News


Faces of the Titanic: Survivor Eugene Daly - wrote a detailed account having stayed on the ship to the end

29-year-old witnessed brutal shooting and dramatic panic on board before his escape


Faces of the Titanic: Eugene Daly
Photo by Mercier Press

Guinness PubFinder Ad

Visit our Titanic Centenary Commemoration section here

PHOTOS - photographs of some of the Irish on board

Profile taken from Senan Molony's book "The Irish Aboard the Titanic"

Ticket number 382650.

Paid £6 19s.

Boarded at Queenstown.

Third Class.

From: 2 Wolfe Tone Terrace, Athlone, County Westmeath.

Destination: E.G. Schuktze, 477 Avenue E, Brooklyn, New York city.

Eugene Daly was on board the Titanic until the very end. His sensational story tells of an officer shooting two men dead – before another shot rings out and the officer himself falls.

Daly’s account of the panic and of his own escape is probably the most graphic of any told by any survivor. He was in compartment C-23 on F deck, very far forward on the starboard side, so close to the impact that he was almost thrown out of bed:

"I was in compartment 23, Deck C, steerage [there was no steerage accommodation on C Deck]. Two other men were with me. I was in my bunk asleep on the Sunday night (the night of the disaster). A crash woke me up. It nearly threw me from my bed. I got up and went to the door. I put on my trousers and shoes.

"I met the steward in the gangway. He said there was nothing serious and that I might go back. I went back for a little while. Then I went up on deck as I heard a noise there. People were running around. Then I went down and went to the room where Maggie Daly and Bertha Mulvihill were.

"They came out with me, but a sailor told us there was no danger. He said the ship would float for hours. He also said to go back, and that if there was any danger he would call us.

"I went for a lifebuoy in the stern and Maggie and Bertha came with me. I had a scuffle with a man for a lifebuoy. He would not give it to me, but he gave it to Maggie Daly.

"There was a great deal of noise at this time and water was coming in. We knelt down and prayed in the gangway. Then the sailor said there was danger. We went to the deck but there were no boats going off. Then we went to the second cabin deck. A boat was being lowered there. It was being filled with women. Maggie and Bertha got in, and I got in. The officer called me to go back, but I got in. Life was sweet to me and I wanted to save myself. They told me to get out, but I didn’t stir. Then they got hold of me and pulled me out. Then the boat was lowered and went off.

"There was another boat there, but I went up to the first cabin. The steerage people and second cabin people went to the first cabin part of the ship. They were getting women into the boats there. There was a terrible crowd standing about. The officer in charge pointed a revolver and waved his hand and said that if any man tried to get in he would shoot him on the spot."


Nster.com


4 Comments

See all comments

Was the shooter officer in the pro-British protestant paramilitary - Ulster Vounteer Force (UVF)? Were the shot, Irish Catholic/Nationalist/Republican passengers? Was the shooter who shot the officer in reprisal an Irish Republican Army (IRA) man? Gee! What an exciting voyage. Agatha Christie would be green with envy. And where was Inspector Poirot when they needed him? Swimming for his frickin' life, I'd imagine.
Excellent article. Though I have the same last name I'm not related to Bertha Mulvihil, however she does have desendents in Providence, Rhode Island.
I was delighted to see Senan Maloney's reprint of Eugene Daly's story. I am his granddaughter and namesake (Eugenie). I am so pleased that this will reach a whole new audience. He was a great man and a true hero. Thank you.
Was quoted as"I did however have plenty of ice for my drinks"
 




Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account


or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password
Not a member? Register Now!
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail