The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-11
AMERICAN GIVES VIVID
ACCOUNT OF DISASTER
Torpedoe's Blow Was Followed In.
stantiy by Terrific Internal
Explosion
WIRELESS MANS HEROIC WORK
Equipment Put Out Of Commission BY
Explosion, He Rushcs Call for Help
With Emergency outfit--Dcath Of
the Ship.

tne snip.
London, May 1o.-Among the first
survivors 10 arrive in London was
Oliver r. Bernard. He had been in
America for six months in connection
4 with scheme for cooperative opera
to be conducted by Mr.. Quinlan on
American side. His wife is the well
known English singer, Muriel Terry
Bernard.
Mr.. Bernard has had considerable
experience as a practical sailor, and
was able to give your correspondent
a clear. connected account of his ex-
periences. He finished luncheon at a
quarter after two, and went straight
to the veranda Of the cafe. where he
leaned on the starboard rail. looking
| forward.
In a moment he saw something
above the smooth surface of the sea,
at distance of from 150 to 400 yards
from the ship. At first he thought II
was fisirs tail, but he noticed the
/ water seething q little around 1t, and
the idea struck him that it might be
a periscope. II was then forward OF
the Lusitania's bows.
! The realization of what 1t actually
was had hardly crystailized in his
mind when he saw the torpedo start.
He glanced at his wrist watch and
:, saw that It was exactly % minutes af-
| ter two.
He watched the torpedos frothy
track until the very moment of inn
pact
/ ut seemed to be just trickling
4 nj No sal tn A.
tempt to judge the pace of such a
thing coming towards onN but 1t
seemed to be travelling at about five
knots an hour.
1T was fred just as we came level
! with the submarine, and struck us
between the second and third tunnels
| under the forward cabins and the
bridge.
/ Describe Great Explosion.
The impact was terrific. could
feel the ship reel as II struck by a
huge hammer. 1t seemed to me the
torpedo must have penetrated clean
through. Then a terrific explosion In
| side blew right up through the four
decks. throwing up a great column
of coal dust. water and debris of all
kinds. 1t reminded me on a large
scale of the pictures showing mine
explosions in the trenches at the front
II dashed into the cafe just In time
for down came the huge mase OF
water, breaking down the outside
awning. Some supposed this was sea
water, but that is impossible. 1t was
undoubtedly the contents of the great
water tanks taken up by the ex-
plosion. I am sure only one torpedo
struck the Lusitania."
Mr.. Bernard said he had been
Joined by two men at the moment he
saw the torpedo.
There's a torpedo" they said. but
hardly seemed TO realize what 1t
meant
A lady Joined then, also. he said
who exclaimed, Us that really u
torpedo"
''she is friend of mine" said Mr.
Bernard. MIRA. Mason. a daughter OF
w. r. Lindsey. Boston manufactures
of military equipment. she was re-
turning to England with her husband,
and Engiishman. and prominent in
the iinseed old business. After the ex-
| plosion she was most anxious about
her husband. and wanted to so in
search of him. told her to stay
where she was, az NE was more
Ship In Total Darkness.
| The said, I will go and get you
q lifebeit.' and rushed below to my
cabin. The ship was in total darkness
Below the explosion OF the torpedo
had wrecked the engine room. and
/ put out every light in the ship.
'sFaliing from side to side, I
reached my stateroom. and being an
active man. managed to climb to the
top OF my wardrobe where were the
hfebelts. The wardrobe leaned over
me at sharp angle but / managed
to tug the belt out On my cabin I
saw Alfred g. Vanderbilt standing
outside the entrance to the grand ga
loon. He was cool as q cucumber.
wearing an immaculate lounge suit.
and he looked as IL he had been
starting for stroll in the park
Vanderbilt Perfectly Cool.
He wore no hat. and in his hand
he carried q large violet colored Jewel
case. It can hardly have been his, but
had just left the spot where he was
standing and the seemed waiting for
her. He was one Of the few perfectly
cool people aboard the ship, just as
he always was everywhere. That was
the last saw Of him
II returned to the veranda Of the
cafe by 4 shorter route. which ! had
forgotten when ! started, but Mrs.
Mason had gone. I have not seen her
since.
'All this was almost quicker than
can tell It, The crew and some of
| the passengers were now busy with
the boats. though these proved of
little use. There was no panic Women
and children were given first chance.
| II saw only one man. rough looking
and Of low type. evidently a foreigner.
Chamber into q boat before 1t was
lowered. He refused to get out and a
sailor struck him twice in the back
| with an axe.
IT made my way back to the top
mast deck and then to the funnel
deck. The only people thsre lwere
4 Marconi operators.
The Marconi operators were work.
Ing the emergency OUTFIT, the main
| Installation having been put out Of
gear instanteneousiy after the torpedo
exploded. They were still waiting for
q reply and were sending out the
| B, Q. 8. call all the white. 6
/ II looked out to sea and saw amaIl,
/ practically undressed. floating quietly
on his back. evidently waiting TO be
picked up rather than to take the
chance Of getting away In : boat. He
I gave me An idea. and took on my
jacket and waistcoast. put my money
/ In my trousers pocket, unlAcad my
No. a. = q = = ~. ~.