The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-15

ious eyes were turned to the bridge
The first flush of the excitement had
just passed when there arose a more
ominous cry from the deck, There's
a torpedo coming straight at US"
From the point where the submarine
sank q great white streak-the tract:
OF the torpedo, was traced. 1t was
aimed slightly ahead Of the Lusitsnia,
but as the liner plunged forward at
side. Suddenly cry arose from scat.
tered points of vantage on the star.
board side, There's a submarine"
About thousand yards off the star
board bow passengers saw breaking
tho sun glinted surface the sleek hull
OF a dreaded underwater craft. 1t
rested for Tut q moment o. the sur.
face. !hen cs quickly ST. on,erged.
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 fiocked to the
great speed, the track seemed to veer
more and more toward a point amid
ships until it struck fair between the
first and second tunnels.
There was a great tearing Of metal,
followed by terrific explosion in the
stoke hole. The ship trenbled from
stem to stern. The planks seemed to
rise under foot. Then the liner set
tied as IL sorely wounded. A grea.
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 Through Bow.
But before she could answer to her
helm a second torpedo pierced her
bow. About four minutes intervened
between the two. Some passengers
state that not only a second, but a
third torpedo struck the ship. 1t is
generally believed, however, that the
explosion Of the second torpedo was
mistaken for the impact of a third.
1t was while the ship was making
Il knots with a heavy list to star
board that the order was given, I'M
mediately after the second missile
struck. to lower the boats.
Among the saloon passengers rela.
tive calm prevailed. It was the gen.
orally accepted idea that the Lusi-
tania would float. Cool heads coun-
seled calm and the more timorous
were quietd. Many Of the first cabin
passengers went about their depart
ures leisurely, some even remaining al
the table until luncheon was con.
cluded.
Below the scene enacted was wide
ly different Women. many of their
with babies in their arms, became
panic-str1cken. 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
boats fouled the davits or could not
be swung out to clear the side.
MaeIstrom Sucks In Lives.
A swirling maelstrom sucked In
upon hundreds of lives. A
great hole seemed to open up where
the Lusitania had been and into n
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
a 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.
sumo that nearly every one in the wa
ter within a radius Of 100 yards of
the ship when 1t sank was caught In
the underdrag.
Many Of the boats which were over.
turned had been righted with great
difficulty. To others still bottom up.
swimmers clung helplessly. MANY
chung to wreckage. Boats cruised
about. picking up the survivors. TIE
first OF the rescue boats to arrive
was trawler. Quickly the first boats
were emptied and then showed of with
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 dice
on the way in.
Finally upwards of 20 boats were
put into the water. Several were
others were capsized in the
swell from the ship. Life belts had
been distributed among the passen.
gers, but many passengers did No,
wait to equip themselves with tn.
preservers. Some jumped over tbe
side and were drowned, others leaned
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