Carter Roy

The Lusitania's design broke it into individualized watertight compartments.

If one flooded, electric doors could seal that section of the boat off, keeping the rest afloat.

It seemed like they'd still make it to Liverpool.

Until, according to the official report, the second torpedo hit.

Survivors all reported a second explosion a few minutes after the first.

This explosion took out the ship's steam engine, cutting the power to the lights, the propellers, and the watertight doors.

Even more water flooded in, not just through the torpedo holes, but through portholes passengers had opened to enjoy the warm weather.

By 2.15, the crew sent out distress signals.

Captain Turner ordered the crew to stop the ship so they could safely lower the lifeboats, but that was impossible with the power out.

Inertia thrust the ship forward.

On the decks, absolute chaos ensued.

Most of the crew trained to lower the lifeboats had died in the initial explosion.

Panicking passengers forcibly lowered the lifeboats anyway, but the ship's forward inertia rocked the lifeboats around, slamming them into passengers on deck.

Several were crushed to death by wooden lifeboats.

In the end, only six out of the 48 lifeboats made it off the ship.

The Lusitania sank in 18 minutes.

Captain Turner went down with his ship, but survived thanks to his life vest and a deck chair.

Not everyone who escaped the ship was so lucky.

55 degree water quickly induced hypothermia.

Wet, heavy clothes dragged victims down.