Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-08

queenstown, May S,-ThHlling, har.
rowing stories of the scenes aboard the
Lusitania Immediately after the big
Cunard liner was torpedoed by II Ger.
man submarine off kinsale Yesterday
were told here today by survivors
picked up by fishing vessels. All agreed
that the LusitUnia was attacked with.
out the slightest warning. The pas
sengers were at luncheon when ter
rifle explosion was heard This was fol-
lowed by Il second within few minutes
and the liner Immediately began to sink.
Some passengers declared she went
down within twelve or fifteen minutes
and all ngree that the vessel disap
pcarcd from sight within 20 minutes.
ID. A. Thomas, Welsh coliery own.
er told the story of the disaster graph
ically
" We were having luncheon when sud.
denly the vessel stopped and shook
from stem to stcarh," he suid "There
was tremendous explosion well for.
ward which seemed to throw the liner
on her beam ends.
we had not believed il possible that
an attack would be made but there wns
not passenger who did not realize that
the unexpected had happened.
"Ihc first explosion was followed
by another Of equal force. The steamer
shuddercd and almost Immediately be.
gan to list to port
No Panic Evident.
"Officers and men rushed from their
statcrO0ms almost without waiting for
orders aud the work of clearing the life
boots began. There was little panic 10
far as / could see; everyone was too
du2ed to realize what was happening
For few minutes we were inclined to
believe the stories we had heard of
the liners safety might prove true and
that she would stay aflout. But n con.
slantly increasing list Of the vessel
showed that there was small hope.
" Many passengers were running here
and there about the decks, though Cap.
tain Turner and his officers tried their
best TO pacily them. Many women be
came hystorlcal, and some, with infants
in their arms, caught the fnstcnings Of
the boats, hamperng the launching.
Altogether ten boats were finally
swung over the side. Indy Muckword
was picked up unconscious after having
been in the water for three hours.
No Warning Given
We had no warning Of the atlack. T.
The Lusltania sank within twelve or
Fifteen minutes after being bit the first
time
1t was dostardly outrage deserving
HE condemnation Of the entire civilized |
world. Friday was a beautiful sun
shiny day The sea was smooth. Had .
Il not been for this, no one would have |
been saved With "a rough sea all would .
laye been lost
''l doubt very much whether any port
Ii1e boats were launched. They were
IA such II position that they could not
DC swung over the side. The stcamcr
leaded for shore the moment the explo.
ion occurred and Captain Turner stuck
% bis bridge 10 the last. He WAS picked
lp in the water three hours after the
.usitanin foundcrcd.n -
Ernest Cooper newspapcrman Of
Toronto. Ont, snid:
90 am afraid that many boats could
rot be- cut away In time The vessel
nnk very rapidly and carried many
,cople down with her. There was
naturally some confusion, but | saw no
enl panic. A large number Of women
md about 30 children under one year Of
ge were among the cabin passengers. -
Passengers Suffer.
Wrapped In a blanket, and entirely .
without clothing, Julian DE Ayaya, ca.
lan consul at Liverpool, was extremely .
hccrful today despite 'he fact that he I
vas suffering from great gash In his |
eR from which blood was streaming |
Ic east aside his clothing that he |
noycments in the water might not be /
II boarded three boats before ! fin |
.lly got off the sinking steamer In safe
~ said DE Ayaln. "Tho only reason
was saved was that remained quiet
md trusted In the Lord. prayed that
might be spared for the sake of my
hrce children who are IN convent In
liverpool believe that mony nude /,
10 effort TO get into the lifcboats, be
ieying that the steamer could not be
Junk. "
Scenes at the quay as survivors ar.