The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-05-13
OYER 1900 PASSENGERS ARE DROWNED
One of the Greatest Sea Disasters In
the History of the WorId-About
1870 Americans Are Lost

s''S ~ W ON .
Il Americans lost .......... 1870 Il
81 !.
i. i. i. + !. 1. i. !. j. !. !. !. j. ]. j. !. ],
London, May 10.-The Cunard liner
Lusitania, which sailed out OF New
York city on May / with more than
1900 souls on board, lies at the bot.
tom OF the ocean, off the Irish coast.
1t was sunk by a German submarine,
which sent two torpedoes crashing in
to her side, while the passengers we're
having luncheon.
How many Of the Lusitania's pas
sengers and crew were rescued can
not be told definitely, but the official
statements from the British admiralty
have accounted for slightly more
than 700.
The ships steward, who landed
with others at Queenstown, gave 1t as
his opinion that 1900 people were
lost. There were dead and wounded
among those brought ashore and
some since have died.
The Lusitania was steaming along
about ten miles off Old Head. Kin
sale, on the last leg Of her voyage to
Liverpool, when about 2 p. m. a SUBJ
marine suddenly appeared and so far
as all reports go fired two torpedoes
without warning at the steamer. One
struck near the bows and the other in
the engine room. The powerful agents
Of destruction tore through the ves-
sells side, causing terrific explosions.
Boats already were swung out on
the davits and were dropped over
board and were speedily filled with
passengers who had been appalled, by
the desperate attack.
A wireless call for help was sent
out, and Immediately rescue boats Of
all kinds were sent out from the
n~eighboring points along the coast
and Queenstown.
But within fifteen minutes, as n
survivor estimated, the Lusitania had
disappeared.
Where Great Britain's fastest mer.
chant vessel went down-Old Head,
Kinsale-is a landmark that has
brought joy to many traveelrs, as 1t
always stood as the sign from shore
that the perils of the voyage across
the Atlantic were at an end.
The line, whose boast has been
that 1t has never lost a passenger in
the Atlantic service, has now lost
the ship that lodged the lurking
enemy of Nantucket light the day
after war VAS declared and later
startled the world by flying the Stars
and Stripes.
There is no question In any ones
mind that 1t wa a submarine that
caused the disaster. There Is infor-
nation at hand that persons on shore
near Galley Head did see the subma-
rine at that point.
Furthermore the steamer Narragan-
sett (supposedly an American ship at
3:45 p. m, saw a submarine believed
to be the one that hit the Lusitania.
She fired a torpedo at the Narragan-
sett, but It passed ten yards astern
and the vessel got away and went to
the assistance Of the Lusitania sur
vivors.
Queenstown harbor was virtually
cleared within fifteen minutes OF the
report of the first S. o. s. call Of all
movable craft, particularly smaller
boats. Fishing vessels also gathered
and it is judged here that there was
no lack of assistance.
At 2:3O what was apparently the
last wireless message left b Lusf-
tania. 1t was a curious message and
indicated that the wireless operator
at least, who probably was not under
direct supervision Of his officers at
that moment, didn't know just where
he was. 1t said, I'VE think we are
of Kinsale. Big list. Come with all
haste"
There can be no doubt that the Luz
sitania's officers knew where they
were. The Lusitania Wa not due, &C
cording to the schedule which has
been followed since shortly after the
var broke. out when the rnn waa
lengthsned from about four 'dAye -
seven or more. ~ tho po1nt Wheeo
= s,,nk- until ohouts tWon1ys1ouk