. L.C. was only 50 years old when he died. According to his obituary, L.C. suffered from health problems for four years, even traveling to Europe for medical treatments. Before his death, Columbus’s finest physicians traveled to the MBC to care for him. On June 21st and again on June 27th, distinguished Columbus physician Dr. David N. Kinsman (Columbus Health Officer, President of various Columbus Medical Societies, Professor of Medical Practice and Chief of Staff at the Protestant Hospital) visited L.C. at his cottage. Then on June 22nd, another leading Columbus physician Dr. John H. J. Upham (later a WWI Contract Surgeon and Dean of the Ohio State University College of Medicine) came to see L.C. Newsom. It is unknown what caused L.C.’s death, but it is clear that L.C. intended to spend his last days at his “special place” in the MBC. L.C.’s body was returned to Columbus the day after he died, and he was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery.
After L.C.’s death, both doctors and their families spent time at the Newsom cottage according to the Club House Guest Register books, perhaps as a thank you and/or repayment for their medical services. Sallie’s sisters-in-law and nieces came to the cottage August 31st, 1901, perhaps to gather personal belongings as Sallie and her children never returned to the MBC after L.C. ‘s death.
In 1903, Sallie resigned her membership in the MBC and sold the cottage to Frank and Anne Simpson of Cincinnati. In September of that year, Sallie married Richard L. Beckwith in New York City and the couple settled in Manhattan.
In 1911, Sallie’s daughter Helen became romantically involved with Karl Behr in New York City. Karl graduated from Yale, passed the bar to practice law and was a famous lawn tennis star. In 1907, Karl played on the U.S. Davis Cup team and was a runner-up in men’s doubles at Wimbledon. Sallie and Richard took Helen on a trip to Europe in February 1912 and decided to return home aboard the newest, fanciest ocean liner. On the morning of Wednesday, April 10, 1912, Sallie, Richard and Helen boarded the Titanic in Southampton, England in route to New York. They were First-Class passengers traveling on ticket number 11751 occupying cabins D-35 and D-47 respectively.
Karl was also traveling in Europe at that time and as soon as he heard Helen was returning home on the Titanic, he booked a ticket to join her. Karl boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France on the evening of Wednesday, April 10, 1912 as a First-Class passenger staying in cabin C-148.
A few days later their lives were changed forever when the Titanic hit an iceberg. Karl, Helen, Sallie and Richard assembled on the starboard deck. Following orders to abandon ship, they boarded the second lifeboat to leave the Titanic (Boat 5) at 12:28 a.m. Lifeboat 5 had only 40 people in the boat; it was not filled to the lifeboat’s capacity of 65. Unfortunately, no one knew at the time that the Titanic held only 20 lifeboats (which would only accommodate half the people aboard the Titanic).
Karl & Helen’s granddaughter, Helen Behr Sanford, wrote a fascinating book about her family’s Titanic experience called Starboard at Midnight and was kind enough to provide this insight,
“My book explains why Karl was lucky to have entered Lifeboat 5, and why, at the time, 40 or 42 passengers in that boat was considered maximum. Before the ship went down, I understand that only a few crew members met with the ship’s architect Andrews, who explained the time for the Titanic was short. These included the manager of White Star [company that owned the Titanic], Bruce Ismay (who told Karl to enter Lifeboat 5) and First Officer Murdock. I came to understand that the Port side officers were not aware of the dire circumstances and were loading women and children only because they believed that the Californian (visible from time to time) was on her way. They told the women and crew in those even number boats just to row out a way toward the Californian’s lights and stay near.”
From the safety of their lifeboat, Sallie, Richard, Helen and Karl watched the Titanic sink and heard the cries of those left behind. An hour and 45 minutes after the Titanic sank, the ship Carpathia arrived and began the rescue process at 4 a.m. Only 706 of the 2,209 Titanic passengers were rescued. Sallie, Richard, Helen and Karl returned safely to New York on Thursday, April 18th; Sallie’s brother Perin Monypeny met them. One can only imagine the “survivor guilt” that plagued them that night and for years to come. Sanford commented,
“I struggle with the word guilt regarding Karl’s survival and have come to believe that it was the perception of others who might have considered him guilty that was the most arduous for him to bear. Karl lived the best way he could, going forward and made a huge impact as my book describes. He must have been stunned by the press headlines: Better death than dishonor. I admit that I really do not know; but he seemed to want to make his survival count for something mighty important. And I believe he did that.”
Karl brought an engagement ring aboard the Titanic, but unfortunately it was lost at sea. A few newspapers reported that Karl proposed to Helen in the lifeboat, but Sanford disagreed. In any case, Karl and Helen married less than a year after their rescue from the Titanic on March 13, 1913. I find it fascinating that Sallie, Richard, Helen and Karl continued to travel overseas after surviving the Titanic. Karl and Helen were happily married and had four children: Karl, Peter, James and Sally. After Karl’s death in 1949, Helen married one of Karl’s best friends and tennis players, Dean Mathey. Sallie died in 1955 at age 89; Helen died in 1965 at age 72.
We hope Helen Behr Sanford visits the MBC soon to tour the Newsom (Taliak) cottage and see where her grandmother Helen and great grandparents L.C. and Sallie Newsom spent time together enjoying beautiful sunsets and island summers.
