Little or no attention was paid to the warnings, only the usual number of persons canceling their reservations. The general agent of the Cunard Line at New York assured the passengers that the Lusitania’s voyage would be attended by no risk whatever, referring to the liner’s speed and watertight compartments.
As the great Cunarder drew near the scene of her disaster, traveling at moderate speed along her accustomed route, there was news of freight steamers falling victims to Germany’s undersea campaign. It was not definitely established, however, whether the liner was warned of danger.
GERMAN PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS
After torpedoing their ship the submarine shelled the lifeboats and jeered at the struggles of the helpless crew.
At two o’clock on the fine afternoon of May 7th, some ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, the Lusitania was sighted by a submarine 1,000 yards away. A second later the track of a torpedo, soon followed by another, was seen and each missile crashed into the Lusitania’s hull with rending detonations.
Many were killed or injured immediately by the explosions. Before the liner’s headway was lost, some boats were lowered, and capsized as a result. The immediate listing of the steamship added to the difficulties of rescue and increased the tragical toll of dead.
Much heroism and calmness were displayed by many in the few minutes the liner remained afloat. The bearing of Frohman, Vanderbilt, Hubbard and other Americans was declared to have been particularly inspiring.
Rescue ships and naval vessels rushed to the aid of the survivors from all nearby ports of Ireland.
It has been said that the sinking of the Lusitania was carefully planned by the chiefs of the German admiralty. They expected, it was believed, to demoralize British shipping and strike terror into the minds of the British people by showing that the largest and swiftest of liners could easily be destroyed by submarines.