Middletown transcript., 1915-05-15


and 9O2 were members of the crew.
159 Bodies Taken From Sea.
Eight bodies were brought here. Ten
others are coming on a Cunard Line
tug from Baltimore, County Cork. This
makes total of 159 that have been
taken from the sea, and tugs are
searching for others.
There is much complaint that the
Cunard officials have made no system
attic effort to recover bodies. Their
tugs have been to the scene of the
wreck only twice. And they have
made no effort to cruise we'll out from
the coast, where outgoing and incom-
ing vessels report the presence of
many bodies wearing life-belts.
Llfebelts Improperly Adjusted.
1t is stated here that many of the
bodies found, especially those of
women, had their life-belts improperly
adjusted. Some had the straps so far
down that the heads were drawn for
ward and the wearer drowned without
a chance.
There were few, even of those
saved, who had attached them so that
they got the most benefit.
The bodies that are being brought
from Baltimore are now said to be
those of six men and four women. One
of the men carried articles marked
Harrison Mainst. Bridgeport, Conn.
Another had samples from a tooth
brush factory of the Florence COM
pany, at Connecticut. One of the
women wore most expensive jewels
and clothing.
Among the well-known Americans
whose bodies have not been recovered,
and whose consequently are believed
to have perished, are Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt, Charles Klein, the play
wright; Justus Miles Forman and FL
bert Hubbard and his wife.
The body of Charles Frohman, of
New York, the theatrical producer, al
ready has been recovered and brought
ashore at Queenstown. The hospitals
of Queenstown are flied with the in
jured among the survivors and the
morgues with the dead recovered from
the sea.
Bodies OF Women and Children
Brought In.
OF the dead many are women. The
stories from Queenstown describe the
bringing in NOf the bodies of a great
number of women, many of them still
unidentified The Queenstown docks
are the temporary resting places also
of the bodies of several children. One
dead mother still is clasping in her
rigid arms the body of her 3-month-
old baby.
When the Lusitania left New York
May /, she had on board 1901 souls,
1881 passengers and $50 crew. The
passengers were made up of 291 in the
first cabin, 500 in the second and 361
in the steerage. The list of survivors
shows so far that about 80 frst-class
and rs second-class passengers were
saved. The first cabin passengers
were at lunch when the unheralded
German attack sent the liner to the
bottom. 1t is noticeable that COM
paratively few first-class passengers
were saved.
Judging from the recitals Of sur
vivors there was comparatively little
panic on board the Lusitania when she
went down. Nor is there anything to
show that the rule of the sea favoring
women and children in the work of
rescue was violated. Many of the
liners lifeboats were rendered useless
by the fact that she listed so sharply
that they could not be used.
Did Not Think She Could Sink.
Many of the passengers did not be-
lieve the Lusitania would sink as
quickly as she did. Consequently they
did not join in the rush for the life
boats, but evidently preferred to trust
in their belief that the water-tight
compartments of the vessel would
keep her afloat until such time as help
came out from the Irish shore less
than 10 miles away. 1t is related that
some of the passengers even disdained
to put on life belts when these were
handed to them.
the Lusitania. One report says the
first projectile was followed by two
others striking in quick succession.
Another report has it that two sub
marines took psrt in the onslaught,
one attacking from the port and the
other from the starboard side.
The British Government made the
following announcement:
"The statement appearing in some
newspapers that the Lusitania was
armed is wholly false"
Given No Warning.
The Lusitania was steaming along
about 10 miles off Old Head Kinsale
on the last leg of her voyage to Liver.
pool, when, about 2 o'clock in the af
ternoon, a Submarine suddenly ap
peared. and SO far as all reports go
fired two torpedoes without warning
at the steamer, One struck her neal
the bows and the other in the engine
room. The powerful agents of de
struction tore through the vessels
side, causing terrific explosions. AL
most Immediately great volumes Of
water poured through the openings
and the Lusitania listed.
Boats which were already swunl
out on the davits were dropped over