Middle Bass Island Music Festival
The Lake Erie Island Conservancy is excited to host the 2024 Middle Bass Island Music Festival on Saturday, July 13th, at the historic Lonz’s Winery, noon to 7 p.m. Not only will you be entertained by four talented bands, but there is also an Arts Tent where adults can create works of art working alongside local artists. There will also be a Kids Rock Arts area, where the young artists can create masterpieces from local materials. This year, Truckin Trav and Gess Who Tacos food trucks will be onsite, along with delights from the Island Grind. Stop by for a smash burger, perch tacos or specialty coffee and desserts. Back again by popular demand, on tap will be Twin Oast Brewing and iconic island wines by Heineman’s. This year’s marketplace will be filled with local vendors, selling everything from clothing to crafts to homemade jellies and island honey.
The Lake Erie Island Conservancy can host this free admission event because of the support of our wonderful sponsors, including: The Middle Bass Dock Company, The Island Grind, The Ohio Arts Council, Shores&Islands Ohio and Dark Side Operations.
If you would like to volunteer, would like a spot in our marketplace or would like to be a sponsor for the 2024 Middle Bass Island Music Fest, please contact [email protected].
2024 Band Line-up:
The NORTH COAST GOATS (https://www.facebook.com/northcoastgoats/ ) lead off again with their #goatsrock blend of old-time rock ‘n’ roll, classic rock and Motown hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s – and you know they will not disappoint!
Tip of the cowboy hat to our music meister Bruce. He found a real Texas tornado in TALL PAUL & WESTERN DRAWL They celebrate the spirit of dance hall Western Swing music, playing roadhouse standards, along with cowboy songs and ballads. It’s pure uptown fun with a Texas drawl. Tall Paul & Western Drawl, honoring the swing tradition but with modern musical twang. (https://www.facebook.com/TallPaulWesternDrawl/)
Third up this year at the MBI Music Fest is Cleveland blues rock favorite, award winning, harmonica driven, blues based, roots, rock and soul music’ stylings of COLIN DUSSAULT’S BLUES PROJECT. The band was formed in Cleveland, Ohio in May of 1989 by lead singer, songwriter, harmonica player Colin Dussault. In addition to Dussault, the band’s current lineup consists of guitarist Jim Feeney, bassist John Atzberger, pianist Brent Lane and drummer Steve Zavesky. (www.colindussault.com )
DRY REEF – This year’s featured island groove band will take you away to the warm breezes and summer days on the beach. A chaotic blend of summer sounds, playful melodies, bubbling harmonies and bright, refreshing instrumentals, like that first smell of lake air as you ferry to Middle Bass on a Friday afternoon. (www.dryreefband.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dry.Reef/)
2024 Middle Bass Island Music Festival Art Tent:
You create visual art in the Art Tent, but this year we are featuring four experienced artists at each table to inspire you! These 15-45 minute take home art projects are free for adults. There will also be one child’s art table. The adult artists featured are:
Lisa Shea, art therapist at the Cleveland Clinic plans to offer sea glass bracelet making. She strives to encourage people to make art to reap the benefits of being totally absorbed in the moment. She believes it is critical that we protect the environment to preserve the habitat for all of the amazing creatures we share this planet with, as well as for ourselves and future generations.
Lynne Smith will show you how to make a flower-themed pumpkin. She attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and makes collages on commission, lynnesmith1141@gmail.
Nike Mendenhall will lead you in painting a small watercolor. With a Bachelors of Fine Arts, she was a founding member of The Group, a local plein air painter. Nike believes everyone can create beauty. “All art is but imitation of nature,” (Seneca the Younger)
Johnny Hill is a leader in the Port Clinton Artists’ Club. He has exhibited his textile creations, particularly his designs of rug hooking. He will guide you in textile making.
News From Other Islands
Middle Bass
Recycling & Trash
There’s a fence around the whole recycle area. Please DO NOT dump anything outside of the fence. If you do, the township will issue you a littering ticket. The large dumpster will no longer be used for the disposal of any kind of trash. Saturday from 8 a.m to noon will be small items recycling ONLY. No big items can be recycled in the big dumpster. If you have any large items you want to dispose of, please call Lake disposal.
St. Hazard’s Hosting Buffett Band Member
For the first time ever a member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band will be playing on one of the islands. Peter Mayer will be at Hazards on Sunday, June 23rd, at 3 p.m. for a show with his son Brendan. Peter, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, has been with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band for over three decades. Mayer also follows his own musical path with both national and international tours and has released 20 live and studio albums to date. Over his years in music he has been privileged to share the stage with many bright lights in the music industry including James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Don Henley, Dave Matthews, and many others.
FYI – Free pool and hot tub use with purchase. $3 shuttle ride from the Miller Ferry/Sonny-S dock to Hazards. Visit sthazards.com or hazardsfun.com for more info.
Middle Bass July 4th Parade
The annual 4th of July parade will take place on Saturday, July 6th at 1 p.m. The route will be the same as last year.
Kelleys Island
School Is Out
When Kelleys Island School gets out for summer, the students are treated to a great game of putt-putt golf and pizza and subs at the Caddy Shack! Yum! What a great day with great friends and a lot of fun! Thanks to Mark Ahner and Lynn Comerford Maiers for supporting the KI students each year.
This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbaylodging.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
