Mr. Patrick J. McLoughlin

Patrick McLoughlin, 35, a British subject and Irish national from Tully, Calry, County Sligo, Ireland, had been a waiter in a hotel in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. He had a wife and 4 children in Ireland and was on his way to join them. McLoughlin survived the Lusitania sinking.

McLoughlin was the son of John McLoughlin, JP. The afternoon of the sinking, Patrick had seen a “ripple in the water” that later proved to be the submarine and torpedo. The torpedo struck, and then McLoughlin saw a coal trimmer run on deck, shouting, “It’s all up with us now!” The ship began listing to starboard.

Because the prevailing thought was that the watertight compartments would keep the Lusitania afloat, McLoughlin saw no lifeboats lowered, indicating that he was probably on the port side of the ship, where officers were actually encouraging people to get out of the lifeboats and not to panic. McLoughlin’s account then states that he felt a second torpedo strike, and the ship began to list more and more, and McLoughlin went to the stern.

McLoughlin saw lifeboats topple over and some get dashed against the side of the ship and saw people clutching and hanging by the ropes. A lady from County Sligo whom he knew appealed to him for help. McLoughlin went to get a lifebelt for her and himself, but when he returned, she was gone.

Seeing no one else near him, McLoughlin jumped into the water. Another man jumped on top of him, stunning him and driving him underwater. Rising to the top, he found the surface of the water covered with dead bodies. He said that he received a “knock” from the suction and remembered nothing for a considerable time. He recalled an explosion that drove him from the side of the ship.

McLoughlin then climbed on top of an overturned boat, where he rescued a lady from the water. An hour later, he and those on the boat with him saw smoke from a steamship, but to their disappointment, the ship passed them by. These may have been the ships City of Exeter and Narragansett, which were responding to Lusitania’s distress calls, but fearing continued submarine presence, steamed away.

Later five vessels came and picked up the survivors by 7:30 p.m.

Contributors:
Senan Molony

References:
“Hanging By the Ropes.” Irish Independent. 11 May 1915, page 5.

Molony, Senan.  Lusitania:  An Irish Tragedy.  Mercier Press, 2004, page 56-57.

11 thoughts on “Mr. Patrick J. McLoughlin”

  1. I am a direct ascendant of Patrick McLoughlin’s wife, Tess Mitchell (maiden name).

    Could you supply me with any information you may have.

    Thanks
    Eithne Smyth

  2. Patrick McLoughlin had a public house in Rosses Point Co. Sligo. It was demolished some time in the 1950s. He had on display in the bar a watch which was stopped at the time he entered the water

    • I just came across this website. Patrick was my great grandfather. His son Tom was my grandfather. I have a great picture of the two of them with my father taken in the 1930’s. I’d like to get more info.

      • Hello Tom we are cousins. Would love to talk as Patrick was my great grandfather as well. Try to get in touch with me privately through this website if you can’t post another message

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