The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-08
PROMINENT MEN OF THIS
COUNTRY PASSENGERS
ON BIG LINER
Greatest CONSERVATION Prevailed
and Many Anxious In
quiries Made.

NEW YORK. May THE first news
OF the torpedoing and sinking OF the
Cunard liner Lusitania came shortly
after p. m. to-day through an an
u,ouilceinent 10, from the local Offices OF
the Cunard line. which stated that an
unconnrmed rumor TO that effect had
Deen received from abroad. less
than an hour later the company made
public additional messages Confirming
.ne report. which in the meantime.
however, had been verified by newspa-
per dispatches from London
Conflicting reports came In during
the afternoon to the line and to news
agencies In regard TO the safety of
tne passengers, but until the early
nours OF the evening no definite infor-
nation as TO their fate had been re-
ceived here.
The publication OF the news created
tremendous excitement in Wall street.
and there followed a decline in both
the stock and cotton markets. Under
an avalanche OF selling orders. which
reached their greatest volume during
the last hour of trading, stocks fell
from 10 20 points, and cotton 81 so
Z bale. The so-called war stocks, like
fected.
The Lusitania, with a total OF .a5l
Passengers aboard. of whom 1ss were
Americans. and with a crew OF sic.
sailed from here last Saturday in the
race OF a warning published on the
oay OF Aer departure by the German
embassy. which stated that travellers
intending TO embark on British ships
did so at the risk OF the ships being
DESTROYED In accordance with the Ger
man war zone decree.
Warning Ineffective.
This warning. published In the form
OF an advertisement, did not result
IN the cancellation OF a single passage,
nor did anonymous notes OF warning.
sald 20 nave been received by some OF
tne passengers just before the big
liner left her pier. deter anyone from
sailing.
Reports from Washington that IL
was privately known I'm official quar-
ters that the Lusitania was to be tor
pedoed at the first opportunity gave
coIor 20 tne opinion expressed In ship
sys warning was intended 10 apply
particularly TO the Lusitania.
travellers intending to embark on
the Atlantic voyage" read the adyer-
tisement. ARE reminded that a state
OF war exists between Germany and
ber allies and Great Britain and her
allies; that the zone OF war includes
the waters adjacent TO the British
Isles; that, In accordance with formal
notice given by the imperial govern.
ment. vessels flying the flag OF Great
Britain or any OF her allies are liable
TO destruction in these waters. and
that travellers sailing In the war zone
on ships OF Great Britain OF her al
les do so at their own risk"
All this afternoon and tonight anx-
ious friends and relatives Of the Lfi-
sitania's passengers besieRed tho Of.
hces OF the tunard line and the scene
recalled those AZ the Offices of the
White Star line when the Titanic sank
three years ago.
Omcials Of the Cunard line an
nounced tonight that they had re-
ceived more than 500 telephone and
teleeraph Inquiries relative 10 the safe
~ Of the passengers. TeleRrams we're
received rom az far north aa Mon
treal. as far south as Atlanta. and "a
far west as 81 Louis
Well known Passengers.
Among the well known passengers
on the Lusitania are: Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt. Charles IT. Bowring. Of
New York. head Of the nrm on Row.
ring Bros. Alexander Campbell ron-
eral manager for John Dewar 4 sons
London; Ebert Hubbard. publisher of
Phllistinos ID. a. Thomas. the wealthy
Welsh coal Opcrutor. and his dauqh.
ter. Lady MaCkWOrth. an English fuf.
fragette, and the Rev Basil W. Ma
turin. of oxford. Eng.
MI. vanderbilt was among those
credited with receiving ANONYMOUS
letters OF warning. An doprccated fhe
possibility Of danger 10 the ship. and
Charles r sumner. general agent on
the line. announced M the time that
the Lusltauia's speed Of 25 knots made
toouanusa On Page rvSvsJ