When Lusitania was first launched in 1906, she was the largest ship ever build at 787 feet. She would hold that title for two years until another mega cruise ship was commissioned. Then a year later the Lusitania would earn the prestigious Blue Ribbon for completing a voyage from New York City, to Liverpool at a record breaking 45 Knots. The Lusitania was now famous for her speed and grace- giving passengers a comfortable but swift travel experience. Tragically, the ship famed for her tremendous speed would come to be known for sinking in less than 20 minutes.

Most would say the Titanic would be more widely known as the most famous ship to ever sink. The doomed ship never reached New York City and over 1400 passengers would perish is the freezing cold waters of the Atlantic sea. 

But it would just be 3 years later when the world would find itself in the grips of a potential World War. Simple cruises from Europe to the United states were now a risk to regular citizens but that did not stop cruise lines from selling their high-priced tickets. A first-class ticket could cost over $9,000 with inflation. This risk was no secret as the advertisements for the destined voyage warned of the danger. Once a playground for the wealthy and hopeful, the transatlantic was now a minefield of danger. 

“’My God, there’s a torpedo”

And, despite final warning to Captain William Turner about German U-boats sinking British merchant ships -Lusitania set sail on her 101st and final voyage. Five days after setting sail from New York, City, Lusitania was breathing the same air with disaster as passengers enjoyed a concert in the saloon of the ship- Germany had sunk a 1600-ton steamboat in their direct path. Captain Turner never wavered his damming confidence in his ship and continued through the threatening waters. Then on May 7th as the Lusitania steered into even more dangerous territory, Captain ordered the Lusitania to slow her speed as a heavy fog fell around the ship. After escaping the fog Lusitania stayed on course where German U boats had been known to lurk, Captain Turner decided to ignore advise to zig zag through the Irish coast to avoid an attack but instead he stayed on his pre- determined course- leaving the ship open for a strike. 

 German U-boat SM U20 shot a torpedo directly towards the starboard of the ship. One passenger witnessed the oncoming torpedo and was quoted as saying, “’My God, there’s a torpedo” as told by Patrick Vincent McGinley whose friend saw the oncoming torpedo. He also described the impact as violent. Chaos ensued from that moment the torpedo hit, Captain Turner was immediately incapacitated as a large wave swept him off a deck, rendering him unconscious. The electricity in the ship came to a sudden halt- leaving many passengers trapped below deck, now a giant coffin made of steel – there was no escape. Passengers left to fight for survival were scrambling for the lifeboats- with time running out, officers on the ship began losing control. This caused frustration while attempting to safely launch the lifeboats- as time continued to slip away, the sinking became more violent and even gruesome. 

Some survivors claimed that officers panicked while launching lifeboats, causing two to crash down a lower deck- crushing passengers below. And, with ship plunging in the ocean so swiftly, lifeboats became impossible to launch evenly, one lifeboat turned over- spilling dozens of passengers in the water. As the ships stern began to lift vertically- passengers began to jump off, one man hit a propeller on the way down- his leg ripped off from the pressure. Some passengers who tried to the cling to the decks would be sucked into the smokestacks of the ship- burning them alive. In less than 20 minutes, the Lusitania was completely under water. Those who survived the sinking were picked up by surrounding lifeboats, merchant ships or fisherman boats. Captain Turner was found unconscious clinging to a deck chair. 1,198 passengers were killed and 128 of those passengers were US Citizens. Germans forces had no qualms with their aggression as they believed the ammunition Lusitania was carrying was grounds for attack. The disaster would be a catalyst for Americans entering the First World War.

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Lusitania

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