Sinai Kantor (1878 - 15 April 1912) was a Second Class passenger on the Titanic. He was traveling with his wife Miriam Kantor and possibly Israel Nesson. Both Sinai and Israel died during the sinking. Miriam survived.
Early Life[]
Sinai Kantor was born in 1878 in Vitebsk, Belarus, but at the time, it was part of Russia. His parents were Samuel Mendel Kantor and Sara Kantor. Both of them were born around the 1850s. It is not known if he had any siblings. He graduated from a University and eventually married Miriam Sternin. At the time he had a fur importing business. He and his wife wanted to move to New York where he intended to study medicine. It is possible that he was going to study at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York. This was the work place of a Titanic survivor, Henry William Frauenthal.
The Titanic[]
Sinai and Miriam boarded the Titanic in Southampton, England. Their ticket number was 244367, and it cost £26.
On the night of April 15th, the Kantors made it onto the port side of the ship. Sinai got Miriam in either lifeboat 10 or lifeboat 12 (the 14th and 12th lifeboats to be launched from the ship).
Fate[]
Mr. Kantor did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His was body (number 283) was later recovered by the CS Mackay-Bennett and identified. His body description was;
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NO. 283. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 36. VERY FAIR HAIR AND MOUSTACHE. CLOTHING - Grey and green suit; green overcoat; blue shirt; check front marked "F"; black boots; "C" on singlet. EFFECTS - Pocket telescope; silver witch; Pocketbook with foreign notes; letter case; empty purse; purse; �1 10s. in gold; ten shillings in silver and other coins. NAME - S. KANTO. |
Sinai's pocket watch
The silver pocket watch that was recovered with his body was sold in 2018 for $57,500. His body was taken to New York, where he was later buried at Mount Zion Cemetery. An article was written by the Red Cross about the couple. It said;
| "The husband, about 30 years of age, was drowned. He was traveling with his wife, who was saved. He had been a commission merchant, earning 2, 500 dollars a year, and was bringing to this country several trunks of valuable furs which he had expected to sell here. Both he and his wife were university graduates. He was ambitious to study medicine and planned to take night courses after he should get his business established in New York. His wife expected to continue to study dentistry. She is unwilling to return to Russia where she would be helpless to earn her living. She lives with cousins in New York City. After she learns the language, she will carry out her intention of learning and practicing dentistry. She can live on 50 dollars a month while pursuing her studies, and the appropriation of this Committee is intended to cover her tuition and school fees and living expenses for the period of four years, at the end of which she expects to be self - supporting. The money has been placed in charge of the Council of Jewish Women, who will keep supervision of her plans. (2, 600 dollars)." |