The construction of the RMS Lusitania was begun in September 1904. She
was launched on June 7th, 1906 just fourteen months, three weeks, from the
laying of her keel. During the whole period of construction her progress was
eagerly watched by all interested in shipping, the vessel having aroused - by
reason of her size, her magnificent accommodation, her speed, and turbine
engine - worldwide attention.

On September 7th, 1907, the Lusitania sailed from Liverpool to New York on
her maiden voyage; and it is no exaggeration to say that never before had
such widespread interest been taken in the first sailing of any liner. Fully
200,00 people witnessed her departure.

The cheering of the vast crowds, supplemented by the steam whistles and
sirens of all the shipping in the river at the time, as the leviathan moved from
the Stage, and slowly disappeared into the darkness, made this
epoch-marking event a most memorable one. 

From the first, the Lusitania became a great favorite with Atlantic travelers,
and no wonder, for in addition to her speed, she was so luxuriously appointed
that her passenger accommodation was the acme of comfort, and well
merited the description of a ‘floating palace’.

Her decorative and architectural features compared with those of the world’s
finest hotels - lofty domes, fashioned and painted by expert decorators,
panels prepared by skilled workers, handsome tapestries, curtains and
carpets. The First Class Dining Saloon was a vision in white and gold. The
style was Louis Seize, and the predominating colour was vieux rose. The
magnificent mahogany side board, with its gilt metal ornaments, was the
admiration of all who saw it, while high above towered the wonderful dome
with painted panels after Boucher. The Lounge was decorated in late
Georgian period, and the fine inlaid mahogany panels, richly modeled dome
ceiling and marble mantelpieces constituted a luxurious ensemble.

On her second westbound trip she averaged 24 knots, and reduced the
passage between Liverpool and New York to well under 5 days, and logged
617 knots for the highest day’s run, incidentally bringing back to the British
mercantile service the ‘Blue Riband of the Atlantic’, having wrested it from
the German liners Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and
Kronprinzessin Cecilia.

War broke out in August, 1914, and the British Government, according to its
agreement with the Cunard Company in 1902, could have requisitioned the
Lusitania, instead allowed her to continue her regular place amongst Cunard
sailings. In April, 1915, she left Liverpool for New York on her 101st voyage,
having then crossed the Atlantic 200 times. She arrived at the American port
safely, although on a previous voyage she avoided the attack of an enemy
submarine. On May 1st, the Lusitania left New York for Liverpool on what
was to be her last voyage.

On May 7th, the Lusitania was within sight of the Irish Coast and at 2:10pm,
the liner was 8 to 10 miles of the Old Head of Kinsale. Without the slightest
warning, the wake of a torpedo from a German submarine was seen
approaching the ship, and she was struck between the third and fourth
funnels. There was evidence that a second, and perhaps a third, torpedo was
fired, and the great ship sank within a mere 20 minutes. It is impossible to
satisfactorily draw a pen picture of the heart-rending scenes which followed.
Men, women and children, caught like rats in a trap, were vainly fighting for
their lives amongst wreckage of every description. The doomed liner’s S.O.S.
was answered within a few hours of the call, and 764 lives were saved.