The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-10
Americans to Aid Needy Sur.
vivOrs of Lusitania.
Little Hope That Death Tolls
Will Be Reduced.
THE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE
Led Passengers to Believe
There Was No Danger.
Disposal of Vanderbilt's Estate
Causes Much Speculation.

New York May 10.-Relatives and
friends of passengers on the Lusitania
were on hand at the Curard line Of
fices early today hoping for good
news. Some were rewarded when the
company posted a revised list of sur
vivors containing a number of addi-
tionaI names; the hopes of others
were dashed when another list was
posted containing the names or 1den-
titled dead. Officials of the line
feared the toll of dead would not ma
terially be reduced below present Ils-
ures.
steps to raise funds for the benefit
of needy survivors were taken mere
with the appointment of a reilef com
mittee by Acting Mayor McAneny.
Cleveland H. Dodge was named chair
man and Frank A. Vanderlip, treas
urer.
given up for lost, there was some spec
ulation today as to the probable dls-
posal of his vast estate. estimated at
from SIS, 100000 to 500, 100000. Mr.
Vanderbilt leaves three sons-W1ll1an
H. Vanderbilt, born in 1901, to ms
first wife, Ellen French Vanderbilt,
and Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr-,
and George, born to his second wife.
who was Mrs Smith Hollins McKim-
Identify the Dead.
London, May 1O.-"The only prob
lem now is to identify the nameless
dead"
Thus Superintendent Dodd, of the
Cunard company, dashed any hnger-
ing hope that there might be further
survivors of the LuSitanla-
So far as can be aScertalned, ABOUT
700 persons escaped when the Lus1-
tania took her fatal plunge, after be
ing struck by German torpedoes, but
of these As since have d1ed from eX-
roll as estin ated here totals well up
to 1900.
Lord Mersey is to conduct an in
quiry into the sinking of the vessel
and until it begins official opinion as
to how the Lusitania came to be
caught and why so many lives were
lost. will remain secret.
The general unofficial opinion is
that several German submarines were
assigned to the task of attacking the
liner and that they maneuvered her
into a position where she could not
escape.
Passengers say that for some time
before the first torpedo was fired, the
Lusiiania had altered her course and
they aScribe this to the fact that one
of the German submarines had shown
herself, sending the big liner in the
direction where other underwater
craft were waiting to strike with their
deadly torpedoes. These submarines,
type, of probably 1,4OO tons and much
more powerful than any possessed by
other navies.
Ships Continue to Sail.
Beyond anger at the Germans. the
catastrophe has had no effect on the
British people. Steamers are arriving
and departing as usual and even the
steamers to Ireland are being freely
patronized.
The heavy loss of life on the Lusi-
tania was due, in the belief of rescued
passengers, to the fact that some Off
GERS at least reassured them after the
first torpedo struck home, that the
Lus1tania would remain afloat and
could make Queenstown. Prepara
tions. it is true, were made to launch
the boats, but before this could be
done, a second torpedo hit the steamer
and she listed so badly that the crew
could only work the boats on one side
of the ship.
Another factor was the extreme
confidence of the passengers them
selves in the infallibility of the water
tight compartments. According to a
steward, they would not believe. even
after the second torpedo struck, that
the ship would go down and realized
their position too late. Then it was
that many jumped into the sea; the
great majority to perish.
Others, including many of the first
class passengers, were in the cabin at
the time and went down with the ship.
The LuSitania was not in the Brit
ish navy list for April among the mer-
chant vessels commanded naval
auxiliary craft and the officials of the
Cunard company deny that she ever
was used for that purpose.