The
Lusitania sank on May 7th 1915.
The
Local History Department at Ardrossan Library hold the Ardrossan & Saltcoats
Herald on microfilm from the mid 1980s back to 1857.
‘THE
LUSITANIA DISASTER
TORPEDOED
WITHOUT WARNING
AYRSHIRE
PEOPLE LOST’
A
submarine had been waiting, then 26 miles from Queenstown, the Lusitania
was torpedoed without warning at 2.15pm, 8 miles from the Head
of Kinsale. Less than 1hr the boat was sunk, SOS messages had been sent,
lifeboats
lowered and fishing and other craft were quickly on the scene
while
larger boats from Queenstown were later in arriving, in the
intervening
time passengers drowned. Officials show 1906 passengers, 746
rescued,
1142 went down. Among those drowned were prominent Americans
which
provoked resentment in America. The Germans claimed she was armed
and
warned. The Lusitania was never acquisitioned and totally unarmed.
FOUR
SALTCOATS VICTIMS
Mrs
Mary
Lambie
(nee Docherty), whose parents reside in Arthur St,
Saltcoats
was the wife of Daniel Lambie, who, prior to emigration to
Ronald,
Washington. She was a young woman, and had been abroad for about
5
yrs. Lately she had been in indifferent health and decided to return
home.
Along with her and her two daughters, aged 9 & 6 yrs, she embarked
on
the Lusitania for Liverpool. None of them ever reached port. The
husband
is still in Ronald, Washington, he is a slater to trade, and
served
his apprenticeship with Judge Christie, Saltcoats. By some means
or
another Mr Docherty, a brother of the deceased had information that
Mrs
Lambie was confined in an hospital in Southampton, and he proceeded
there
via London on Sunday. He learned on arrival that such was not the
case
and no further news has been received.
Mrs
Catherine Gill (nee Harris) was the wife of Mr James Gill, who was
killed
in a mining accident in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinios in
July
of last year. She was returning home to Saltcoats. Mrs Gill was a
native
of Stevenston and was well known in the district. She was buried
at
Queenstown on Monday.
STEVENSTON
LIVES SAVED
The
dastardly crime found anxious hearts in Stevenston, as on the liner
five
Stevenstonians had booked berths. Great excitement prevailed but
`Dame
Fortune` allayed and it somewhat, as first reports indicated no
lives
were lost. Alas! hopes were not been fully realised, as only two
of
the unfortunate natives escaped with their lives, were Mrs Catherine
Harris
or Gill, Miss Annie Dick, daughter of Alex Dick, Thistle and Rose
Hotel,
and James McKechan the six yr old child of Mrs M`Kechnie. Mr Dick
waited
in vain at Liverpool, but he was doomed to be disappointed.
Mrs
Robert McKechan is a daughter of Mr Campbell Ballantyne, Boglemart
St,
Stevenston, and had her children, James and Campbell with her. Miss
Dicks
name did not appear on the passenger list or the survivors, but
apparently
all uncertainty has been removed, as her late employers wired
she
was on board. Mrs M`Kechan was able to identify Mrs Gill, who had
apparently
been injured when the torpedo struck, and she lies in the
Queenstown
Cemetery. Mrs M`Kechan lost her boy James, 6 yrs old, who was
with
Mrs Gill. The sympathies of all are with the bereaved friends and
with
those passengers who passed through such a severe ordeal, an
experience
they will have no desire to go through again.
Thanks
to Hugh McCallum, Melbourne, Australia for this article
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