Held to Crucifix as Titanic sank

Held to crucifix as Titanic sank

Body of Timothy J McCarthy of Boston Found Clutching Emblem of his Faith.

Was Last Seen in Life Kneeling on Deck of Ship Wrapt in Solemn Prayer.

Had Crossed the Ocean Many Times But Never Without Rosary and Crucifix.

Day by day pathetic stories revealing the faith and heroism of the victims of the Titanic tragedy are coming to light. In the first burst of the awful news the outlines of the horror was too immense and too absorbing to allow details to be brought to the foreground. These are coming out in the later stories. None of the facts that are being given to the world are more characteristic of the strong faith of the Irishman than that which has developed out of the finding of the body of Timothy J. McCarthy, a buyer for a Boston Department store, who went Down on the ill-fated liner.

When Mr McCarthy's body was recovered a few days ago his left hand still class at the precious cross that meant so much to him at the passing of his soul.

One of the survivors who stood near Mr McCarthy said in an interview:

"When I last saw Mr McCarthy he was on the saloon deck. In his left hand he held a lighted candle, and in his right a crucifix. As long as I was able to see him, he remained kneeling, in an attitude of prayer."

The left hand is held in the position it would naturally assume in grasping a candle. Apparently, the man realised that there was no hope for him and met his death with resignation, resolved to cling to the last to the insignia of his faith. The crucifix was given him some time ago by Mrs Leopold Morse, and he always has valued it highly.

Mr McCarthy was a man in the middle walk of life, but since boyhood had marked a degree of piety and devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He had crossed the Atlantic many times but never without the companionship of a crucifix, rosary and prayer book.

It is sad indeed to think of that terrible scene on board the giant oceanliner when thousands of human beings stood hoping against hope, some leaping to the cool waves to what they thought might be an easier death; Akers casting their eyes for a piece of luggage to buy them up; others crying madly for help, but they're on a doomed craft a mood disorder and all that follows it, we find Mr McCarthy dealing with a lighted blessed candle in one hand, and a crucifix in the other beseeching God to have mercy on his soul. What a striking scene it must have presented. It is safe to say Mr McCarthy died as he lived – a true Christian – and we trust that his prayers were heard and that his soul rest in peace with its maker.

The Irish standard (Minneapolis, Minnesota)