Further Blue Riband Contests 165 



So sure of their prey were the Germans 

 that they warned intending passengers not 

 to travel on her if they valued their lives. 

 And so sure were our people of her superior 

 speed that they took little notice of these 

 warnings, and, worst of all, on a May day 

 in 1915, her captain was instructed to pro- 

 ceed at reduced speed as she approached 

 the Irish coast. Then came the swift 

 tragedy and one of the two finest steam- 

 ships we had ever produced was sent 

 quickly to the bottom with over a thousand 

 inoffensive men, women and children. 



But the going of poor " Lucy ", more 

 than anything else, brought America into 

 the War. Projects have been made for 

 raising her, but it is questionable whether 

 the thing could be done, or if done what 

 return the salvors could expect. Her hull 

 would be beyond repair, and there was no 

 such golden cargo aboard her as when the 

 Laurentic was sent to the bottom off the 

 north of Ireland. So ended the gallant 

 Lusitania, mourned by all ship lovers, 



