Henry McEvoy was a second cabin passenger and Irish national who survived the sinking of the Lusitania, although the Cunard Confidentiality Report following the disaster listed him as lost. McEvoy was originally from Donacloney (Donaughcloney), County Antrim, Ireland (present-day Northern Ireland), a son of William John McEvoy. His parents did not know he was sailing aboard Lusitania and only found out after they received word from his employer, R. M. Liddell, JP, that McEvoy was saved.
As of the spring of 1915, McEvoy was employed in New York City, New York, United States by Messrs William Liddell and Sons, Ltd., which produced linen for White Star Line’s Titanic and continues to exist today (2015).
On 7 May 1915, McEvoy was sitting down to lunch when the Lusitania was torpedoed. With his fellow passengers, he rushed on deck, and after fifteen minutes, realized that the ship was doomed. Without taking on any extra flotation devices, McEvoy jumped overboard, and the ship sank soon afterward, as Lusitania sank in eighteen minutes.
The suction of the sinking ship drew McEvoy down for what he believed to be five minutes. When he surfaced, he swam for another twenty minutes before he and others reached an overturned boat, on which they remained until they were rescued by a Queenstown-based vessel three hours later.
Contributors:
Senan Molony, Ireland
References:
“Donacloney Man Saved.” Larne Times. 15 May 1915, page 4.
Molony, Senan. Lusitania: An Irish Tragedy. Mercier Press, 2004, page 54.
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