We Remember: The Sinking of the Lusitania

Titanic Connections Remembers: The Sinking of the Lusitania

Let’s remember that, on the afternoon of May 7th 1915. Cunard’s RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by U-20 at 2:10pm. One torpedo struck her on her starboard side just aft of the bridge.

The liner, the only one of the big Atlantic steamers still plying passengers routes, carried 1,960 on board, including many famous names such as theatrical producer Charles Frohman and American-French Actress Rita Jolivet.

Under her davits, Lusitania carried 48 lifeboats, enough for everyone aboard, but the lifeboats became useless quickly due to the ship’s near-instantaneous list. Lusitania, heeling to starboard and with her engines no longer answering telegraph orders from above, became inoperable.

Lifeboats fell from the decks of the ship, crushing people in the water to starboard and on deck to port. Only six of her lifeboats were successfully launched from the davits, but one was swamped and sank. This lifeboat contained Avis Dolphin, who was later rescued.

Only 18 minutes after the torpedo struck the ship the Lusitania sank 12 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale on the coast of Ireland. Of the 1,960 passengers that were on board, 1,198 perished, including 94 of the 124 children that were making the voyage from New York. Amongst those lost were also Charles Frohman and the wealthy American Alfred Vanderbilt.

The RMS Lusitania was an ocean liner. She was torpedoed by a German Navy U-boat during WWI on 7 May 1915, about 11 miles (18 km) off Ireland. After the torpedo struck, a second explosion occurred inside the ship, which then sank in only 18 minutes. 761 people survived out of the 1,266 passengers and 696 crew aboard. 1.198 perished. The footage belongs to her last and ill-fated departure from New York. Music: Chaconne in G minor, Tomaso Vitali. Video Colourized by: Nineteenth century videos. Back to life.

TITANIC CONNECTIONS

Titanic Connections Remembers: The Sinking of the Lusitania