Peter Daly was born to a mother from Lima and was the grandson of a grandmother from Arequipa. He boarded the Titanic on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, in Southampton, unaware of the terrible nightmare that awaited him in the middle of the ocean, where he found himself surrounded by heart-rending screams and cries on his tragic journey.
In the passages of history, the name of Peter Daly was recorded as the only Peruvian who managed to survive the fateful night of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Although he was born in Liverpool, England, the businessman had Peruvian blood running through his veins, thanks to his mother, whose origins went back to the city of Lima. This peculiar cultural mix and his exciting life invite us to delve into the ins and outs of his story.
At the age of 27, he left his homeland to settle in Peruvian territory. It was in that place where fate led him to meet María Rosalba Ramos, a woman who would become his wife in 1887. Together, they formed a large family, blessed with ten sons and daughters. However, the call of London resounded in 1912, and without imagining what the future would hold for him, he decided to start the journey back to his place of origin.
Peter Denis Daly, a Peruvian-born businessman, embarked on the majestic Titanic on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, in the port of Southampton, England. Daly had ticket number 113055 and his assigned booth was E17; according to data from Peru.com
Family history also deserves special mention. He was the son of Bernard Daly and Isabel Fermina Charon, the British-Peruvian businessman who acquired a careful education in his youth and graduated from the prestigious University of Cambridge. But his Peruvian roots always held a strong magnetism over him, and he eventually found his home in the land of his mother.
Already in the United Kingdom, and at the age of 51, he lived in his own flesh that fateful April of 1912, embarking on the majestic Titanic as a first-class passenger. A privileged place in a ship that housed almost a thousand people, who had a tragic end.
It was during the trip that the disaster was triggered by the impact of the iceberg. For days, Peter's loved ones in Peru were unaware of his whereabouts and feared the worst. However, the return of him alive was a peace that consumed them completely.
The news of the unexpected survivor of the Titanic shook Lima, attracting the attention of the media. The newspapers sought him out and interviewed him avidly, eager to know his story. Daly revealed the chilling details of the tragedy that would have begun at 11:00 p.m. when the ship collided with the iceberg. At first, the officers tried to keep the passengers calm, but soon panic and chaos engulfed the passengers.
According to the stories of his relatives, when he realized the magnitude of the situation, he returned to his cabin and bundled up with all the clothes he could find to face the freezing weather. Amid the tumult, he jumped into the sea and desperately swam for the lifeboats. His attempt to board the first one he encountered was thwarted by the crew, but his determination to save his life did not make him persist in his attempt.
Although he refused to talk about the tragedy, he rarely spoke of the courage of the musicians on the Titanic. Likewise, the stories indicate that the Peruvian survived the Titanic disaster clinging to a picture of the Virgin of Perpetual Help.
What happened to the Titanic?
The sinking has been the subject of speculation about its causes and how more lives could have been saved. The ship carried insufficient lifeboats and the lookouts did not have suitable binoculars to spot icebergs. Although attention was paid to the ship's design, there were major errors such as too small a rudder and brittle steel in cold waters.
It is questioned whether the turning maneuver was a mistake, but it was understandable given the imminent risk. The impact went unnoticed by many passengers, who did not realize the seriousness of the situation. There was a delay in raising the alarm and beginning the evacuation, although an evacuation was ordered and a distress call was issued.
Several causes limited the rescue capacity. Some boats that were in the water did not return for fear of being swept away by the ship's suction. It is estimated that more people could have been saved if the boats had not been completely filled.
Being swallowed by the sea was quick and inevitable. As the compartments flooded, the Titanic sank forward. Her bow was completely submerged, lifting her stern and causing the ship to break into two parts. She disappeared into the depths, taking almost 70% of the people on board with her.
