Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Sinking of the Lusitania - 2nd Block

The Lusitania




You are a up and coming Blogger who just happened to be on vacation in Ireland when the Lusitania was sunk. Your location and your occupation gives you the perfect opportunity to be the FIRST to present first-hand accounts of what happened to the Lusitania. Due to the nature of blogs you will want to keep your blog short and accurate.


ASSIGNMENT
Go through the numerous primary sources below and retell the story of the Lusitania. Include as many significant details as you can. Be sure to answer the basic questions of any story: Who? What? When? Where? Why?
What Happened?

What actually happened to the Lusitania and her passenger on the afternoon of May 7, 1915? The first reports of the sinking to reach America were confused and sketchy. Americans, particularly those who had friends or relatives on board, were eager for more information on the fate of their loved ones. Below you will find several different accounts of the sinking of the Lusitania.

Newspaper account: New York World on May 8, 1915.

The Cunard Liner Lusitania was torpedoed, supposedly by German submarines shortly after 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, near Munster, Ireland. She sank fifteen minutes later. The company states that no warning was given her. The Lusitania carried 2,104 persons when she sailed from New York. The meager, confused reports so far received make it uncertain how many of these have been saved. A steward of the first boat that reached Queenstown with survivors from the liner said he feared that 900 lives had been lost.

Newspaper reports account: Queenstown, Ireland on May 9, 1915:

“The tugboat StormShuttle has returned here, bringing about 150 survivors of the Lusitania, among whom were many women, several of the crew, and one steward. Describing the experience of the Lusitania the steward said:
‘The passengers were at lunch when a submarine came up and fired two torpedoes which hit the Lusitania on the starboard side, one forward and the other in the engine room. They caused several explosions. Captain Turner immediately ordered the boats out. The ship began to tilt badly. Ten boats were put into the water, and between 400 and 500 passengers entered the lifeboats. I fear that few of the officers were saved. They acted bravely. There was only fifteen minutes from the time the ship was struck until she foundered and sank, bow first. It was a dreadful sight.’”

Official ship diary of Captain Schwieger, Commander of the U-boat that sunk the Lusitania:

May 6, 1915
...The voyage to the St. George’s Channel had consumed so much of our fuel oil that it would be impossible for us to return (to German) around the southern end of Ireland if we had now continued to Liverpool. I intended to return as soon as two-fifths of our fuel is used up. I intend to avoid, if at all possible, the trip through the North Channel on account of the type of service which U-20 encounter there on her last trip. Only three torpedoes are still available, of which I wish to save two, if possible, for the return trip.
May 7, 1915
3:10 p.m. Ahead to starboard four funnels and two masts of a steamer with course perpendicular to us came into sight. Ship is made out to be large passenger steamer.

Submerged to a depth of 11 meters and went ahead at full speed, taking a course converging with the one of the steamer, hoping it might change its course to starboard along the Irish coast.

The steamer turns to starboard, takes course to Queenstown, thus making possible an approach for a shot. Until 3:00 p.m., we ran high speed in order to gain position directly ahead.

Clean bow shot at a distance of 700 meters (G-torpedo, 3 meters depth adjustment); angle 90, estimated speed 22 knots. Torpedo hits starboard side right behind the bridge.

An unusually heavy detonation takes place with a very strong explosion cloud. The explosion of the torpedo must have been followed by a second on board (boiler, coal, or gun powder). The super-structure above the point of impact and bridge are torn apart, fire breaks out, and smoke envelopes the high bridge.

The ship stops immediately and keels over to starboard very quickly, immersing simultaneously at the bow. It appears as if the ship were going to capsize very shortly. Great confusion ensures on board; the lifeboats are released and they are lowered into the water. In doing so, a great panic must have reigned; some boats, full to capacity, are rushed and sink immediately.

3:25 The ship blows off its excess steam; on the bow the name Lusitania becomes visible in golden letters. Ship was running 22 knots. Since it seems as if the steamer will keep above the water only a short time, we dived to a depth of 24 meters and ran out to sea. It would have been impossible for me to fire a second torpedo into this crowd of people struggling to save their lives.

Newspaper reports account: London Times on May 9, 1915

“Seven torpedoes were fired by the attacking German craft, one of them striking the Lusitania midship. This would indicate that at least two submarines were waiting for the ship, since the newest types of undersea boats carry but six torpedo tubes...”

Excerpts from three interviews with survivors of the Lusitania.

