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RMS Laconia torpedoed by Germany...
RMS Laconia torpedoed by Germany...
Item # 557081
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February 26, 1917
THE WILMINGTON DISPATCH, Wilmington, North Carolina, February 26, 1917
* RMS Laconia torpedoed by Germany
* Cunard ocean liner
This 8 page newspaper has a nice banner headline on the front page: "BIG STEAMER, WITH AMERICANS, SUNK" with subheads that include: "GIANT LINER FROM PORT OF NEW YORK IS SENT TO DEPTHS BY GERMAN SUB" and more. (see)
Other news of the day with reports on World War I. Usual browning with small library label within headline and little margin wear, otherwise good. Should be handled with care.
wikipedia notes: RMS Laconia was a Cunard ocean liner built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, launched on 27 July 1911, delivered to the Cunard Line on 12 December 1911, and began service on 20 January 1912. She was the first Cunard ship of that name.
On the outbreak of World War I Laconia was turned into an armed merchant cruiser in 1914 and based at Simon's Town, South Africa in the South Atlantic, from which she patrolled the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean until April 1915. She was then used as a headquarters ship for the operations to capture Tanga and the colony of German East Africa. Four months later she returned to the patrolling of the South Atlantic. She was handed back to Cunard in July 1916 and on 9 September resumed service..
On 25 February 1917 she was torpedoed by the German U-50 six miles (11 km) northwest by west of Fastnet while returning from the United States to England with 75 passengers (34 first class and 41 second class) and a crew of 217 under the command of Captain Irvine. The first torpedo struck the liner on the starboard side just abaft the engine room, but did not sink her. Twenty minutes later a second torpedo exploded in the engine room, again on the starboard side, and the vessel sank at 10:20 pm. Twelve people were killed, six crew and six passengers, including two American citizens, Mrs. Mary Hoy and her daughter, Miss Elizabeth Hoy, who were originally from Chicago.
Chicago Tribune reporter Floyd Gibbons was aboard Laconia when it was torpedoed and gained fame from his dispatches about the attack.
Category: The 20th Century
No Longer Available
