The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-08

TIE JOURNAr-SATURD.
MED report that there had been
picric acid aboard the Lusitania. Mr..
GaskeH said there were no explosives,
ammunition or any inflammable ma
terial on the ship.
Warning Again Appears.
| The advertisement placed by the
German embassy in New York news
papers the morning of the Lusitania' IS
| sailing had re-appeared in the news
papers today. This advertisement re-
minded the public Germany had de-
clared a war zone about the British
Isles and warned travellers that they
would embark at their own risk on
| ships flying the flags of the allies.
simultaneously with the re-appear-
ance of this advertisement the Lusi-
| tan1a's name was stricken from the
advertisements of the Cunard line
Statements attributed to Captain
Turner OF the Lusitania before the
| sailing and recalled now, indicate that
the British admiralty relied on the
Lusitania's speed, rather than con-
voys, to enable her to make port safe
ly. Officials of the Cunard line today
declined to comment on the lack of
convoy
Many Die of Injuries.
In addition to the living brought
ashore, the bodies of As who died of
landed at Queenstown.
Five more are at Kinsale and it
has been reported that an armed
trawler accompanied by two fishing
boats has picked up 100 others.
The work of compiling lists of those
saved is progressing slowly because of
the indescribable confusion at Queens
town, but apparently few first cabin
passengers are among the survivors.
Tho United States consul at Queens
town can account for only 81 Ameri
cans saved out of 1873 who were
aboard. His roll does not include the
Charles F'rohman, Ebert Hubbard,
Justus Miles Forman, the author, or
Charles Klein, the playwright. OF
the Americans aboard, 106 were in the
first cabin, 65 in the second and IT
in the steerage.
Calm in Face of Death.
The heavy loss of life among the
first cabin passengers is believed to
have been due to the calmness and
self possession they displayed in face
of danger. Most of them were at
luncheon when the steamer received
her death blow and declined to join
the rush for the boats and life belts.
They believed the Cunarder would re-
main afloat until assistance could ar
rive.
A considerable proportion of those
at Queenstown are members OF the
crew. including Captain Turner, with
All the other officers are believed
to have persisted.
There is no evidence, however, that
the time honored rule of the sea,
women and children first" was vio-
lated. At least one of the survivors,
a Toronto newspaper man, gives evil
dence that there was no panic among
the crew and that the sailors acted
promptly in getting the passengers
into the ships boats.
Guard AGAINST SuPnriSa Attack
Apparently every precaution had
been taken against surprise attack
by submarine. Lookouts were on
the alert constantly as the giant
steamship speeded toward the Irish
coast. Difficulty was experienced in
launching the boats because of the
heavy list of the Lusitania almost i'm
after she was torpe6oed.
Several of the craft evidently capsiZed
as they were launched, or soon after
wards
Many of the passengers owed their
rescue to life belts which kept them
afloat until they were picked up by
boats. Among this number was Lady
daughter of David A.
the Welsh coal king" and
Julian De Ayala, Cuban consul gen.
eral at Liverpool
Investigation has failed to reveal
that the steamer was given warning
of the proposed attack, by the sub
marine, which appears to have been
lurking off the Irish coast bent upon
destroying the largest and fastest ship
engaged in transatlantic traffic.
Horror of the Crash.
The lookouts sighted the periscope
of a submarine 1000 yards away and
the next instant they saw the trail
left by a torpedo as it flashed on it's
Then came a terrific crash
as the missile pierced the liners side,
followed almost Immediately by an
other which Uttered the decks with
wreckage. The course of the liner
was at once turned toward shore.
Four torpedoes apparently were
fired, but only two of them found
their mark.
The loss of life caused by the tor
pedoeS themselves and the explosions |
they caused must have been terribly |
heavy. The tragic freight of bodies |
taken to Queenstown bears evidence |
of the havoc wrought.
Many of those taken ashore were |
seriously injured, and more than q |
score died after they were removed to !
Cork and Queenstown hospitals. A |
long line of Stretcher bearers marched |
ers arrived. The people of the Irish
city opened their homes to those who |
had been saved and everything pos
sible is being done for their comfort. |
Probably no event of the war has |
caused such intense excitement in |
London as the sinking OF the Lusitan-
a. Enormous crowds surrounded Off
ces of the Cunard line all night scan
ming the bulletins received from |
queenstown. The company announced |
hat an accurate list of survivors !
would be compiled as speedily as pos
sible, but that the immediate needs
Of those saved were being given first
attention. The press of London ex-
presses intense indignation at the
tragedy.