Mr.Charles Melville Hays

When he was 17 years old he went to work for the Atlantic and Pacific Railway. At 22 he was appointed secretary to the manager of the Missouri Railway.

He married, Clara Gregg and they both had four daughters.

He was an business man and is a 1st class passenger.

In 1889 he was appointed general manager of the entire Wabash Railway network. In 1896 he moved to Montreal to become general manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. It was Hays who convinced the Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, of the need for a second transcontinental railroad.

this extent, the Canadian government subsidized the Grand Trunk to the tune of $30-million, and in November 1902 construction of the railroad began. The company's board of directors in England, however, were more concerned with dividends than with risky expansion. Financing proved chaotic, and at the end of 1911 the railroad was 100-million in debt.

He arrived in England "looking fagged and tired," according to Alfred Smithers, Chairman of the Grand Trunk's board of directors. He was supposed to spend Easter in Paris with his daughter and son in law, Thornton and Orian Davidson, but in a letter to friends in Montreal on April 1, said he preferred to stay at Smithers country estate in Kent before sailing home on 10 April on the Titanic.

The recipient is unknown, partly because the letter is so hard to decipher, it is possibly Lockett Gavin Coleman, asst. superintendant of the Grand Trunk Railroad but the informality of the letter suggests it was to a close friend or relative.

Dear [?Marin / Mavin] I thought you would be interested in seeing the decision in the [?Flessen - a law suit of that time] case + so enclose you the synopsis of same which please keep for my scrap book after you have read. We have been most fortunate in our weather since coming They say I always bring sunshine + the facts seem

to prove it. For the second time Clara + I spent the week end at Knockholt returning to London this morning. Yesterday Mrs Hubert Clara + self motored down to Brighton for lunch had an hour there to look around and got back for eight o'clock dinner A run of over 100 miles! Thornton + Orian are in Paris + expected us to join them there for Easter + then sail from Cherbourg but we have concluded

we would like Knockholt better so shall stay here + sail via SS. Titanic on our return April 10th Clara has done well in going out, only missed one dinner so far + that Mrs [?Farsonns / Faesonns]. Dined at Sir Henry Jacksons Thursday tonight [?dine] with Smithers + theatre afterwards. I am deserting her + [???] with Sir Fd. v. Schuster at Brooks. Club! We dine at Lord Welbys Wednesday. Have just being to lunch with Lord Grey. Clara is

well and I have been feeling much better, my dispepsia practically all gone- Mrs Smithers + Eva are still at [?Mentone] + will not be home in time to see us. I hardly know when this will reach you so will send your Uncle Jim my love to Cousin Jane + himself + to to rest of the folks. I hope you are feeling all right again.

Lovingly

C.Mel. Hays

While in England he recieved news that the third of his four daughters, Louise, was having a difficult pregnancy and might have to be delivered by Ceasearean section. ANother reason for his return was the imminent opening of the Château Laurier Hotel on April 26.

They paid £93 10s to cover incidental expenses, travelled on ticket number 12749, and occupied four cabins: B-69-71-73 and B-24. (Mr and Mrs Hays in B-69, Thornton and Orian Davidson in B-71, their maid Miss Perreault in B-73 and Hays secretary, Vivian Payne, in B-24).

Travelling with him would be Paul Romaine Chevré, the sculptor who had done the bust of Laurier that still stands in the lobby.

In his business dealings Hays had had discussions with the White Star Line about speeding travellers from Europe to the Orient using White Star ships and his transcontinental railroad. As a result, J. Bruce Ismay invited Hays and his entourage as guests aboard Titanic.

His body was recoverd by Minia,

He was born Friday 16th may 1856

Died 15th april 1912

He was supposed to go to paris with his four daughters when he was on the "titanic

Hays went to England for a directors meeting where he proposed to spend the companys way out of bankruptcy by upgrading rolling stock, double tracking and by building a chain of luxury hotels across Canada. Hays had already built the flagship hotel, the Château Laurier in Ottawa, and had plans for six others, including the Fort Garry in Winnipeg and the Macdonald Hotel in Edmonton.

He was going from Europe to the orient.

Mr.Charles Melville Hays

Arlen & Lesly

hi

Travelling with him would be Paul Romaine Chevré, the sculptor who had done the bust of Laurier that still stands in the lobby.

In his business dealings Hays had had discussions with the White Star Line about speeding travellers from Europe to the Orient using White Star ships and his transcontinental railroad. As a result, J. Bruce Ismay invited Hays and his entourage as guests aboard Titanic.