Mr. WILLIAM MacMILLAN
ADAMS, Saloon Class Passenger
[No Picture Provided]
William MacMillan Adams, age 19, was traveling with his father Arthur
Henry Adams. They were from Boston, Massachusetts, and Arthur was
the president of the United States Rubber Company. The family was
descended from the American Revolutionary Samuel Adams. Arthur
had taken his son to New York for William to think over his decision to
join the British Army. William's cabin on the Lusitania
was D-37. His father was in D-45.
At the time of impact, William was in the lounge; Arthur was in his
cabin. William then ran into the corridor where he believed he
saw a second torpedo.
William and Arthur met in the corridor and they went to the portside
and tried to help Staff Captain Anderson with the lifeboats.
Arthur decided that they should have lifebelts and went back down
the main staircase to D-deck.
They couldn't leave the stairs as the water was within four feet of the
newel
post and the water was pouring in from the ports. They ran up to the
starboard
side and climbed into lifeboat #17, which was launched disastrously.
They
contemplated getting back on the ship but decided to jump. They
separated
in the water.
William found a collapsible floating and tried to climb in. At that
moment he claimed the mast came over and cut the boat in two and he was
thrown into the water. He made it to another boat despite his
injuries.
After the Lusitania disaster, which his father did not survive,
William joined the army. After the war he became a successful
business man. He married three times. The third time being to his
first ex-wife, after his
second wife had passed away.
Contributors:
Michael Poirier
References:
Hickey, Des and Gus Smith. Seven Days to Disaster.
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1981.
[Back to Saloon Passenger Manifest] [Lusitania Resource Home]