Part 6/8:
On that fateful day in May, the unsuspecting passengers were enjoying a leisurely lunch, unaware of the lurking danger that lay beneath the calm waters of the Atlantic. Amidst a backdrop of ominous warnings about active U-boats, the Lusitania’s captain opted to slow the ship to avoid arriving too prematurely at port. This decision ultimately left passengers vulnerable as the ship was struck by a torpedo, leading to catastrophic consequences.
The explosions ripped a massive gash in the ship's side, quickly taking on water and causing panic among passengers. Lifeboats struggled to launch amid chaos, with limited success. Illustrating the horror, only six of the twenty-two lifeboats could be launched, resulting in the loss of 1,199 lives from the 1,959 passengers onboard.