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George Bereton targeted millionaire passengers on the doomed Titanic to rob them of their money
A professional card player targeted millionaire passengers on the doomed Titanic to rob them of their money, a fascinating document 110 years later reveals.
The unscrupulous George Brereton carried a list of all first-class passengers when he boarded the ill-fated ship in 1912 for its maiden voyage to New York.
He identified the richest people and circled or starred their names on the list as a potential “sign.”
He even wrote the word “millionaire” next to the name of Charles Hays, a VIP guest of White Star Line boss Bruce Ismay.
Brereton settled into the luxury liner’s first-class smoking room, where he played high-stakes card games with his “signs.”
When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Brereton was recorded as “working” in the room.
The card shark survived the sinking by sneaking into a lifeboat with Mr. Ismay. Mr Hays, along with more than 1,500 people, perished in the disaster.
Now Bereton’s copy of the Titanic first class passenger list will be sold at auction.
It had been obtained directly from Brereton’s great-niece by the late Ken Schultz, a prominent collector of Titanic memorabilia.
It is now expected to sell for £60,000 when it goes under the hammer this weekend at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Brereton carried a list (pictured) of all first-class passengers when he boarded the ill-fated ship in 1912 for its maiden voyage to New York
He did his homework on them, identifying the richest people and circled or marked their names on the list as a potential “sign.” He even wrote the word “millionaire” (above) next to the name of Charles Hays, a VIP guest of White Star Line boss Bruce Ismay
In Brereton’s pocket was the booklet given to first-class passengers as they boarded the ship. It has never come to light before.
Significantly, Brereton’s name appeared on the list under his alias George Brayton, probably to avoid suspicion.
Even after being rescued by the ship RMS Carpathia, his focus was on making money and befriended fellow survivor Charles Stengel whom he tried to ask for alms.
After the rescue ship arrived in New York, Brereton contacted Mr. Stengel again and tried unsuccessfully to implicate him in an illegal horse racing scam in which he was involved.
Brereton, an American, committed suicide thirty years later.
Although more than a century old, the 20-page booklet is in remarkably good condition.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said, “These first-class passenger lists are like chicken teeth. Only a handful are known to exist.
“They were given to passengers and contained all the information they would need on board, from wireless telegraphy fares to the hire of steamer seats and blankets.
“They also listed the names of the first class passengers in AZ order.
‘I assume that this kind of information is now seen as a violation of the Wbp.
Charles Hays (left) was president of Canada’s Grand Trunk Railway. In April 1912 he visited London for business meetings. One of them is said to have been with Bruce Ismay (right) who invited him on the Titanic’s maiden voyage to New York
“This document came from the ship carrying George Brereton, also known as George Brayton and George Bradley.
“He was a professional gambler — a card shark — and he was on the ship to make money.
“What’s really interesting about this list is that Brereton placed stars next to those who were wealthy and Charles Melville Hays’ name was ringed and the word ‘millionaire’ was written next to it.
“What’s also interesting is that Brereton’s name appeared on the passenger manifest as George Arthur Brayton.
“One can only conclude that he used an alias to avoid suspicion.
He survived the disaster like that sort of character would. He died in the 1940s after his wife died.
Bereton’s copy of the Titanic first class passenger list will be sold at auction
Even after being rescued by the ship RMS Carpathia, Bereton’s focus was on making money and befriended fellow survivor Charles Stengel whom he tried to ask for alms. Above: Bereton
“His great-niece had the list until the late 1980s, when Ken Scholz took over.”
Charles Hays was president of the Canadian Grand Trunk Railway. In April 1912 he visited London for business meetings.
One of them is said to have been with Bruce Ismay, who invited him on the Titanic’s maiden voyage to New York.
On the night of the disaster, Mr Hays is said to have made a prophetic remark about ocean liners trying to compete to cross the Atlantic in the fastest time.
He is said to have remarked ‘the time will soon come when this trend will be stopped by a terrible disaster’.
The Titanic collided with an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912 while hurtling through an ice field.
When the liner began to sink, Mr. Hays helped his wife Clara and daughter, along with his secretary and maid, into a lifeboat.
The document is 7 inches x 5 inches. It will be sold in Devizes on Saturday.