by Laurel | May 25th, 2010
Note: RMS Lusitania was an ocean liner that was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on May 7, 1915. The ship sank in eighteen minutes, killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard. There were many well known passengers on the manifest including two of my personal favorites, Elbert Hubbard (Roycroft founder, an important part of the Arts & Crafts movement in western NY) and his wife Alice Moore Hubbard, a women’s rights activist. Image is in the public domain.
RMS Lusitania
May 25, 1915
Rev. James Fyfe Hears From His Mother, Who Was Saved When the Ship Was Torpedoed
Rev James Fyfe of Holyoke yesterday received a letter from his mother, who was one of the passengers saved when the Lusitania went to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Mrs. Fyfe, who is 66 years old, was returning to her home in Johnston, Scot., after a long visit in this country and her safety was entrusted to Cyril J. Wallace of South Hadley Falls, who also managed to reach the other side. Mrs. Fyfe writes that she has not fully recovered from her experience and will not for the present attempt to describe in full the details of the sinking of the ship, which she terms as indescribable.
Only passing mention is made of the sinking of the boat, and she dwelt upon the reception given the survivors at Queenstown and the meeting at the station with her husband and friends. Here and there in the letter are interjections in praise of God for her delivery from death. Little or no hope was expressed for the survival of Mrs. Fyfe because of her advanced age and great was the anxiety of her husband as well as other relatives who were at the depot to meet her. Fully one-half of the townsfolk turned out to greet Mrs. Fyfe on her return home.
From The Springfield Republican.
