FILMING THE LUSITANIA

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 13

FILMING THE LUSITANIA

DEEP SEA PHOTOGRAPHY Davy Jones’s locker will 'be floodlighted for tho first time in history, when Captain John D. Craig, deep sea photographer, descends to tho black depths of the Irish Channel to the hulk of the Lusitania, of the Cunard Line. His purpose will be to film the Lusitania salvage operations, and lie will bo equipped with what was described as the most powerful lamps ever designed for under-water work. The last attempt to salvage the vessel, torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 on May 7, 1915, was made two years ago. Treasure estimated to be worth between £BOO,OOO and £3,000,000 is believed to bo locked in the vessel’s coffers. To recover this treasure was admitted generally to he the most difficult feat ever attempted by salvagers, foi each day the great vessel has sunk deeper and deeper into the sand. When the Lusitania sank with a loss of 1,195 passengers, officers, and crew, she was going full speed ahead until the engines were flooded. Then sho drifted. Tho lamps which Captain Craig will take with him to film the salvage operations at the-bottom of the Irish Channel were developed especially for him by General Electric engineers at tho Nela Park laboratories in Cleveland, Ohio. They are of 5,000-watt rating, and were built to withstand a water pressure of 5001 b a square inch—more than three times the press’ll re believed to be around tho hull of the vessel. Each lamp has a light output of 137,500 lumens, which is equal to that of 180 bulbs of 60-watt household size. Captain Craig will use a set of 12 of them mounted on a special submarine stage to floodlight the scene.v