Bridget Delia Bradley (January 10th, 1890 - January 24th, 1956) was a Third Class passenger of the Titanic. She survived the sinking.
Miss Bridget Delia Bradley was born on 10 Januray 1890 in Kingwilliamstown (now Ballydesmond), County Cork, Ireland. She was conceived by a labourer named Daniel Bradley and his wife Elizabeth "Bessie", and was the eldest of nine children. She had 2 elder siblings, Mary, who was born in 1886 and Micheal in 1888.
Both of them would migrate to the United States before 1911 and settle there. Bridget wanted to join Mary in 1912.
She left her home at Ballinhutla, Kingswilliamstown and boarded the Titanic at Queenstown bound initially for the home of Mary Bradley, 29 William Street, Glenfalls, New York, USA. She travelled with several others from the Kingwilliamstown area, the party being led by Daniel Buckley and included Patrick O'Connell, Patrick O'Connor and his cousin Hannah Riordan, Nora O'Leary and Michael Linehan.
On April 14, Titanic struck an iceberg late in the night, at 23:40 A.M. Bridget survived the sinking in lifeboat 13 as Buckley recalled:
- "There was a girl from my place and just when she got down into the lifeboat she thought the boat was sinking into the water. Her name was Bridget Bradley. She climbed one of the ropes as far as she could and tried to get back into the Titanic again, as she thought she would be safer in it than in the lifeboat. She was just getting up when one of the sailors went out to her and pulled her down again."
- U.S. Senate Inquiry Testimony (May 8th, 1912; Daniel Buckley)
Her rescue was also recorded by one of the local newspapers in New York state:
- "One of the steerage passengers who arrived safely was Miss Bridget Bradley, whose sister is employed as a cook at the home of William T. Cowles in Glen Falls. She will go to Glen Falls after a visit with her brother here." "
- Albany Journal, April 19th, 1912
Later life[]
In 1926, Bridget married a Canadian, Bernard LaSha and moved to Ganaoque, Ontaria. They had 4 children. One of her daughters wrote her mother’s biography, ironically named 'Unsinkable Bridget'. It was was published privately. In 1953 Mrs. LaSha was persuaded to see the movie ‘Titanic’ with Clinton Webb and Barbara Stanwyk.
Her daughter wrote:
“She was hesitant about wanting to see, but with a little persuasion we managed to get her to go. She became very emotioal during the movie and at times kept shaking her head as if to say, ‘no, it didn’t happen that way’. After the movie she was rushed on stage, had her picture taken with the mayor, given a bouquet of flowers and lifetime pass ot the theatre which she obviously never used. For once in her life, she was in the sportlight, if only for such a short time.”
Bridget Bradley died on January the 24th, in 1956.
Portrayals[]
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Catherine Byrne as Bridget Bradley in S.O.S. Titanic (1979)
| “ |
Is it "Abandon ship" or "Run for your life"? Or what is it at all? |
” |
—Bridget Bradley to Percy Fletcher | ||
Bridget Bradley was portrayed by actress Catherine Byrne in S.O.S. Titanic.
She first appeared during boarding at Queenstown, where she and Mary Agatha Glynn met their roommates, Kate Gilnagh and Kate Mullins. Bridget showed confusion in calling their names because they were both named Kate. Kate Gilnagh then told her that she was called "Katie" while Kate Mullins was called "Kate".
While Mary Agatha commented that their cabin was small, Katie replied that their cabin was much bigger than her room in her old house, saying that she had to share a bed with her 4 siblings. Kate Mullins approve this, saying that Katie is one of the 10 kids.
A few moments later, there was a loud sound which made them shocked. Bridget thought it was an explosion, until stewardess Violet Jessop arrived to inform them that it was only the sound of an engine starting, which was heard because their cabin was quite near to the casing.
"Do you do that every time it's lunch?"
Shortly thereafter, they heard the sound of trumpets, Bridget rushed out of the cabin in a panic and asked if it was a sign for "Abandon ship" or "Run for your life". Bugler steward Percy Fletcher thought Bridget was too exaggerating, and replied that it was the sign for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
That night, the girls went to the Third Class General Room, where they sat watching the passengers dancing.
The girls later became acquainted with several fellow Irishmen, James Farrell, Martin Gallagher, David Charters and Daniel Buckley.
At the April 14th night party in the General Room, Bridget and the passengers sang "Isn't it Grand Boys?" and dance together, until the party is messed up with rats running around.
When Titanic sank, the girls were picked up by the men and they went to the General Room, where steward John Hart and stewardess Violet Jessop announced that they were taking a small group to go to the boat deck. James Farrell thought it would take a long time, and made his own little group sneak onto the boat deck. This time the group was added by Irish Beauty, Olaus Abelseth, Karen Marie, Sigurd Moen and Peter Søholt.
From left to right: Kate Mullins, Kate Gilnagh, Mary Agatha Glynn, Bridget Bradley
Some of the obstacles experienced by the group, Olaus Abelseth had to break down a gate and they got lost in the First Class Dining Saloon. The girls, including Bridget, had a chance to admire first-class luxury, but they were soon stopped by the Master at-Arms Thomas King, who thought they were going to steal something. They dismissed the accusations, saying they were only looking for their way to the lifeboats. James Farrell then begged King to at least let the women through. King then relented, and allowed only the women to through by for now.
The girls then separated from the men and found their way to Collapsible D, where the loading was so chaotic that First Officer William Murdoch had to open fire into the air. The girls then realized that Daniel Buckley was hiding at the bottom of the boat, Kate Gilnagh gave him her shawl to cover himself and told him to keep back.
The other men did not survive the sinking, except Daniel Buckley and Olaus Abelseth. Bridget was last seen in the Carpathia, tucking Kate Mullins over.