Oliver P. Bernard (passenger)
“I think I can say I was one of the few people who really saw a torpedo discharges at the Lusitania. Coming on deck from the dining salon, I was leaning against the starboard rail of the ship when I saw the periscope of a submarine about 200 yards away. Then I noticed a long, white streak of foam. It gave me the impression of frothy, sizzling water. Almost immediately there was a terrific impact, followed by an explosion.”

Dr. Carl E. Foss (passenger)
“I was traveling second class, and on May 7th, I was leaning against the port side of the ship, looking off towards the Irish coast. It was just at 1:30 that I noticed something low in the water about a mile away.”

Ernest Cowper (passenger)
“I was chatting with a friend at the rail about 2:00 when suddenly I caught a glimpse of the conning tower of a submarine about 1000 yards distant. I immediately called my friend’s attention to it. We both saw the track of a torpedo...”

25 comments:

  1. Mr. KLitzke's example of how to submit your blog.

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  2. On May 7th 1915 something horrible had happened, a huge ship had sunk. As the Lusitania was traveling off from Ireland to New York, the Germans fired torpedoes from their submarines. The Germans fired the torpedoes because they believed that the Americans and Europeans were carrying ammunition. When the journey had first started the amount of passengers was around 2,000. When the boat started to sink, around 2 o’ clock on May 7th, they estimated that about 1,000 lives were lost. The remaining passengers were brought back on life boats.

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  3. On May 7th, 1915 a tragedy happened near Munster Ireland, a German Submarine shot a torpedo at Lusitania (ship) that was heading to New York because they thought that the Americans and Europeans were holding ammunition on the passenger ship, so they shot Lusitania. Within 15 minutes she was sunk. She was carrying about 2,104 passengers, and about half of them lost their lives (1,198 passengers).

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  4. On May 7th 1915 the Lusitania sank within 15 minutes it got stuck by two torpedos. The Lusitania took off near Munster, Ireland carrying 2,104 passengers sailing to the area of New York, and a few miles after take off it was stuck. The Lusitania took off around 2 o clock and was just going to New York, the Germans has shot the boat with 2 torpedoes from a submarine. The Germans believed that it was a boat carrying supplies to the Europeans, which it was after it had dropped of the passengers in New York. This sinking of the Lusitania believed to have killed 900 people all together, many children, women, and men where killed. The lifeboat tried to save many people but with only 10 little life boats 400 to 500 passengers where on them. This came to surprise by many people, there was no warning and it was to believe that the torpedoes where shot only about 700 meters away from the boat. The boat tip immediately right after it got shot so many people had no time to thing of what to do. That is what many people believe happened to the Lusitania on May 7th 1915.

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  5. On the day of May 7th 1915.The Lusitania was hit by torpedoes from a German U-Boat. The Lusitania had left near Munster, Ireland and was bound for New York. The Germans fired the torpedoes at the Lusitania because they suspected they were carrying ammunition secretly on board the ship.The ship was hit at about 2 o' clock, after fifteen minutes it had sunk. The ship was carrying a little over 2000 passengers, of these 2000 plus passengers from Europe and America 1,198 lost there lives.The survivors of torpedoing were brought to safety by life boats.

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  6. On may 7th, 1915 the passanger ship the Lusitania was hit by two torpedos from a submarine. The two torpedos struck the ship causing many explosions within the ship. the captian said to deploy the life boats immediatly. There were a little more than 2,000 passanges aboard the ship. Out of those 2,000 the was thought to be about 900 survivors and out of those 900 there were about 130 that were american citizens. Just inocent people that were killed for no reason. The ship sank to to bottom of the ocean within 15 minutes of the impacts of the torpedos, this allowed for little time for the passanges to escape, therefore many many passagners died that day on May 7th, 1915.

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  7. On the fateful day of May 7th 1915 a great tragedy occured. The passenger ship Lusitania was sunk by a German Uboat. The Lusitania was heading towards New York when at about 2 o'clock a torpedo was lauched and hit the ship. Out of the nearly 2,000 passengers 1,198 were killed. Of those 1,198 128 of them were American. The ship had sunk completly within 15 minutes. The reason for this atrocity is still being speculated over but many believe that the Germans believed that The Lusitania was carrying Ammuntion to Great Britian. Those lucky enough to survive were brought back to shore by lifeboats.

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  8. On May 7th 1915 there were over 2,104 European people in a submarine. The submarine left New York a day before at 2:00 o’clock before they got hit by German’s. They were traveling to Kinsale near Munster, Ireland. The Europeans fired two torpedoes. It was a nice clean shot it was a distance of 700 meters, an angle of 90, about a speed of 22mph also Torpedo hits starboard side right behind the bridge. Ten boats were put into the water to get people out of the submarine and water; around 400 and 500 passengers went into the life boats so they can live.

