Remembering eight celebrities in Lusitania

At the beginning of World War I, in the summer of 19 14, the Lusitania was once one of the most fascinating and famous ships in the world, and it was also the largest and fastest maritime ship. However, on May 7, 2005, the British passenger ship 1965438+ was sunk by a German submarine torpedo off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1200 people, which will win a more tragic position in history. The German navy publicly vowed to destroy "every enemy merchant ship" found in the waters near Great Britain and Ireland. On the day the Lusitania set sail from new york, the German Embassy advertised in American newspapers, warning passengers not to take the cruise ship flying the British flag. But on the Lusitania, these warnings were basically ignored, in part because people believed that this powerful ship might surpass any one. Captain Turner provided an additional guarantee. "This is the best joke I have heard about torpedo attack for many days," he should tell reporters.

At that time, Britain and Germany had been at war for nearly a year, but the United States, whose citizens accounted for about 120 of Lusitania victims, remained neutral; Ships sailing under the stars and stripes will not be deliberate targets of German torpedoes. Although the United States did not formally enter the war until 19 17, the sinking of Lusitania and the subsequent propaganda blitzkrieg proved a major factor, which made public opinion swing in this direction.

Among the famous victims in the United States are outstanding figures at that time, such as the drama director Charles froman, the famous writer elbert hubbard and the very rich Alfred Gwen Vanderbilt. However, the list of passengers who missed the last voyage of Lusitania is equally striking. Ironically, most of them were trapped outside the wrecked passenger ship not because they were afraid of being attacked by German U-boats, but because of something more mundane, such as an unfinished task, an uncooperative alarm clock or a harsh mistress.

The following are the stories of eight famous people who were lucky enough to escape the torpedo.

Arturo Toscanini

Conductor arturo toscanini was scheduled to return to Europe on the Lusitania at the end of the performance season in metropolitan opera. Instead, he shortened the concert schedule and left a week ago, apparently on the Italian cruise ship Duca Degli abruzzi. Modern newspaper reports attributed his hasty departure to the doctor's orders. The new york Tribune reported: "His illness is actually equivalent to neurasthenia caused by seasonal overwork, which also aroused the excitement of the European war. In the following years, historians put forward other explanations, including the master's struggle with the metropolitan management on budget cuts, especially the poor performance of the opera Carmen, and his mistress, singer and silent actress Geraldine Farrar's recent ultimatum that he left his wife and family. No wonder he went sailing,

Toscanini was in his forties and lived for another 40 years until 1957 died at the age of 89. He recorded a lot of records on the 85-disc cassette recorder released last year, which is only part of his works. He became an American celebrity, conducting the NBC symphony orchestra on the radio, and later conducting on TV. 1984, that is, 25 years after his death, he won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and shared the honor of that year with Charlie Parker and Chuck Berry.

Jerome kern

It is said that Broadway Posey Jerome Kern, then only 30 years old, planned to sail in Lusitania with producer Charles froman, but he overslept because the alarm clock didn't go off and missed the boat. 1946 The producer of MGM's musical biopic "The Life of Kern" obviously didn't fully consider this point. It was not until the dark clouds rolled in that the film let Kern (played by robert walker) fly to the dock by taxi and arrive when the ship started to leave.

Kern will live for another 30 years, composing music for American classic songs such as Oman River, Smoke in Your Eyes and What Are You Like Tonight. 1945 died of cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 60. Isadora duncan's recent trip to the United States

Finally, isadora duncan, an American-born dancer, has many boats to choose from. She will return to Europe where she lived at that time, including the Lusitania. Although she once crossed the Atlantic on a luxury cruise ship, this time she gave up and chose the more humble dante alighieri, who left new york eight days later. One of the reasons may be money: her trip was a financial disaster.

In fact, Duncan's creditors threatened to seize her suitcase and prevent her from leaving the country until she paid off the debts accumulated during her visit of about $65,438+02,000. Duncan pleaded in an interview with a newspaper: "I appeal to the American people to give generously and ask them if they would like to see me and my students humiliated after what I have done for the art cause." Fortunately, within a few hours after Dante's departure, Duncan's creditors were appeased, and a donor gave her two bills of $65,438+0,000 to buy a boat ticket.

The history of the Lusitania disaster gives the impression that Duncan and ellen terry were sailing together on the new york passenger ship (see below). Although Duncan worships the older actress and even has a child with her son, drama director Edward Gordon Craig, it seems that one of Duncan's young dancers, not Duncan himself, helped Terry.

Duncan briefly mentioned Lusitania in his autobiography: "Life is like a dream, well, that's it, otherwise who can survive from it?" Like the sinking of the Lusitania. Such an experience should leave an expression of eternal fear on the faces of the men and women who have experienced it, and we can see their smiles and happiness everywhere.

Ten years later, Duncan will meet another means of transportation, when her scarf will be wrapped around the wheel of the car she is riding.

Lincoln Witt, who is famous for his travel lectures, reportedly canceled his voyage on the Lusitania in order to board another ship. (University of Iowa Digital Library)1965438+On May 7, 2005, Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1200 people. William Gillette (Wiki Public Network of the Library of Congress) was a famous playwright and stage actor of his time, especially good at playing Sherlock Holmes. Because he promised to perform in Philadelphia, he was forced to stay and did not board the Lusitania. Isadora duncan, an American-born dancer, had previously crossed the Atlantic on the Lusitania, but she decided to board the more low-key dante alighieri on May 7, 2005. (Face of California: Selected Portraits of Bancroft Library) On the day when the Lusitania Museum set off from new york, the German Embassy advertised in American newspapers, warning tourists to avoid taking liner flying the British flag. (robert hunter photo gallery from Wikileaks).

