Did You Know Two WNY Natives Headed Back to Buffalo Went Down With The Titanic?

The Titanic is one of those events in human history that seemingly everyone has heard of -- and even knows the story by heart, no matter what age. I remember getting taught about the famous tragic maiden voyage of the ship as a kid in elementary school.

1,500 of the 2,200 on board perished in the frigid north Atlantic waters on the early morning of April 15th, 1912. About 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

But did you know there were two Buffalo natives that went down with the ship that night?

According to The Buffalo News, Edward Austin Kent (58), was a architect who was from a wealthy family that had their wealth generated by their department store, Flint & Kent. It was located on the 500 block of Main Street, which is pretty cool.

Kent lived at the Buffalo Club on Delaware Avenue. He also designed Temple Beth Zion on Delaware and the Chemical No. 5 House on Cleveland Avenue.

Henry Sutehall (25), was a musician and tradesman. He was headed back to Kenmore to be with his family, whom he hadn't seen in quite some time.

Sutehall emigrated to the United States at nine years old, from England. His parents, who had five total children, settled in Kenmore, near Buffalo. They lived in a house on East LaSalle Street.

Henry's mom, Sarah, had a candy and ice cream shop called Mrs. Sutehall's, located in the village on Delaware Avenue.

Henry Sutehall eventually left Buffalo to go on a world trip with a friend, Howard Irvin in 1910. They planned to work as musicians and tradesmen.

When both decided to go back home to America, Irwin went separately on a ship back. Sutehall thought he was the luckier man, getting a ticket on the prestigious Titanic, during its maiden voyage.

Kent being wealthier, was in first class aboard the Titanic. Sutehall was in third class and in steerage.

Unfortuntaley, both men never returned home and like most men aboard the ship, went down with it.

The Titanic, to me, is one of the most interesting stories in history. It was almost like a movie (which later was made into multiple movies), the largest and grandest ship ever to that point, sank after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage. It was also deemed, "unsinkable."

I never knew two Buffalo natives were aboard that ship going back to Western New York.

Read more at The Buffalo News.