Mary Sloan (August 5th, 1866 - February 28th, 1953) from Belfast was a stewardess of the Titanic.
Before signing on to the Titanic she worked on the Olympic. She was on board that vessel when she collided with the HMS Hawke.
She survived the sinking and, after the Carpathia brought her to New York, she returned home aboard the SS Lapland,
Portrayals[]
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Helen Mirren as Mary Sloan in S.O.S. Titanic
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You must save yourself, you know. There'll be questions no one else will ever be able to answer. |
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—Mary Sloan to Thomas Andrews | ||
In S.O.S. Titanic, Mary Sloan was portrayed by actress Helen Mirren.
She first appeared hanging up some of Madeleine Astor's clothes, and quitely looking in the mirror while fitting one of Madeleine's dress. Madeleine looked at Sloan, but instead of scolding her, Madeleine said the dress suited on her and told Sloan that she could have the it when they arrived in New York. Sloan turned it down the offer briefly, but Madeleine said it was all right. Sloan then thanked Madeleine, and said it was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.
The next afternoon, she met with Thomas Andrews, and asked him where he came from. It's turned out that Andrews and Sloan came from the same place. Sloan told Andrews that if he wanted to talk about home with her, he could come to the linen room.
Mary Sloan with Thomas Andrews in the linen room, Violet Jessop is in the background
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If you ever want to talk to anybody about home, just come along to the linen room. We have a little electric hearth in there, we could give you a cup of tea. |
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—Mary Sloan to Thomas Andrews | ||
The next day, Thomas Andrews came to the linen room, Andrews was greeted by Sloan and Violet Jessop. They then gave Andrews a cup of tea and some fresh scones from the First Class bakery.
On the afternoon of April 14, Sloan and Jessop were busy taking care of the passengers' clothes, Sloan then putin Mrs. Brown's Parish Gown, which she was going to wear for the gala dinner that night.
After Titanic hit an iceberg, an evacuation order was issued. The stewards and stewardesses, including Sloan, were assigned to distribute blankets and supplies for the lifeboats.
Thomas Andrews and Mary Sloan on the boat deck
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No lifebelt, Miss Sloan?" |
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—Thomas Andrews and Mary Sloan | ||
Thomas Andrews then walked over to Sloan, asking why she wasn't wearing a lifebelt. Sloan replied that there might be a short supply of lifebelts, but Andrews forced her to immediately find one and put it on her. Sloan agreed, and asked Andrews what about himself, but Andrews was already left.
As the number of lifeboats dwindled, Sloan went looking for the women and children on deck, then found Andrews contemplating in the First Class Smoke Room. Sloan told Andrews that all but one or two of the collapsible lifeboats were gone.
Andrews then told Sloan to hurry up so she wouldn't left behind, but Sloan was worried about Andrews himself, because she believed that Andrews had to save himself to answer some questions that only he could answer, and of course to his own family. Andrews replied that he would be following shortly and told Sloan to leave immediately.
Mary Sloan stared at Bruce Ismay, as he stepped on the boat
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Are there any ladies or children? Mr. Andrews. All the boats are away now except for one or two of the collapsible kind." |
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—Mary Sloan and Thomas Andrews | ||
Sloan then went to the boat deck and helped several women onto Collapsible D, before her own turn. When Chief Officer Wilde and First Officer Murdoch asked if there were any more women about, and there was no answer, Bruce Ismay stepped into the boat. Sloan stared at Ismay, feeling that Ismay was a coward for choosing to get into the boat rather than stay on the ship.
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