The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-05-13
THE LUS|TAN|A GOES
Down WITH LOSS Of
OVER 1900 LIVES
ONE OF THE GREATEST VESSELS
AFLOAT THE VICTIM OF GER
MAN SUBMARINE TEN MILES
OFF COAST OF IRELAND FRI
DA YAFTERNOON.

One of the most horrible sea disas-
ters in history occurred Friday after
noon shortly after o'clock, when the
English vessel, the Lusitania, went
down ten miles off Kinsale, Ireland,
resulting in loss of about 1900 lives.
The vessel was the victim of a German
submarine that had been lying in wait
for it.
The Germans celebrated the victory
by declaring holiday for the schools.
They claim they were justified in sink
ing the Lusitania because that vessel
carried practically half million dol
lars worth of ammunition and arms.
The Germans likewise claim that they
believed the vessel to be armed, tho
this is denied.
The German consul had caused ad-
vertisements to be inserted in the New
York papers prior to the sailing of the
vessel, warning all those who contem-
plated taking passage, that the vessel
would be sunk. No less than fifty an
onvmous messages were received by
those who had made arrangements to
sail. declaring that the vessel would
never reach port. =.
The Lusitania sailed with total of
1900 people, including about 1900 pas
sengers. A number on deck saw the
periscope of the submarine not more
than 1000 yards away and in an IN
slant a torpedo was seen sklmmlng
across the water. Four torpedoes IN
all were shot, two taking effect. Inc
hull of the vessel was pierced and the
explosion which occurred shook the
vessel from stem to stern. WITHIN
fifteen minutes, the Lusitania had
found a watery grave. The crew be,
haved we'll. The passengers renamed
calm, and were assured by the stew
ards that the vessel could not sink:
The vessel sank rapidly, however, and
listed so badly that the life boats on
one side could not be lowered. Several
of the frail life boats were capslzed
after striking the water. Many OF
those who lost their lives, were wo-
men and children, tho they were given
preference when the life boats were let
down. The sea was very calm, other
wise not soul would have been saved.
Many were killed or seriously in
iurd by the explosion which took place
when the torpedoes struck and many
of those injured died after arriving
at the hospital at Kinsale.
Captain Turner of the Lusitanla was
picked up after he had been in the
water three hours. He renamed at
his post until the vessel settled be-
meath the waves. Many refused to put
on life preservers, believing that the
air tight compartments could never
let the vessel sink.
,ao,r +ho nassenpers. there were
1876 Americans and Of this number l33
are said to have been lost. Many OF
these were very prominent. Charles
Frohman, the theatrical producer, was
one who went down. He was on his
way to England to make arrangements
to bring some new war plays to Amer
ica. Ebert Hubbard, publisher OF tne
Phillistine and the Fra, also lost ms
life. He had been warned, but de-
.clared that if the Lusitania was tor
pedoed, it will prove good advertising
for his publications. Hubbard was on
his way to the front to secure material
for his publications.
Charles Klein, the noted playwright.
who wrote "The Lion and the Mouse"
and "The Third Degree" went down.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, son of Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, and one of the coun-
trv's richest men, also lost his life.
Last seen he was helping passengers
into the life boat, much the same as
John Jacob Astor, the millionaire, who
lost his life when the Titanic went
down.
The Lusitania was one of the fastest
and most magnificent vessels in the
world. It was 100 feet long, 88 feet
wide. and 80 feet deep to the boat
deck, It was 155 feet high to the fun
nels and PIG feet high to the mast
heads. It cost $1O,OO0,000 and was
insured for $1,000, 900.
Queenstown, May 1O.-A whole
regiment of British soldiers today
completed the digging Of three huge
graves in which 140- odd unidentified
dead will be buried tomorrow. go,
The moving Of the bodies up the hill
viii continue four hours and the FUN
eral procession is marching to the
graves with the lyast bodies.
Many children and little babies lie
in the morgue like so many dolls. The
townspeople covered them with flow
ers today.
Aside from the recovery of the
bodies Of Nine. LePage and Frohman,
no trace has been found Of other nota-
.ble persons on the Lusitania which
were reported lost from the first.
The body of Mrs. Anthony Watson
of New York was added to the list Of
identified American dead.
William Webb, a representative Of
Alfred Vanderbilt, wanted to send out
tug last night and continue the
search for Vanderbilt's body, but the
admiralty and Cunard line officials dis
couraged the plan. There is no indica-
ton as to when the search for bodies
will be resumed.
Some on crutches, many limping