Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-08

NEW 1Ohhs may 0.-Ine Cunaru
liner Lusitania, one OF the fastest
ships afloat, was torpedoed and sunk
this afternoon off the coast of ire
land, ten miles south of Kinsale.
It had aboard 1853 passengers
when it sailed from this port last Sat-
urday. May /. and carried in addition
to its own large passenger list 16S
passengers transferred to II from the
Anchor Liner Cameronia.
The news of its sinking was an
nounced by the local office OF the
Cunard line and was based on cable
advices received from the home office
of the company In Liverpool. Three
dispatches. received In the order
named, were made public by the line
and read as follows:
ave received from the Lands End
wireless station news OF repeated distress
calls made by the Lusitania asking for
assistance at once. Big list Position
ten miles south OF, EinsaIe. Subsequently
received telegram from Queenstown that
all available craft in the harbor has
been dispatched to assist"
The second message to the local office
read:
QUEENSTOWN l:59 p. m.--Aboui
twenty boats OF ell sorts belonging 70
our line arc in vicinity where Lusitania
sank. About fifteen other boats are
making for spot to render assistance"
The third fablegram was dated Liver
pool and readt
Following received by admiralty:
GALLEY HEAD. AS D. m.-several
boats. apparently survivors. southeast
nine miles. Greek steamer proceeding ia
assistance"
Dispatches received here from London
Liverpool and Queenstown confirmed the
news. One OF the messages said II wai
believed that all the big liners passen-
gers had been saved.
When the Lusitania sailed II had aboard
1910 passengers. Some nervousness had
been fcaused because OF the publication
In tho morning papers OF Saturday OF an
advertisement warning intending travel
ers that a state of war existed between
Great Britain and its allies, that the zone
OF war includes the waters adjacent TO
the British Isles; that In accordance with
notice given by the German government
vessels flying the flag OF Great Britain
are liable 10 destruction In those waters
and that travellers sailing in the war
zone on ships OF Great Britain or its al
lies do 80 at their own risk. The adver-
tisement was signed Imperial German
embassy"
This warning apparently did not cause
many cancellations. for the ship sailed
with full passenger list Just before
the steamers departure a number Of the
passengers received kilograms at the
pier signed by names unknown 10 them
ana presumed to be fictitious. advising
them not to sail as the liner was 10 be tor
pedoed by submarines. Alfred Gywnns
Vanderbilt was one OF the passengers who
received such a message. He destroyed
the message without comment
Charles r. Sumner, general agent OF
the Cunard line said. when the Lusltania
sailed, that the trip was not attended by
any risk whatever. as the liner had a
speed of twenty-five and half knots and
was provided with unusual watertIghi
bulkheads.
In commenting on the report OF the tor
pedolng OF the LusitAnla today, marine
men pointed out that In their opinion. this
Lusitania could not be sunk by single
torpedo.
Large Fast ship.
The LuRitania and its sister ship, the
Mauretania. holding all speed records
were msrvels OF marine engineering and
have excited the wonder OF the mari
time world. Seven hundred and ninety
feet in length, they are so gracefully
proportioned that their vast bulk is not
apparent unless some other vessel is near
for comparison, The turbine engines are
30 smooth I'm action that the vibration so
frequently noticed I'm other ships Is prac-
tleally eliminated. With a sustained sea
speed Of more than twenty-aix knots an