Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn - Interesting connections!

RMS Luistania

One of worse atrocities during the First World War, was the sinking of the RMS Lusitania on 7^th May 1915, having be torpedoed by German U-boat U-20, 11 miles off the southern coast of Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland.

1,198 crew and passengers perished in the sinking.

On board were two families from Swansea. One family, the Smith, consisted of over 4 children.

Mr and Mrs Alfred F Smith were travelling on board the Lusitania, with their children, Helen and Ronald.  Also travelling with the party, was Alfred's sister Cecelia Owens, and nephews Ronald and Reginald. 

After the birth of daughter Helen, October 1908, the Smith were planning to move and to the United States which they did during 1909, moving in with Alfred's brother, Arthur Smith in Yonkers, New York.  Alfred was employed as an electrician.

Ernest Cowper and Helen Smith

By 1915, Elizabeth Smith was disillusioned with the American life, they returned back to Swansea.  The family sail on the Lusitania.  When the torpedo hit the Lusitania, Helen had been seen on the deck alone.  Canadian newspaperman, Ernest Cowper took he to and placed Helen in lifeboat 13.  The remainder of the Smith family were lost in the sinking

After the Lusitania was hit, it sent out SOS calls via Morse code.

Samuel Morse

Morse code was the invention of Samuel Morse.  Morse, born Samuel Finley Breese Morse, 1791, was an American painter. Morse who established himself as a portrait painter, his attributed artwork includes Latham Avery, 1820 and Mrs Latham Avery, 1821.








































Morse, during middle age, contributed to the invention of the single-wire telegraph system, the co-developed of the Morse code, of which he helped to develop it for the commercial use of telegraphy

Morse, died 1872, and he was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.

Samuel Morse Grave
Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn

Jimmy Michael

Jimmy Michael. Michael, was a professional cycling champion, born 1877, Aberaman, Cynon Valley, Wales.  Michael, who was 5ft 1 ½ in tall started cycling when he was 12 years old. 1894, Michael, first came into prominence as a cyclist, when he scored his first big success at St. Helen’s Field.  During this year, he rode at the Herne Hill velodrome.  The Sporting Cyclist journalist, Mal Rees, interviewed Michael’s brother Billy.

“The crowd laughed to see such a 'David' having the temerity to start in a race of that length against so many six-footers. Cycling chroniclers of the day, reporting on the event, were astounded as the Welsh boy matched every attack in the hectic early stages. 'Who was this youth who dared to hang on to London's speediest riders?', they wrote. In the first hour, 24 miles 475 yards had been covered and 'the little hero' Jimmy Michael dogged the heels of the leaders until he succeeded in breaking away himself to lap the field at 46 miles.”

Michael went on to win the event and create a new world record.

He turned professional in 1895, for the Gladiator bicycle company.  It was here that he met Arthur Linton, another rider from Aberaman.  They were both trained by Choppy Warburton.

During 1895, Michael went to win the world motor-paced champion, and equalled Linton’s record for the 50 km.

1896, Michael did go to America, where he missed the championship.  His earnings did rise, where he won the “fabulous fortune” 200,000 francs a year.  By 1899, he lost his fortune by gambling became a horse-owner and jockey.

During a race, at Berlin, 1903, travelling at 60 mph he crashed and cracked his skull. 

Michael, during November 1904, negotiated ha final round of races in America, hoping that it would restore his physical and financial situation.  Boarding the Savoie.  Michael had died mid-ocean.  Michael had complained of a headache to the surgeon.  The surgeon prescribed him a draught, after Michael joined a dinner party. 

The following morning, Michael was heard to groaning in his bunk, the surgeon, Michael who was delirious and in great pain, he never regained consciousness, and he died later in the morning.

His mother, Mrs Jenkins, gave the instructions that his body, should be buried, where Michael achieved so many of remarkable success.  His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, the chief mourner, was his wife, of 3 weeks, the daughter of proprietor of the Hotel Marseillies, Paris.  Michael was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn