Lusitania page 1 by ric Gustafson
Pier 54 on the Hudson is located off the western end of Manhattan. It was one of four piers operated by Cunard Steam Ship Company of Liverpool England.
It was Saturday May 1 1915 and Captain William Thomas Turner was standing on the bridge of the huge liner. He knew that in a few days the liner would be full with about 2,000 people including 1,265 passengers. Turner knew that this trip across the Atlantic was risky. He knew after reading the New York Times that this would be the largest Europe bound trip with passengers in a single vessel since the year began. The war in Europe was now in it's tenth month.
Fully loaded, the liner was 44,000 tons and had a top speed of over 25 knots. From the very beginning, the ship became an object of national pride for Cunard. The liner went on it's first transatlantic in 1907. By the end of April 1915, it had completed 201 crossings across the Atlantic.
research help: ' Dead Wake' by Erik Larson
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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