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  9. On the day of May 7th 1915 a great tragedy had happend. The passenger ship Lusitania had been hit and sunk by tow torpedos from a German Uboat. The German's beleved that the americans and europeans had been carrying ammunitoin on the boat giveing them the reason to shoot at it. At around 2 o'clock the first torpedo hit the bridge of the boat crippleing it. As the life boats were deployed it is said that only 900 had survived with 130 of them being americans. It only took 15 min for the boat to sink brining with it many lifes as well those who survived made it there due to the life boats, there had been many lifes lost on that horrible day of May 7th 1915.

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  10. The day is May 7th 1915 and the passenger ship Lusitania is traveling to Queenstown Ireland when the ship was torpedoed by a German u-boat. Why Germany attacked ship was that they were trying to cut off Britain from supplies, so they would sink any ship that they though were carrying arms or ammunition to Britain. According to witnesses, there were two torpedoes fired that hit the ship due to the large explosion, but the German U-Boat captain logged that he fired only one torpedo. The explosion caused the Ship to sink so fast that they didn’t have enough time to launch all the life boats, So they loaded as many people as they could on each one, some were so heavy they sank and along with the people. Out of the 2104 passengers, 1198 passengers died also 128 of them were American.

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  11. Today on May 7, 1915 the Lusitania was sunk. This event took place near Munster, Ireland around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The Lusitania was hit with a torpedo that was fired by a German U-boat. It took 15 minutes to sink the Lusitania. Onboard there were 2,104 passengers with 900 lives lost when the Queenstown got there. The tugboat, StormShuttle, saved 150 survivors and brought them in. The rescued passengers were mostly women but there were also some crew and a steward. Before the boat sank ten of the lifeboats were put into the water and 400 to 500 people jumped in them. 1,198 passengers were killed and out of them 128 were American.

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  12. The ship Lusitania was attacked by U-boat German submarine the day May 7, 1915.
    The Germans suspected that the ship Lusitania was delivering supplies to the Allies, that was the reason for the attack.
    Lusitania was sailing to ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, near Munster, Ireland, when the attack happened, we know from good sources that this happened between 1:30 and 2 o´clock, the ship took 15 minutes to sink completely.
    The attack was made by a single torpedo which slammed into the starboard.
    The Lusitania carried 2,104 persons when she sailed from New York. 1198 died including 100 children.

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  13. The Lusitania, a magnificent ship hold 2,104 people traveling to Ireland. That day was cut short when today May 7, 1915 the Lusitania sunk. It was struck by a torpedo struck the side of the ship. The torpedo was fired by a German U boat (submarine). The German force's made it clear that they would attack any ship. The reason the thought that the Lusitania would be caring supplies to the allies. The Lusitania sunk very fast around 15 minutes. As the Lusitania sank a Tug boat named stormshutter came by and managed to get 150 people. Sadley 1,198 people including 100 children and 128 american's parised.

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  14. About 500 people were squeezed into the ten boats that they had available on May 7th 1915.The Lusitania was carrying about 2,104 passengers when this terrible event happened. At about 1:30 one of the passengers named Dr. Carl E. Foss had noticed that there was something low in the water was flying towards them. What he didn’t know was that there was a torpedo moving very quickly towards their boat. At 2:00 one of the passengers noticed a submarine in the water about 1,000 yards away from their boat. Oliver P. Bernard was also one of the passengers, he quoted “[..] terrific impact, followed by an explosion”. In total there were seven torpedo’s launched to the innocent passenger filled boat. In conclusion, although it may have been a deadly day an estimated 1,204 passengers arrived back home safely.

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  15. In the afternoon around 2 oclock on May 7 1915 something terrible happened to the people on the lusitania ship, it was shot with 2 torpedos by a German submarine. It only took about 15 minutes for it to sink. The Lusitania was located ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, near munster,Ireland when it was attacked. There was no warning for the 2104 passengers that this was going to happen. The Germans attacked the ship because they were proven to believe that there was ammunition for the allies side of the war and they didnt want it to get there so they shot it down. A steward from the first life boat that got to queenstown was feared that 900 lives have been lost. About 200 passengers died and over half of them were americans.

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  16. C. Sto.

    On May 7th 1915 the passenger ship Lusitania had been hit and sunk by torpedoes from a German submarine. The Germans believed that the Lusitania was carrying ammunitions to Britain to aid the Allies. At around 2 o'clock the first torpedo hit the ship damaging it. As the lifeboats were lowered it is said that only 900 had survived with 120 of them being Americans. It took 15 min for the boat to sink brining with it 1,200 plus people. Many lives were lost on this day.

