The star-independent. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, May 08, 1915, Image 1

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    THE WEATHEB
FAZB TO-NIOHT
AND TOMORROW
BttilM Hefart Pa** (
SEa""""" VOL. 77—NO. 133.
1,216 Is Latest Estimate of Death
Toll on the Torpedoed Lusitania
Horror Equals If Not Exceeds
Awful Calamity That Befell
the Titanic Three Years Ago
—Heartrending Scenes As
Giant Vessel With Its Toll
of Human Freight Sinks Be
neath Waves—Two Torpe
does Struck Doomed Vessel,
Says Toronto Newspaper
Man Who Was Among Sur
vivors-He Declares There
Was No Panic Among the
Crew and Latter Proceeded
in Prompt Manner to Get
Passengers Into Boats-List
of Survivors As Sent By U.
S. Consul From Queens
town-A. G. Vanderbilt
Among the Prominent Men
Lost
By Associated Press,
London, May B.—The latest available information in
dicates that about two-thirds of the persons on board the
Lusitania lost their lives.
The number of passengers is given by the Cunard
steamship representatives in New York at 1,254 and of the
crew as 865, a total of 1919. The number of survivors now
accounted for is 703. This indicates a death list of 1,216.
Hopes that the list of persons saved may be materially
increased were dashed by an announcement from the Brit
sh Admiralty that all but one of the rescue fleet which
put out from Queenstown had reported and that there was ;
little prospect of news of further survivors.
Of the 290 first-class passengers it is now believed only
T6 were saved. No word has been received of Alfred G.
Vanderbilt, Charles Frohman and other prominent men
who were aboard. The story of the Lusitania came in
>lo,wly owing partly to the confusion prevailing at Queens
town, where most of the survivors were landed. No in
formation was available as to how many of the Americans
3n the Lusitania had gone down. Stories told by survivors
seemed to confirm the earlier report that the Lusitania
lad been struck by two torpedoes.
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin was directed to make in
quiry of the German government concerning the sinking
Df the Lusitania.
While the situation is regarded at Washington as
a serious one on account of the loss of American lives, it is
expected the government will await the receipt of official
nformation from Germany before deciding upon further
steps.
h»f^ n « d fl ra ! ty . t Statement given out in London shortly
before 6 o clock this morning placed the number of sur
vivors at 658.
At 1.50 p. m. there was received in London a report
from Ireland that 45 more survivors had been brought into
Queenstown. If these 45 persons were not included in the
total of 658 announced by the Admiralty the total of
recorded survivors up to the present time is therefore 703
Queenstown, Via London, May 8,
10.16 A. M.—The various craft that
yesterday afternoon went out from here
to the scene of the Lusitania disaster
returned to Queenstown last night and
early to-day. All of them brought sur
vivors in greater or lesser number. It
is now estimated here that six hundred
will be the outside number of those
caved. No trace has been found here
®lj£ Mat" Mbtptnbcni
of either Alfred G. Vanderbilt or
Charles Frohman.
The latest rescue boats to arrive are
bringing mostly bodies of the dead
picked up from the water at the scene
of the disaster. The dead now here
number ISM, and many of them are
women.
The naval and military authorities of
Queenstown are rendering every assist-
HARRISBURO, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 8, 1915 12 PAGES,
ance possible in the removal of the
dead and in assisting the injured to
hospitals. The manager of the Cunard
Line has taken ample hotel accommoda
tions. as well as rooms in lodging houses,
and there the survivor* are being sent.
Awful Scenes in Queenstown
Queenstown has never witnessed
such a scene before. The dead are be
ing conveyed to morgues and under
taking establishments and numbers of
motor cars have been brought into serv
ice to take the injured to hospitals.
The less seriously injured are being
helped ashore by sailors and soldiers.
Both men and women rescued, if they
are able to walk, refuse to remain in
their hotels. They haunt the docks,
waiting and watching for friends and
relatives.
Many of the survivors are still be
wildered from their terrible experiences,
and their accounts of the sinking of the
Lusitania are not entirely clear. It is
to be noted, however, that one and all
united in eulogising the manner in
which the ship's officers behaved.
Crew Works With Heroism
Five minutes after the Lusitania was
hit with the second torpedo amidships
she had listed to such an extent that
the life boats on one side could not be
launched at all. The work of getting
as many people as possible, for the most
part women and children, into the only
boats that could be got clear was at
once undertaken by the captain and
officers and men of the Lusitania and
performed efficiently and with heroism.
