The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-09

j avenae the Americans who lost their
lives by this violation Of all known
rules Of international warfare, shall
feel like renouncing my citizenship"
he said. "This was murder, criminal
murder. And Count Won Bernstorff
was the criminal premediator Of It.
~ saw the first boat launched over
the port side OF the sinking Lusitania.
II Was filled with woman and itttie
children. it Was. dashed 70 pieces
against the listing side Of the ship
just before the davits could be cast
loose. These women and little chill
dren were drowned before my very
eyes.
"When the first explosion took place
was In the saloon. Dishes ratified to
the floor. yelled to the stewards to
close the ports and rushed to the port
boat deck. After seeing the first boat
over side, which capsized, ! helped
line up the women in that vicinity TO
be loaded in the next boat. then ran
to my cabin and kicking on my shoes
attached the life belt to my body. BY
the time was able to get back on
the deck the Lusitania was in her
death throcs. ! jumped into the wat
er. The ship literally seemed to be
falling on me. I swan rapidly and
finally turned on my back and floated
while ! watched the final plunge. She
seemed to shudder for minute and
then her bow disappeared and slowly
turning over to starboard she went
down bow first.
q" grabbed some Of the wreekage
and held on for time. Finally | was
able to Get into one Of the colIapsibIe
life boats which was 50 old and rust.
ed as to be almost unusabIe. With
the aid of two men whom I picked
up, rowed around and collected thir-
ty-two persons, including Charles e.
lauriat Of Boston, and several won1-
en-. We stayed afioat until we were
picked up by fishing boat"
Another story by A. j. Byinston
concurred in by S. NJ. Knox, Of Wash
inston, president Of the New York
Ship Building Co., explained why the
first cabin passengers were 30 ioath
to leave the Lusitana.
THOUGHT SHIP UNSUITABLE.
1--WE believed the Lusitania unsink-.
able said 6yington. 1--WE made no
effort to hurry to the life boats after
che was hit After listing heavily to
SIdTpOdTO Snc ocGUISQ IL VIC cSSdo'~'
and most Of W assumed that the wat
er tight compartments were holding.
Finally she's began to tremble and we
realized that the end was near and
djved overheard. We were completely
exhausted when we were finally pick
ed up"
"There are about nifty Americans
scattered among the four hotels here
In Queenstown and others In the iod9-
ina houses All are penniless, but
the military attaches from the en-
bassy In London have made arrange
nents to furnish money AND eve71
thing else that may be needed. Tor
their relief.
One Of the first bodies identified was
that Of Or. F. r. Pierson OF Lowell,
Mass. which was in the moraue at
the Cunard docks. It lay beside that
Of a youno woman Of about thirty who
was tightly eIasping her dead baby to
her breast.
Fishing craft and TUG boats are
searching for bodies all along the
coast Of Ireland. Those who have
brought bodies here describe the en-
tire scene as horrible. Many are seen
fIoatino around with life belts attach
ed to their bodies their heads and
shoulders out OF the water and their
GRAY features with sea-weed caught
In their hair shining ia the reflection
Of the late afternoon sun on the water.
Every captain Of rescue ship who
haa been on the scene and returned,
SAYS that only Almighty Providence
naved anv lives. II the water had