Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-05-11
GERMANS TERPHD0 AND SINK LUS|TAN|A
GIANT LINER GOES DOWN WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES AFTER
BEING STRUCK, CARRYING 1900 PASSENGERS T0A
WATERY GRAVE-NO WARNING is GIVEN.

| thrown into the water and rendered
helpless by their injuries and drowned
without a struggle.
The Germans are believed to have
used torpedoes of especially high pow
er on the Lusitania. The missiles
pierced the double plate of armor
about the big liner, entering her very
vitals.
/ All hospitals in Queenstown are
filled with injured survivors. AS fast
as they arrive they are being sent
to naval and military hospitals.
The same conditions prevail at Cork
Many sensational reports have
reached here from Kinsale, Cork and
Queenstown.
Every possible agency to care for
the passengers was opened. Naval
and military authorities gave civil Of
ficials all possible aid.
U. S. Consul George E. Chamberlain
is looking after the wounded Ameri-
cans at Queenstown and Cork.
Some were killed outright by the
force of the explosions. said survivors
reaching here. Among the survivors
are several frantic women on the
verge of madness from the horror of
the affair. The survivors were un-
animous in their praise of the cool
ness exhibited by Captain Turner.
Many rescued were taken to Queens
town by steamers.
Steward Describes Experience.
Describing the experience Of the
Lusitania, the steward said:
"The passengers were at lunch
two torpedoes, which struck the Lu-
sitania on the starboard side, one for
ward and the other in the engine
room. They caused terrific explo-
sions.
Captain Turner Immediately order
ed the boats out. The ship began to
l1SC DaQly lmm6uldLely.
"Ten boats were put into the water
and between 400 and 500 passengers
entered them. The boat in which l
was approached the land with three
other boats and we were picked up
shortly before 4 o'clock.
"There was Dbnly Is minutes from
the time the ship was struck until she
foundered, going down bow foremost
1t was dreadful sight"
The work of compiling lists Of those
saved is progressing slowly because
of the indescribable confusion at
Queenstown, but apparently few first
cabin passengers are among the sur
vivors.
First Cabin Loss Heavy.
The heavy loss of life among the
first cabin passengers is believed to
have been due to the calmness and
self-possession they displayed in face
of danger. Most of them were at lun-
cheon when the steamer received her
death blow and declined to join the
rush for the boats and life belts. They
believed the Cunard liner would re-
main afloat until assistance could ar
rive.
Apparently every precaution had
been taken against surprise attack
by submarine. Lookouts were on
the alert constantly as the giant
steamship speeded toward the Irish
coast. Difficulty was experienced In
the boats because of the
heavy list of the Lusitania almost i'm
mediately after she was torpedoed.
Several of the frail craft evidently
capsized as they were launched, or
soon afterwards.
Many of the passengers owed their
rescue to life belts, which kept them
afloat until they were picked up by {
boats. Among this number was Lady
daughter of David A.
Thomas, the Welsh coal king" and