The scene as the big liner went
down is described by the survivors as
heartrending beyond words. Battling
for life, the passengers called to rela
tives and friends or bade each other
good-bye.
Collect Bodies of Floating Dead
The small boats which had gotten
away from the side of the liner picked
up a good many survivors who, wtth
life belts or clinging to wreckage, were
floating on the surface of the water.
But soon the boats all were crowded.
These boats were in turn picked up by
rescuing steamers coming at full speed
from shore points, but in many cases
four and more hours elapsed before tn«
rescuers reached the scene.
In many cases the only work left for
the rescue workers to do was to collect
from the water the floating bodies of
the dead. Several passengers were ta
ken aboard trawlers severely injured,
only to die before they could he trans
ferred ashore.
A. C. VANDERBILT, ELBERT
HUBBARD AND MANY OTHER
NOTABLES REPORTED LOST
New York, May B.—Many persons
notaible in the business or social life
of New York City were among those
whose names were missing from the
list of survivors of the Lusitania made
public by the line here and at Queens
towiT.
Of those not reported as being saved
Alfred G. Vanderbilt is one of the most
widely known. Inheriting the bulk of
the estate of his father, estimated at
$70,000,000 to $100,000,000, he is
one of the most wealthy men in New
York. Also Elbert Hubbard, editor of
the "Philistine," author of essays and
publisher at East Aurora, N. Y., who
is known throughout the country as
"Fra Elbertus."
Charles Frohman, theatrical manag
er and producer, whose name had not
been included among the survivors was
another passenger. He was accompan
ied by Justus Forman, playwright and
author. Charles Klein, one of the best
known American playwrights, also ac
companied Mr. Frohman.
Herbert Stuart Stone, elder son of
the general manager of the Associated
Press, is another American passenger
not accounted for. Y'oung Mr. Stone
was well known as the one-time head
of the book publishing firm of H. S.
Stone & Company, and the founder hnd
editor of the "Chap Book" and "The
House Beautiful," two successful mag
azines.
Among others whose names had not
been included in the list of survivors
were:
A. L. Hopkins, president of the
Newport News Shipbuilding Dry Dock
Company.
Dr. Pearson, a well-known American
engineer, also one of the Lusitania's
passengers, was associated with Com
mander Stackhouse as one of the back
ers of the expedition. Dr. Pearson, who
jrtie accompanied by his wife, for a
visit to England, was interested large
ly in Mexican railways.
Commander J. Foster Staokhouse,
head of the proposed British Antarctic
Ocean Society, which con
templated a seven year trip to chart
the Southern Seas. Commander Stack
house came over here last summer to
Beek the assistance of Americans in
the enterprise and purchased the ex
ploring ship Discovery for the purpose.
The fruition of the expedition was de
layed b_y the war.
BRITISH ADMIRALTY CIYES
BUT STATEMENT IN WHICH
IT SAYS 1,500 WERE LOST
London. May B.—Fifteen hunflred
persons lost their lives the British Ad
miralty estimates, when the Cunard
Line steamship Lusitania was torpeitoorl
yesterday afternoon off Old Head Kin
sale, on the Irish coast. The known
survivors number only 658. while there
wore 2,100 souls aboard the great liner
when she was attacked. Of those who
were saved, 395 were landed at
Queenstown and 11 at Kinsale, while
52 others aie reported to bo aboard
a steamer. All but one of the rescue
fleet of torpedo boats, tugs and trawlers
which went out from Queenstown have
reported. There is a slender hope that
fishing boats hay have rescued a few
more.
In addition to the living brought
ashore, the bodies of 4 5 who died of
injuries or were drowned have been
landed at Queenstown. Five more arc
at Kinsale and it has been reported
that an armed trawler, accompanied by
two fishing boats, lias picked up 100
others.
Declined to Join Rush for Boats
The heavy loss of life'among the
first cabin passengers is believed to
have been due to the calmness and self
pessession they displayed in face of
danger. Most of them were at lunch
eon when the steamer received her
death blow and declined to join the
rush for the boats and life belts. Thev
believed the Cunarder would remain
afloat until assistauce could arrive.
Apparently every precaution had
been tnken against a surprise attack
bv a submarine. Lookouts were oti the
alert constantly as the giant steamship
Coatlnued on Twelfth l'aicr.
SURVIVORS, PARTLY CLAD.