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  17. On may 7,1915, a german U-boat launched 2 torpedos at the lusitania, who was carrying passengers. when the lusitania sank it was carrying with it to the bottom, 1,200 passengers, 128 of whom were american.

    ~M Sch

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  18. Yesterday may 7th 1915 the german torpedoed the ship and they were shot without warning. There were ten boats sent into the water. 100's of passengetrs went down with the ship. Many others drounded. Most of the passengers bodies that didnt make it were brought to queens town. Stay tuned for more information. \

    C. Ges

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  19. On the afternoon of May 7th, 1915, the ship called “Lusitania” was attacked and ultimately sank. A few witnesses were interviewed after the accurence. “I think I can say I was one of the few people who really saw a torpedo discharges at the Lusitania.” Says Oliver P. Bernard, who was a passenger aboard the ship that eventually sank after its attack. “Almost immediately there was a terrific impact, followed by an explosion.”
    “I was chatting with a friend at the rail about 2:00 when suddenly I caught a glimpse of the conning tower of a submarine about 1000 yards distant. I immediately called my friend’s attention to it. We both saw the track of a torpedo…” Recalls passenger Ernest Cowper.
    The ship was attacked just outside of Munster, Ireland, leaving only between 400 and 500 passengers survived out of the 2,104 original number.
    Seven torpedoes were fired at the Lusitania, only one struck it, but this one torpedo was enough to wreak havok on the ship and its passengers. Among the passengers included young children and elders, while 197 of the surprised victims were American soldiers. The corpses were recovered and brought back to the shores of Ireland. Bodies continued to was up along the Ireland coast.

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  20. On may 7th, 1915 the passanger ship the lusitania was on it way from ireland to new york when it was hit by a torpedo sinking the ship. the germans believed the ship was secretly carrying ammunition.when the boat was sunk around 2 o'clock on may 7th there was a little over 2,000 people on board and of those people they expected about 900 survivors.The survivors were brought to saftey by life boats.

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  21. On May 7th 1915, at around 2:15, the Lusitania was sunk just off the coast of Ireland. It was traveling towards munster. Two torpedos were fired at it and one hit it on the starboard side just behind the bridge by a German U-boat. It was a clean shot from 700 meters, at an angle of 90, and at 22 knots. They estimated that 900-1000 people died, including around 130 Ameicans, and that 400-500 people were saved. In the end, this was a terrible tradgedy.

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  22. On May 7th, 1915 the ship lusitania was on its way to to Ireland from New York and it was hit by 2 torpedo from the German. They thought that it was screctly carrying ammuntion, but instead they had passengers on board. Their was about 2000 people killed and within the 2000 there was a believe of 900 survivors and within the 900 that survive was 130 americans. the Lusitania sunk to the bottom of the ocean within 15 minutes. Therefore alot of people were killed by just 2 torpedo's.

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  23. On May 7th 1915, there was a passenger ship traveling from New York to Ireland. German U-boats have been watching the shores for some time now. Under the suspicion that the Lusitania was carrying ammunition or other supplies for the war they fired one torpedo which struck the side of the Lusitania underneath the bridge. There was a large explosion and the ship sank in about fifth teen minutes. There was over two thousand passengers aboard and there is reported to be over one thousands deaths at this point.

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  24. On May 7th 1915 the Lusitania sank within 15 minutes it got stuck by two torpedos. The Lusitania took off near Munster, Ireland carrying 2,104 passengers 130 were Americans, sailing to New York, and a few miles after take off it was stuck. The Lusitania took off around 2 o clock and was heading to New York, the Germans shot the boat with 2 torpedoes from a sub or U boat. The Germans believed that it was a boat smuggling supplies to the Europeans, which was the truth, that was later found out, after it had dropped of passengers in New York. This sinking of the Lusitania believed to have killed 900 people all together, many children, women, and men where killed. The lifeboat tried to save many people but with only 10 little life boats 400 to 500 passengers where on them. This surprised many people, there was no warning and it was to believe that the torpedoes where shot only about 700 meters away from the boat. The boat tipped immediately after it got shot, many people had no time to think of what to do. this is what many people believe happened to the Lusitania on May 7th 1915.

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  25. The two biggest boats afloat, the Lusitania and the Titanic went down. Evidently, bigger is not better. Let's see how the mammoth cruise ship, launched this year, fares.

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