The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-10

nourishment In front of the small
Cunard line offices on the water front.
crowd surged, clamoring for news
of father. mother. brother or sister.
Further down the street. a crowd
crammed the small government tel
egraph Office where three clerks and
three operators strove desperately TO
keep abreast OF the ever growing
stream of messages.
In four morgues lay the dead, wo-
men in some cases side by side with
children grouped like toys. The body
of Charles Frohman, the clothi2g
watersoaked. but his features placid.
lay face upward in a bare room in an
old building on the hillside a hundred
yards from the waters edge. Around
him We're arranged fifty bodies or
both sexes. over which attendants
were bending. sorting and ticketing
their belongings.
Those men best fitted to chronicle
the last moment of the Lusitania, III
bert Hubbard. Justus Miles Forman.
Charles Frohman. Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt and others. apparently ali
went to their graves with her
Various Speed Estimates.
The Lusitania's speed at the time
she was struck is variOusly estimated
from eight 10 twenty-one knots. Wnen
forced, the liner could do twenty-five
knots. outstripping even fastest and
latest submarines. hence II Is the be-
lief OF survivors and Cunard line Of
hcials that a battery Of underwater
craft. numbering perhaps four or five
lay in wait in the clear sunshine OF
Arrar
the route which IL was believed the
vessel would take. Il was easy TO
keep all but the tips OF the periscopes
submerged and then for the craft
nearest her TO let 20 torpedoes.
The first train to arrive here yes
terdsy morning carried attaches or
the main Cunard line offices at Liv-
erpoOl. including Captain William
Dodd. the marine superintendent. ana
Dr. Duncan Morgan. the medical su-
perintendent The former busted
himself with relieving the material
wants Of surviving passengers ana
crew and the identification OF the
dead. while the latter attended the
injured. several Of whom were sur
fering from severe wounds ana
shock
Every train for Kingstown and
hosslars carried Compliments OF sec
ond and third class passengers and
members Of the crew Most Of the
hrst cabin Passengers. sadly few IN
number VIII remain here temporarily.
The townspeople have been gener-
ons DO extending aid ana sympathy TO
the SURVIVOR. none Of whom was able
20 save more than the clothes on his
back. Many are dressed as they
would have been 81 the disaster had
occurred at night. for the explosion
and the long struggle I'm the water
virtually denuded them.
captain Turner appeared yesterday
morning ln civilian clothing donated
by a local banker who has extended
the hospitality OF bis home 20 the
commander Later In the sav he
dressed in the stained uniform which
had been dried. and walked with
bowed head down the streets rpcog.
nlzcd by few among the crowds.
Why No Convoy.
Queenstown was almost az much
dared By the tragedy az those aboard
the Lusitania. The question on every
hp o. Why aid Captain Turner pur.
cue the usual well known Crnard line
course so close Co the Irish coast at
medium speed. and why was not the
biz liner conveyed"
Several naval officers hero state
mat the Lusitania received wireless
orders 90 take course in the middle
channel. but the ships wireless opor-
atnr declines 90 say whether he re-
ceivod such orders.
All day long morbid crowds eur.
rounded the temporary morgues
where the bodies Of 100 victims await
identification. Although few have
been identified. many bear evidence ~
having occupied the first class cabin.
In striking contrast % most bic.
toric sea disasters. the rate OF NOR.
ialtty among fret class passengers
seems 90 be heavier than among any