Item 245: Letter from Mary Garry concerning Dr. Joseph Garry, Thomas Sumner, and Grace French, dated 23 February 1916

Shanahea
Ennis
Co Clare
Ireland
23rd. Feb. 1916

My dear Mrs. Prichard

Thank you so much for your very kind letter. I was anxiously awaiting some news but feared the worst as we had some friends at Queenstown that made a minute search of all the poor victims. I had a letter from one of the survivors a Mr. Sumner. [H]e gives a rather mysterious account of a young Doctor that very much resembled my sons Photo[.] Mr. Sumner was on to a raft when he saw this young man approach swimming very badly & much exhausted when he got on the raft he told them he was a Dr. & gave them instructions what to do with some of the people who were unconscious besides helping himself. When they were taken by the Indian Empire a lady was badly hurt. Mr. Sumner went to look for the Dr. & could find no trace of him. I’m afraid it wasn’t my son as he couldn’t swim. I don’t remember if there were other Drs. lost if not it must be him. Mr. Sumner says they had no accident between the raft & the Indian Empire taking them on board. I have written to Miss French & sent her in my dear boy’s Photos. I was very pleased to hear that you got information that it wasn’t your dear boy that was picked up & died in the boat.

I got letters from other survivors they [cannot?] remember seeing him. I have written to others they are left & gone to Canada. I am hoping to hear some news from them a good many of the passengers going to America on the Lusitania knew my son & wrote to their friends they were fortunate as they did not return. It is strange sometimes I can’t give up hope that my dear boy might be picked up. I expect every broken hearted mother has the same feeling. It is very strange how some of the survivors went down with the ship & were afterwards saved.

Isn’t the war dreadful? I am always worrying. I have a daughter at school at Birkdale Convent. I feel so terrified fearing any thing would happen to her. One can never know what these terrible Huns might do. They delight in taking the lives of poor innocent people.

With many thanks & kindest regards

Yours v. sincerely
M. Garry

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