At the time of the disaster, Millicent Hammond fenwick was only five years old. She has grown into an editor of Vogue magazine, a civil rights activist, a congressman from New Jersey, and an inspiration for Lacey Davenport, the role of the famous Dunsbury. Her outspoken words are shared with you.

Fenwick's parents, Ogden and Mary Stevens Hammond, were on board the Lusitania, but left young millicent and her brothers and sisters behind because their trip was humanitarian, not a family holiday. Amy Shapiro, the author of the 2003 biography Millicent fenwick: Her Way, said that Millicent's mother decided to go to France to help build a Red Cross hospital to cope with the First World War.

Although they were warned not to take the Lusitania, her father would not let his wife sail alone. Her father survived the shipwreck; Her mother didn't. According to Shapiro, perhaps because this topic is too painful, fenwick rarely talks about her mother's death, and rarely talks about the impact of her mother's death on her.

Millicent fenwick died on 1992 at the age of 82.

william morris

Born in Moses, Houzel, william morris not only missed the last voyage of Lusitania 19 15, but also missed the first and only attempt of Titanic to cross the Atlantic three years ago. According to the agency, william morris and Frank Ross (1995) wrote about the hidden history of the entertainment industry. At that time, Morris's business included providing juggling performances for thousands of live theaters in the United States. His clients include W.C. Fields, Marx Brothers and wil rogersl, who are very popular stage actors and become bigger stars in new movies and broadcast media.

William morris died of a heart attack on 1932. When playing Pi Nuo Kiel,

Ellendry

Widely regarded as the greatest sasha jackson of her time, Allen Terry completed an American lecture tour, and it is reported that she got a free suite in Lusitania for her to go home. But she promised her daughter that she would not take an English ship because of the war, but booked the voyage of the American liner "new york".

Although new york is much slower than Lusitania and it is not easy to walk, Terry managed to do it. "On the whole, I prefer this bed to the bottom of the sea," she wrote in her diary. "At that time, she was 68 years old.

Terry lived for 13 years, during which she continued to perform and speak, and made several films.

William Gillette

William Gillett, an actor, often joins Charles froman's European tour and plans to register a producer on board the Lusitania. According to the biographer of 20 1 1, William Gillett is the Sherlock Holmes of America. However, as Gillette later told us, he had a promise to perform in Philadelphia and was forced to stay.

Although few people remember it now, Gillette is a famous playwright and stage actor of his time, especially his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, the popular image of Sherlock Holmes today may be attributed to Gillette's interpretation, just like Arthur Conan Doyle's original work. Seck pointed out, for example, that it was Gillette who provided Sherlock Holmes with his signature bent heather pipe. Gillette also invented the line "Oh, this is basic, my dear partner", which later evolved into the immortal "basic, my dear Watson."

The year after the Lusitania sank, Gillette asked him to play Sherlock Holmes in the film. Unfortunately, this film, like many other silent films, seems to have been lost.

Gillette died on 1937 at the age of 83. His eccentric and striking stone building in East khaddam, Connecticut is now a tourist attraction, Gillette Castle State Park.

Lincoln witt

By today's standards, Lincoln Witt may be the least well-known person on our list. He is famous all over the country for his travel lectures, which used to be a popular form of entertainment. When few Americans can afford international travel and most parts of the earth are still exotic and unexplored, adventurers like Witt brought the world to them. He is also a minister and a war correspondent.

Take Wirt's speech Beyond the Arctic as an example. He told the audience about his journey of 1250 miles by canoe and dog sled, which was full of "scurvy, typhoid fever and cold terror", "bubbling humor" and "description of beauty". But we missed the story that might be a lifetime. It is reported that he cancelled the article about Lusitania in order to go to Constantinople by another ship "Kanopek".

Walter's adventure lasted another half century. He died on 196 1 at the age of 97.

Lusitania-Titanic Connection

The sinking of Lusitania in 19 15 and Titanic in 19 12 may always be regarded as the two most famous maritime disasters in the 20th century. However, the similarities between the Kunar liner Lusitania launched at 1906 and the White Star liner Titanic launched at 19 1 1 hardly stop there. Each one is the largest ship in the world. When it first appeared, the Lusitania was 787 feet and the Titanic was 883 feet. They are also the two most luxurious ships floating on the water, specially designed for Peter, serving the rich and famous travelers at that time and the profitable immigration trade. In fact, several famous passengers are in contact with both ships:

? Al Woods, a famous American drama producer, claimed that he had close ties with both the Lusitania and the Titanic, as did his frequent businessman Walter Moore. It is reported that the two men missed the Titanic. Because of business problems, they stayed in London and cancelled their trip to Lusitania for fear of submarine attack.

? Ms. Duff Gordon, a high fashion designer, is one of the most famous survivors of the Titanic disaster. She booked the Lusitania, but her trip was cancelled due to health reasons.

? Two other Titanic survivors, the banker Robert W Daniel and his wife eloy, also seem to have cancelled their voyage on the Lusitania and decided to take the American ship Philadelphia. Lois Daniel lost her first husband in the Titanic disaster and met her future partner when she was pulled into her lifeboat. They got married two years later. When they arrived in London, in an interview, he described the intersection in Philadelphia as "absolutely safe".

? Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, a 37-year-old railway heir and horse lover, missed the Titanic on 19 12, but unfortunately, Lusitania didn't miss it on 19 15, although she received a letter. Vanderbilt sacrificed a hero in this disaster. It is said that he brought lifesaving to a young female passenger, even though he can't swim.