Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-08
LATEST FIGURES

Queenstown, May 8-How women maddened with
fear assisted the lfeboas and how innocent and
children drawn to their death by the fearful under
drag when the Lusania sank while their cries of terror
swept the sea- is told today by Eason Myers of Satfod
Ontario, a survivor.
Il had just gone to the upper deck with friends for
game of QuOits" Myers said Zone looked the side
and shouted in alarm. He had seen streak coming
through the water.
There is torpedo coming right at usn he cried
'We watched the torpedo speed toward the ship un-
til it struck with terrific explosion We rushed to the
boat deck just huge quantity OF debris and masses Of
water fell around us.
-Four minutes later second torpedo struck. The
first enough to sink the ship but the second com
pleted its work.
MANY women were panic-strieken. | met one who
entirely crazy and helped her to a boat l jumped
aboard the boat and pulled for all we worth
When 200 yards away the Lustania sank. The shreks
Of the passengers she went down appalling We
saved many we could.
Ships bottom torn out and she sank like stone
Many Of the passengers with life belts in the water
but drawn down by the suction The last moments
were awful.
81 will never forget those awful teror-stcken cries
the ship plunged down. Later found mothers with
babes clasped to their breasts, all in death"
Ernest c. COWper of New York, a survivor, said:
"Just about o'clock chatting with friends Sud
denly sighted the coming tower of ubmarne about
1000 yards away, and almost Immediately we saw the
track OF the torpedo
1--WE watched its swirl as it shot outward toward the
liner 1t seemed hours, though it must have been only
seconds before it struck the ships side.
POfCOnS OF the null were sent 0yng IN the ar WlLll
a deafenng explosion, and almost Immediately another
struck. The ship began at to list to starboald We
fled to the boat deck where frantic preparations were
being made to launch the boats.'
Washington Active
Washington, May S.-The state department has ca
bled Berlin requesting the government to make formal
report of the Lustana sinking and expressed desire
that the report be based the statement of the
der of the submarine that attacked the liner if the Lus
ania sunk in that manner 1t virtually asks If Ger
many is responsible.
Bryan said "All need to tell the people is that we
arriving at the facts rapidly possible He posi-
lively refused further statement.
Fear Public Opinion.
Washington, May S-Chaman Flood of the House
Foreign Relations committee today refused to state more
than that the situation is serious He said American dip
omatic officials in touch with the situation have been
asked to report at
High officials conidentiay admitted that what they
fear most is public opinion.
Senator StOne chairman of the Senate Foreign Rea-
tons committee declared the Lusitana situation not
serious that caused by the topedong OF the American
British ship under the British flag, and that the Amel
aboard her after warning had been given The
Guf1ight an American ship
An air of calm waiting prevailed throughout the aft
at the state department. and officials ignored
quests for further statement No official statement had
been made by President Wilson up to late hour this
afternoon The general opinion to be that Germany
will have better legal defense of her action if she de-
stroyed the Lustania than in many former incidents
of the present war.
FrOhman's Body.
Queenstown, MAY 8-Charles FrOhmans body has
been found.
Last Summary of Affair.
London Nav S-Thrteen hundred and forty six
lives were lost when the Lusitania went down. according
tO figures available to the admiralty TONIGHT