The Spectator., 1915-05-11

 The first flush of the excitement had just passed when there arose more ominous cry from the deck, There's a torpedo coming straight at us
 From the point where the submarine sank a great white streak-the tracE of the torpedo, was traced. It was aimed slightly ahead of the Lusitsnia. but as the liner plunged forward at side. Suddenly cry arose from scat tered points of vantage on the star board side, There's submarine"
 About thousand yards off the star board bow passengers saw treaking the sun glinted surface the sleek hull of dreaded underwater craft. It rested for tut moment O.; ihe sur face. !hcn Gs quickly sI )1.trged.
 The liner plunged forward under the thrill Of the new impetus The whole of the ships company seemed to feel the thrill of the new movement. Passengers on deck flocked to the great speed, the track seemed to veer more and more toward a point amid ships until it struck fair between the first and second tunnels.
 There was a great tearing of metal, followed by terrific explosion in the stoke hole. The ship trembled from stem to stern. The blanks seemed to rise under foot. Then the liner set tied as if sorely wounded. A grea, column of steam and water rose and c0ai and weed splinters were hurled high and fell in an avalanche on the upper deck
 The liner appeared to falter, then Steadied as the helm was swung over and her course was directed for land.
 Missile Tears Through Bow.
 But before she could answer to her helm a second torpedo pierced her DOW. About four minutes intervened between the two. Some passengers state that not only second. but tEird torpedo struck the ship It is generally believed. however, tnat the explosion of the second torpedo was mistaken for the impact of a third.
 It vas while the ship was making T knots with a heavy list to star board that the order was given, lm- mediately after the second missile struck, to lower the boats
 Among the saloon passengers rela. tive calm prevailed. It was the gen erally accepted idea that the Lusi. tania would float. Cool heads coun- seled calm and the more timorous were quietd. Many of the first cabin passengers went about their depart ures leisurely. some even remaining at the table until luncheon was con ciuded.
 Below the scene enacted was wide ly different Women, many of ther, with babies in their arms, became panic-stricken. Officers and passen. gers did their hest to calm them.
 Fumes arising from the explosion permeated the ship and many fell un- conscious to the deck. Meanwhile the crew struggled valiantlv to lower ;he boats, But due to the high speed of the vessel and the heavy list the hoats fouled the davts or could not
 
 Maelstrom Sucks in Lives.
 X sWirling maelstrom stuc5ed in hundreds upon hundreds of lives \ great hole seemed to open up where the Lusitania had been and into it poured those, who 20 minutes before had been chatting gaily on the deck Of the greatest ship on the Atlantic.
 From the shore, seen through glasses in the hands of one of the coast guards, there appeared to rise curtain of vapor and smoke which hung low, obscuring the scene. When the veil lifted the ship was Cone. From what survivors say, it is safe to as sume that nearly every one in the Wa ter within a radius of 100 yag.ds of the ship when it sank was caught in the underdrag.
 Many of tho boats which were over turned had been righted with great difficulty. To others still bottom up, swimmers clung helplessly. Many c'un% 10 wreCkaEe Boats cruiseG about, picking up the survivors. Tie I'll oI pl NHt ltStut DOdIS 10 afTlfp was trawler. Quickly the first boats wore emptied and then showed of with oarsmen to pick up further survivors.
 When the last of the survivors was 'a',cn aboard the ships sped for land. uCst of them to Queenstown.
 Fi~st aid was administered aboard but many were beyond help and died on the way in.
 Finally upwards of 20 boats were put into the water Several were sWamped, others were capsized in the well from the ship. Lie belts had b en distributed among the passen- CTS, but many passengers did not wait to equip themselves with the preservers. Some jumped over the side and were drowned, others leaped yi'h life belts on and swan to over AL.