HAD CAST ASIDE CLfITHINC
ASTHEYPUTON LIFEBELTS
Dublin, May 8, 6.24 A. >M.—Many
of the Lusitania's survivors who lauded
at Queenstown were only partly clad,
having cast aside as much clothing as
possible when they donned life belts.
Most of the men, women and dhildren
helped asihore by local bluejackets still
wore these belts. One woman more than
seventy years old was taken from tho
water after having been kept afloat for
some time by the life belt she wore.
"I was talking with Mr. Winters of
the Cunard line when the ship was
hit,'' said Charles C. Harnwick, of New
York, who has crossed the Atlantic
sixty-one times. "Winters got into boat
No. 17, whUnh overturned and flhen
swam to boat No. 19. Most of the
saloon passengers were at luncheon and
the proportion saved was small. Mrs.
M. M. Pappadopoulo, who was on her
way to Athens with her husband, swam
for a long distance toward shore before
she was picked up. She believes her hus
band was drowned."
Julian De Avala, Cuban Consul Gen
eral at Liverpool, although one of those
badly injured, swam about for a long
time and came ashore wearing only his
underclothing. He climbed into three
different boats but apparently the first
two overturned.
Bertram .Jenkins, of New York,
helped two women into a boat, which
•overturned as it reached the water,
but later he saw one of the women,
Miss Branded, an opera singer, at
Queenstown.
CAPTAIN TURNER, ON BRIIMiK
UNTIL SHIP SINKS, RESCUED
London, May 8, 8.02 A. M.—Captain
Turner, of the Lusitania, stood at his
post on the bridge until his Ship went
down and was rescued three hours aft
erward wearing a life belt, according to
D. A. Thomas, the Cardiff, Wales, coal
magnate.
"Our course was shaped for shore im
mediately after the torpedo struck,"
'he said. "There is a difference of
opinion as to whether the steamer was
struck by more than one torpedo, but
I heard only one.''
Many Survivor* in Serious Condition
London, May 8, 10.32 A. M.—A
number of survivors have been landed
by fishing boats on Sovereign 'aland
in the vicinity of Galley Head. Many
are in a serious condition and it is
feared that some will not survive.
Says Lusitania Was Not Armed
London, May 8, 1.51 P. M.—The
British government to-day made the
following announcement: "The state
ment appearing in some newspapers
that the Lusitania was armed is wholly
false.''
Page Say B Vanderbtlt Perished
London, May 8, 10.24 A. M.—Al
fred G. Vanderbilt apparently perished
when the Lusitania went down, ac
cording to a message to Ambassador
Page from the United States cpnsul at
Queenstown.
Frohman's Body Recovered
Queenstown, May B.—The body of
Charles Frohman. the theatrical mana
ger of New York, has been recovered
and brought to (Queenstown, where it
is now being embalmed.
LUSITANIA ON PREVIOUS
TRIP MADE v EVERYTHING
READY FOR AN ATTACK
Tending to show that the captain of
the Lusitania, on her voyage from this
country which immediately preceded
the one which ended yesterday whin
the great liner was sent to the bottom
by a torpedo, A. M. Keane, of 167
Paxton street, this city, gave out to
day further details of a letter received
from his sister, Miss Nora M. Keane,
who sailed on the Lusitania on the pre
vious trip. Brief reference to this let
ter was printed in the Star-Indepen
dent yesterday. While much of the
letter is of a personal nature Mr. Keane
made public the substance of that part
of the communication which is of spe
cial public interest at this time.
According to Mr. Keane the letter
states that on April 9, while the Lusi
tania was sailing toward Liverpool,
and was off the coast of Ireland, the
captain ordered forty-eight life boats
to be placed in readiness, as if in fear
something might happen. The cap
tain, however, assumed an optimistic
attitude, telling the passengers that no"
danger was anticipated.
During the voyage three engines
were constantly jn use but on April 9
the fourth was ordered in readiness,
and immediately the firemen and engi
neers steamed it up ready for instant
use. For two nights before landing all
lights on the outside of the vessel were
extinguished and the decks were in to
tal darkness.
Miss Keane further wrote that much
anxiety was shown among the passen
gers and everybody was in a state of
nervousness, although the captain in
sisted there was no danger.
Miss Keane sailed for Ireland on the
Lusitania April 4, the vessel being de
layed' one day in starting from New
York, due to a heavy gale off the coast.
