The Mackay-Bennett was contracted by the White Star Line to carry out the difficult task of recovering the bodies left floating in the North Atlantic after the Titanic disaster. The ship found 306 of the 1,517 Titanic victims. These bodies included that of John Jacob Astor IV, Isidor Straus, and Edward Austin Kent. Original vintage 9.25 x 7.25 photo of the crew of the Mackay-Bennett on the deck of the ship. Photo depicts 11 crew members, including a carpenter in the back wielding a large hammer. Photo is affixed to an 11.5 x 9.25 mount. In very good condition, with some surface loss to background, scattered creases to corners, soiling and light dampstaining to mount, and moderate spotting to finish, visible only at an angle. A casual portrait of an earlier crew from the ship that would later be entrusted with the solemn task of returning the deceased to their loved ones.
