The Monticellonian., 1915-05-13

torpedo coming straight at us
 From the point where the submarine sank great white streak-the track of the torpedo, was traced It was aimed slightly ahead of the Lusitania. but as the liner plunged forward at side. Suddenly a cry arose from scat tered points of vantage on the star board side, There's a submarine"
 About a thousand yards off the star board bow passengers saw breaking the sun glinted surface the sleek hull of a dreaded underwater craft 1t rested for Ut q moment O. the sur. face. then ss quickly sI )n,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 floeked to the great speed, the track seemed to yeer more and more toward a point amid ships until it struck fair between the first and second tunnels
 There was great tearing of metal, followed by a 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 great column of steam and water rose and coal and wood 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 Throueh Bow.
 But before she could answer to her helm a second torpedo pierced her bow. About four minutes interveneG between the two. Some passengers state that not only a second, but a third torpedo struck the ship. It is generally believed. however, that the explosion of the second torpedo was mistaken for the impact of a third
 It was while the ship was making 21 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 eoun- 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 cluded
 Below the scene enacted was wide. ly different Women, many of them with babies in their arms, became panic-stricken. Officers and passen. gers did their best to calm them.
 Fumes arising from the explosion permeated the ship and many fell un- conscious to the deck. Meanwhile the crew struggled valiantly to lower the boats. But due to the high speed of the vessel and the heavy list the hoats fouled the davits or could not De swung out to clear the side.
 MaeIstrom Sucks in Lives.
 A swirling maelstrom sucked fin hundreds upon hundreds of lives. 4 great hole seemed to open up where the Lusitania had been and into if 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 gone. From what survivors say, it is safe to as. sume that nearly every one in the WA ter within a radius of 100 yards of the ship when it sank was caught in the underdrag.
 Many of the boats which were over. turned had been lighted with great difficulty. To others still bottom up. swimmers clung helplessly. Many clung to wreckage Boats cruised about, picking up the survivors. The first of the rescue boats to arrive was trawler. Quickly the first boats were emptied and then showed off with oarsmen to pick up further survivors
 When the last of the survivors was taken aboard the ships sped for land most of them to Queenstown.
 First aid was administered aboard but many were beyond help and dieo on the way in
 Finally upwards of 20 boats were put into the water. Several were swamped, others were capsized in the swell from the ship. Life belts had been distributed among the passen gers, but many passengers did moi wait to equip themselves with the preservers. Some jumped over the side and were drowned, others leaped with life belts on and swan to over turned boats, there to await the com ing of other swimmers to right the craft.
 Slowly the Lusitania filled forward and her bow dipped deeper into the water
 Finally the big liner slowed down and seemed to settle as if she had run her race and was spent The wirless appartus still sput tered its call for help. On the bridge stood Captain Turner, with his execu | tive officer beside him directing the hopeless fight. In the water men and women struggled for their lives. Five boats remained entangled at the davits.
 With final lunge forward the Lusi tania sank.
 Not more than 20 minutes had elapsed since the first tornado e.ruet