She wa* accompanied to New York by
her broWier, A. M. Keane, one of five
brothers who are Pennsylvania Kail
road engineers in this city. Mr. Keane
remained. in New York until the steam
ship set sail. He said he had never
seen such a large number of people
leave New York harbor or any ship be
fore. He said most of the passengers
on that voyage were from Canada. Miss
Keane went to Ireland to visit her
mother, who is ill.
TWO TORPEOOES STRUCK
LUSITANIA. SAYS TORONTO
SCRIBE, WHOWASRESCUED
Queenstown, May 8, 3.18 A. M.—A
sharp lookout for submarines was >;ept
aboard the Lusitania as she approached
the Irish coast, according to Ernest
Cowper, a Toronto newspaper man, who
was among the survivors landed here.
He declared that after the ship was
torpedoed there was no panic among the
crew, but that they went about the
work of getting passengers into the
boats in a prompt and efficient man
ner.
''As we neared the coast of Ire
land,'' said Mr. Cowper, "we all joined
in the lookout, for a possible attack by
a submarine was the sole topic of con
versation. 1 was chatting with a friend
at the rail about 2 o'clock when sud
denly I caught a glimpse of the conning
tower of a submarine" about a thousand
yards distant. I immediately called my
friend's attention to it. Immediately
we both saw the track of a torpedo fol
lowed almost instantly by an explosion.
Portions* of splintered hull were sent
flying into the air and then another tor
pedo struck. The ship began to list to
starboard.
"The crew at once proceeded to get
the passengers into boats in an orderly,
prompt and efficient manner. Miss
Helen Smith apf-ealed to me to save her.
I placed her in a boat and saw her
safely away. I got into one of the last
boats to leave. Some of the boats could
not be launched as the vessel was sink
ing. There was a large number of wom
en and children in the second cabin.
Forty of the children were less than a
year old."
STOPS WAR PICTURES
Police Captain Thompson Requests
They Be Not Shown To-day
Captain of Police Joseph P. Thomp
son to-day requested managers of mo
tion picture houses to refrain from
showing films containing war pictures
because of a possible demonstration in
the audience in view of the sinking of
the Cunarder Lusitania yesterday off
the coast of Ireland.
A news film containing war subjects
shown in one of the Market street
movies last evening was received in sil
ence. Captain Thompson thought it
best to be on the safe side.
Defines an American Citizen
London, May 8, 4.39 A. M.—Dis
cussing editorially the Lusitania dis
aster the "Standard" says:
"An American citizen is an Ameri
can citizen whether he b« a compara
tively obscure passenger on a West
African liner, the captain of a tramp
steamer, or a millionaire traveling in
on a transatlantic floating pal
ace. But the mere vastness of the Lusi
tania disaster cannot fail to impress
Washington with a more vivid sense of
its responsibility."
United States Government Directs
Ambassador Gerard to Ask the
German Government for Report
of Sinking of the Lusitania, As a
Basis for Whatever Action May
Be Taken By This Nation—Wash
ington Officials Admit Situation
Is Very Grave—President Is Deep
ly Shocked But Will Take No
Steps Until All Available Informa
tion Is at Hand—Believed Ger
many Will Hold the Lusitania
Was a Belligerent Vessel—Special
Session of Congress Is Discussed
Washington, May B.—Shocked and
appalled by the tragic aspect of the
Lusitania disaster as hourly develop
ments disclosed : ts magnitude and far
reacihing possibilities, with the prob
able loss of 137 American lives, Presi
dent Wilson and his advisers are wait
ing for all facts and for a crystalliza
tion of public opinion to aid in laying
out the course the United States will
pursue in this latest international eom
iplication—the gravest the President
has faced since the outbreak of the
European war.
Nowhere in- administration circles is
there any disposition to minimize the
situation, but President Wilson while
seeking facts hope® that the country
will assume an examining attitude and
reserve full judgment until all complete
information is at hand.
As more details began coming in
activities at the White House and the
executive departments of the govern
ment disclosed how much administration
officials realize the tensity of the sit
uation.
Secretary Bryan cabled Ambassador
Gerard at Berlin to ask informally the
German government for its report on
the disaster and t-o Ambassador Page
at London he sent messages urging re
newed efforts to aid the suffering and
to gather information.
President Wilson, while he went to
the golf links for his recreation, left
strict instructions to be notified ot any
important dispatches. Cabinet officers
who had planned a week-end holiday
away from Washington concelled their
plans.
A Belligerent Vessel?
