Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-08

hour, these aplendid steamships marked
tho greatest advance that has taken
place in steamship construction.
No less remarkable than the size and
speed OF these ships are their passenger
Recommendations. Apart from the pala-.
tial character. the most striking feature
ls spaciousness. the great size OF the ships
and their height between decks enabling
a provision of generous allowance of
space per passenger far exceeding that
afforded On, ether vessels. This 10 ap-
parent not only Ia the public rooma and
entrance halls, but also in the private
rooms. corridors, promenadee. etc. The
design, decorations and furnishing Of
the passenger accommodations were en-
trusted TO recognized experts, who
achieved results at onco tasteful. artis-
tic and luxurious In short, these ships
merit the title OF floating palaces"
Fate of Passensers Unknown.
No definite news as to the fate OF the
passengers has been received by the
cunard line here early this afternoon.
The cunard line announced that It
would make public as fast as received
all dispatches on the sinking OF the
Lustania, including those relating 70 the
fate of the passengers.
Tho stock market was stunned by the
news. A torrent of selling orders poured
I'm from every section of the country. A
period of intense excitement followed.
Prices In war specials broke fifteen TO
thirty points within an hour Stable is
sues dropped five to ten points.
Late today the Cunard line officials re-
ceived a dispatch from Queenstown, stat
ing that a large steamer and many small
vessels and boats were in the Vicinity
rendering assistance.
Many Boats 20 Rescue.
The dispatch follows;
Large steamer Just arrived in vicin-
ity. Apparently rendering assistance.
Tugs, patrols, etc. now on the spot TAX
ing boats in tow. Motor fishing boats
with two Lusltanla boats bearing prob
stly for Kinsale"
This information came from Old Head
via Queenstown.
The news struck official Washington
like a bomb. Administration offiaiais, II
was said. realized that the incident was
the most serious faced by the govern
ment since the beginning OF the war
President Wilson was informed Of the
sinking OF the liner and white House
officials, while refraining from comment
iEg. were keenly anxious to learn II any
American lives had been lost
Passengers Believed safe.
LONDON. May THE cunhrd line
steamer Lusitania. from New York MAY
/ for Liverpool. with 1.2bs passengers or
board. was torpedoed at about 2 o'Sloci
this afternoon at point about ten milei
off old Head, Kinsale, ireland. and latei
went down
| Il Is believed that it's passengers arr
safe. No details OF how they may hav,
been rescued. however. are at hand. On
message received here says: 1T Is no
known how many OF the Lusitanis's pas
sengers we're saved"
Relief was Immediately sent out from
Queenstown. II Il floated a reasonable
length OF time before going down. It Il
possible that some OF the rescuing ship
got 10 It's side. II is believed that tn,
Lusitania's watertight bulkheads woulC
tend 10 keep II afloat.
Two hundred OF the passengers on
board the Cunard0r were transferred 20 Il
from the steamer Cameronia before Il
left New York.
The presence Of German submarines In
the transatlantic lanes OF travel has been
indicated by the sinking during the last
few days OF other British vessels of
the Irish coast.
II was the Lusltania which. last Feb
ruary made use OF the American flag tC
protect It from possible attack on the
part df the German under-ses boats. The
4
eight miles off the Irish coast when II
went down.
Warmed of Presence of subseas.
The presence OF German submarines OF
the southern coast or Ireland and alonf
the line OF travel the Lusitania woult
CONTINUED on Page Two. Column Two.)