Editor’s note: This narrative draws on historical records and eyewitness accounts to tell the story of the Lusitania’s final voyage 110 years ago.
Let’s travel back in time together.
Saturday, May 1, 1915
Chelsea Piers, New York Harbor, New York City, New York
The RMS Lusitania is setting sail on her 202nd voyage. The crossing will take her from New York to Liverpool, England.
She is expected to arrive in a week.
She carries 1,959 passengers and crew.
In the midst of World War I, her funnels are black. She was previously going to be requisitioned for war, but her owners, the Cunard Line, see her as more fit for passenger service. Cunard has a reputation for being one of the most luxurious shipping lines in the world. It’s rivaled by the White Star Line.
On board the ship is a 27-year-old American opera singer named Amelia Anne “Millie” Baker. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on Dec. 23, 1887. She has been training in vocal performance in France and Spain since 1909. Her hope is to make her debut with the Opéra-Comique, a French opera company known for spoken dialogue and arias. The most legendary opéra comique is “Carmen,” a tragedy.
The ship is captained by William Thomas Turner.
May 2-6, 1915
An uneventful voyage thus far.
May 6, 1915
On board RMS Lusitania
We are entering the declared “war zone” between Ireland and Great Britain.
Capt. Turner takes precautions by instituting a blackout at night, covering skylights, posting double lookouts and closing watertight doors. He orders the lifeboats to be swung out for quicker launching, if necessary.
The British Admiralty issues a general warning of active U-boats 20 miles south of Coningbeg Light Vessel.
May 7, 1915
The Irish Sea
On board RMS Lusitania
We are in a fog.
11 a.m. GMT
The fog clears.
Capt. Turner orders the ship to change course to a four-point bearing, which is used to pinpoint exact locations.
For two hours and 40 minutes – the same amount of time it took Titanic to sink – we are on this bearing.
1:40 p.m. GMT
On board RMS Lusitania
Capt. Turner says he recognizes the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland. We are reverting to our previous course.
2:10 p.m. GMT
11 miles from the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland
The sea appears calm.
A torpedo strikes the starboard side.
The strike is from SM U-20.
SM stands for Seiner Majestät, German for “His Majesty’s.”
2:11 p.m. GMT
On board RMS Lusitania
A telegram is sent:
SOS. SOS. SOS. COME AT ONCE. BIG LIST. 10 MILES SOUTH OLD KINSALE. MFA.
The letters MFA do not mean Master of Fine Arts in this context. Each ship is assigned a three-letter code known as a call sign. The call sign for the Lusitania is MFA.
2:28 p.m. GMT
The Lusitania sinks.
A total of 1,201 people are killed, including 128 Americans. Among them is Amelia Anne “Millie” Baker, age 27.
The captain of the U-boat, Walther Schwieger, wrote:
“Clear bow shot at 700 meters … Shot struck starboard side close behind the bridge. An extraordinarily heavy detonation followed, with a very large cloud of smoke (far above the front funnel). A second explosion must have followed that of the torpedo – boiler or coal or powder? … The ship stopped immediately and quickly listed sharply to starboard, sinking deeper by the head at the same time. It appeared as if it would capsize in a short time. Great confusion arose on the ship; some of the boats were swung clear and lowered into the water.”
His entry continued:
“Many people must have lost their heads; several boats loaded with people rushed downward, struck the water bow or stern first and filled at once … The ship blew off steam; at the bow the name ‘Lusitania’ in golden letters was visible. The funnels were painted black; stern flag not in place. It was running 20 nautical miles. Since it seemed as if the steamer could only remain above water for a short time, went to 24 meters and ran toward the sea. Nor could I have fired a second torpedo into this swarm of people who were trying to save themselves.”
Today, the legacy of the RMS Lusitania still endures, 110 years after her fateful torpedo strike. Her sinking reminds us that no matter how hard things are, we can push on. We can move forward, but history is forever.
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