Chairman Stone, of the Senate For-
COAST GUARD SAYS VESSEL
SANK WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES
Cork, Ireland. May 8, 6.04 A. M.—
A coast guard who witnessed the sink
ing of the ship believes she sank within
eight minutes. His story is confirmed
by a Cork farmer who was working
near Old Head Kinsale when he heard
shots and, looking seaward, saw a
steamer with her bows in the air. He
said hardly ten minutes later she
keeled over on her side and sank.
A resident of Ardfield estimates the
ship was five miles from shore when
he heard the crash of the torpedo when
it pierced her side. For a moment she
seemed to move slowlv straight ahead,
then turned suddenly and then stopped,
her bow sinking and the stern rising.
Then she keeled over and disappeared
from sight. W T ithin a few minutes ten
boats had reached the spot where she '
went down.
The trawler Daniel O'Connel, while;
fishing, came upon two of the Lusitan- !
ia's boats, containing 65 passengers,
mostly women and children, in a de
plorable plight. The trawler took the
boats in tow and was proceeding with
them to Kinsale, when it was intercept
ed by government tugs, which took the
survivors to Queenstown.
Trawler Sunk by a Submarine
London, May 8, 8.15 A. M. —A dis
paitch to the "Central News" from
Alberdeen says the Bteam trawler Ben
nington, one of three which escaped
from a German submarine, was sunk toy
shell fire from a submersible off Aber
deenshire at 4 o'clock yesterday (Fri
day) afternoon. The crew was saved
by a Norwegian steamer.
POSTSCRIPT
PRICE ONE CENT.
oign Relations Committee, issued »
statement counselling calmness and ad
vising "don't rock the boat." Chair
man Stone pointed out that qualifying
circumstances must be taken into con
sideration because the Lusitania was a
belligerent vessel, but he considered
the attack on the American steamer
Gulflight a mut'h more serious offense
aga ; eutral rights.
. -v, _ .-csident, -Secretary Bryan and
other members of the Caibdnet were
visibly depressed. Persons who talked
witih them found them sick at heart and
grieved at tho horror of the catas
trophe. Notwithstanding that warnings
•had been given, it bad been regarded
as inconceivable by high officials that
the threatened sinking of the vesaol
wo.iVI actually be carried into effect.
The fact that the Lusitania was a
British ship, flying the British flag and
o.ven had contraband of war altoard,
did not remove from their minds the
ever recurrent thought that a hostile
submarino deliberately destroyed the
ship with the knowledge that hundreds
of defenseless neutrals and women and
children were aboard.
An Unprecedented Attack
Everywhere that aspect oversrhad
j owed the legal fihases of the ease, for,
j while there is said to be no precedent
in international law for the attack
without warning on a belligerent mer-
I chant ma n, it was realize that defense
might be made on the charge that guns
were mounted on the deck. That, how
ever, the British government has de
nied.
In mainy quarters it was thought
probable representations to Germany
will be general, covering all the cases
of attack on American vessels. It was
pointed out that the case of the Gul
flight, also torpedoed without warning,
with a loss of three American lives
might he made the basis for action oy
! the United States, but that the l,usit
| ania incident the death of l,eon C.
, Thresher, an American, on the British
j steamer Falaba, and the attack by
| German airmen on the American steam
. er Gushing, might he grouped as an
indictment by the American goverit
| iiie-nt against Germany for failure to
i observe the rules of international law
Continued on Twelfth Page,
RUSSIAN CITY OF LIBAU IS
CAPTURED BYTHE GERMANS
Berlin, May 8, Via London, 3.50 P.
M. —Official announcement was made at
the German War Office to-day that the
city of Libau, in the province of Cour
land, Russia, haul 'been captured by the
Germans.
In the capture of Libau the Germans
have gained one of the main objects of
their invasion of the Baltic provinces
■of Russia. This movement, undertaken
within the last fortnight, was designed
to occupy Libau and Riga, two of tho
principal Russian ports on the Baltic,
which would enable the Germans to
harass Russian communications with
Petrograd.
The German movement in this quar
ter was one of the surmises of the new
spring campaign. Petrograd dispatches
have made it appear that this attack
was regarded lightly in the Russian
capital.
China Has Not Yet Replied
Tokio, May 8, 11.30 A. M.—The
Japanese Foreign Office announces this
morning that it hail received no in
formation as to the nature of China '•
reply to Japan's ultimatum.
Von Bernstorff in Seclusion
New York, May 8 —Count Von
Bernstorff, German Ambassador to the
I'nited States, who reached this city
last night, remained in seclusion to
day. It is understood that he left or
ders not to be disturbed.