Catherine Mccarthy

Who was Catherine “Katie” McCarthy?

Catherine “Katie” McCarthy was a 24-year-old Irish domestic servant who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was a third-class passenger who demonstrated remarkable courage and quick thinking during the disaster, which ultimately led to her survival and a life that spanned two continents.

Early Life and Family

Catherine McCarthy was born on September 25, 1887, in Ballygorteen, Co Tipperary, Ireland. She was the daughter of Patrick McCarthy, a farmer, and Mary Boyce. Katie grew up in a large family, with five known siblings:

• Mary (b. October 2, 1874)
• Patrick (b. February 21, 1877)
• John (b. April 13, 1879)
• Johanna (b. December 4, 1881)
• Michael (b. June 24, 1885)

Tragically, Katie’s mother Mary died from typhoid in Tipperary’s Union Workhouse on June 19, 1891, at the young age of 37. This loss undoubtedly had a significant impact on Katie’s childhood and the family dynamics.

Life Before the Titanic

Prior to her fateful journey, Katie lived and worked in her native Ireland. The 1911 census recorded her as an unmarried farmer’s daughter, residing at house 10 in Ballygorteen, Killadriffe, Tipperary. However, her occupation on the Titanic’s passenger manifest was listed as a domestic servant, indicating a change in her professional life.

The Decision to Emigrate

Katie had long contemplated moving to America, but her apprehension about long-distance travel had held her back. In early 1912, she finally made the momentous decision to emigrate. Her plan was to join her sister Mary in Guttenburg, New Jersey, with the intention of staying there for a few months before heading west to Chicago, where her brother John resided.

The Titanic Journey

How did Katie McCarthy board the Titanic?

Katie boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger. Her ticket, number 383123, cost her £7 15s, a substantial sum for a domestic servant at the time. During the voyage, she shared a cabin with two other women from Tipperary: Kate Connolly and Katie Peters.

What happened to Katie on the night of the sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, Katie’s quick thinking and instincts played a crucial role in her survival. According to her account, fellow Tipperary man Roger Tobin alerted them to the danger, though he downplayed its severity. Katie, sensing the urgency of the situation, left the cabin despite her roommates’ reluctance to follow.

In her own words, from a letter to her father published in The Advocate:

“About 12 o’clock on Sunday night Roger Tobin called us to get up but told us not to be frightened, as there was no danger. To make sure, however, of our safety, he told us to get life belts. There were three of us in the room, Katie Peters, Katie Connolly, of Tipperary, and myself. When Roger Tobin called us I wanted them to come up on deck, but they would not come. They appeared to think there was no danger. That was the last I saw of them.”

How did Katie survive the Titanic sinking?

Katie’s path to survival was harrowing. She recounted:

“I then left the room, and on going out I met a man from Dungarvan, who took me up to the second-class deck where they were putting out the boats. I was put into one boat, but was taken out of it again, as it was too full. I was in the last boat to leave the ship, and was the second last person put into it. This was a short time before the ship went down.”

While it’s not certain which lifeboat Katie escaped in, it’s believed to have been boat 15. She later recalled hearing “Nearer My God to Thee” being played and the horrifying cries of those struggling in the water after the ship had sunk.

Life After the Titanic

How did Katie’s life change after surviving the Titanic?

Upon arriving in New York, Katie was initially hospitalized at St. Vincent’s Hospital before being reunited with her sister. She settled in New Jersey and soon found herself on a new life path.

Who did Katie McCarthy marry?

A few months after her arrival in America, Katie was joined by John Croke, a fellow Tipperary native. John and Katie had grown up in neighboring townlands, and their shared background likely drew them together in their new country. They were married on September 2, 1914, in New York.

Did Katie return to Ireland?

Despite starting a new life in America, neither Katie nor John naturalized as US citizens. In the early 1920s, they made the decision to return to their native Ireland. They settled in Ballintemple, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, where John worked as a farmer and merchant.

Legacy and Final Years

In her later years, Katie was held in high esteem within her local community. She was described as a very kindly and sweet-natured lady, suggesting that her harrowing experience on the Titanic did not diminish her compassionate nature.

Katie McCarthy Croke passed away on November 12, 1948, at the age of 61 (sixty-one). Her death came after suffering a stroke during the summer of that year. She was laid to rest in St Michael’s Cemetery in Brodeen, Co Tipperary.

Katie’s survival story serves as a testament to her resilience and quick thinking in the face of one of history’s most infamous disasters. Her life, spanning from rural Ireland to New York City and back again, embodies the complex journey of many Irish immigrants of her era.