The Arcadian was built in 1899 and christened the SS Ortona. She launched July 10 1899 and was built as a passenger liner for travel to Australia. She could carry 620 passengers.
In December of 1902 she was used to carry troops back to England after the Second Boer War. On September 21 1910 after being sold and re-serviced she was renamed the SS Arcadian. She embarked on her first world cruise in January of 1912 as the world’s largest dedicated cruise ship.
In 1915, near the beginning of World War I the SS Arcadian was converted to an armed merchant cruiser by the British Admiralty. As the war continued she was put into service as a troop carrier ship in the Mediterranean. On April 15 1917 with 1335 troops and crew members on board the Arcadian was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine known as SM UC-74. She sank in 6 minutes with a loss of 279 lives. Most were kitchen staff and stokers who were working below decks at the time.
In 1915, near the beginning of World War I the SS Arcadian was converted to an armed merchant cruiser by the British Admiralty. As the war continued she was put into service as a troop carrier ship in the Mediterranean. On April 15 1917 with 1335 troops and crew members on board the Arcadian was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine known as SM UC-74. She sank in 6 minutes with a loss of 279 lives. Most were kitchen staff and stokers who were working below decks at the time.
Yes, that actually is her sinking. If you look closely those are men hanging on to ropes and scrambling down her sides.
I have included the story of events as told by Trooper Reginald C. Huggins. http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htmhttp://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htm
Dining Salon Arcadian 1913
On January 29 1914 Frank had married Elizabeth Tyler. They had gone to Bermuda on their Honeymoon. The Arcadian which was marketed as the most palatial liner ever in the Bermuda service, made this trip along with a sister ship called the Tagus every week.
Frank was born on 3 August 1878 in Pearisburg, Giles County, Virginia. He was the youngest of 11 children born to John White Easley. His mother Minerva Boyd Pack was John's second wife.
When Frank was 26 the year was 1904 and he was living with his family in Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia and working for a company called American Smelting and Refining Company that had offices in New York City. He worked as a fuel agent manager of the steamship line in New York for their Mexico Exports and Imports.
11 January 1916 near Santa Isabella, Chihuahua, Mexico, men known as Villistas, who were loyal to Pancho Villa killed and mutilated 18 employees of the American Smelting and Refining Company who were on a train. Frank was not there.
It is 1912 and Frank works as a shipping agent at the Pocahontas Fuel Company. This company is a branch of Pocahontas Mine no. 1, the earliest coal mine in the Pocahontas Coalfield or the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pocahontas Fuel Company, operated mines in West Virginia at Jenkinjones, Bishop, and Itmann , and in Virginia at Boissevain and Amonate.
In early 1915 Frank is working for the Pocahontas Coke Company as a Manager. Later that year Frank becomes the President of the Bluefield Coal and Coke Company and his offices are in the Law & Commerce Building in Bluefield.
In 1919 Frank and his wife move into "The Breezes" a Tudor Revival style home built by Alex B. Mahood.
The Breezes
Frank applied for and was accepted as a Sons of the American Revolution. Daniel Easley, his 4th Great Grandfather, my 5th Great Grandfather was a private during the Revolutionary War and helped fight for the independence of America.
Frank passed away 26 May 1952.
The Library at Bluefield College is named the Easley Library in memory of Frank and his brother David who were both on the Board of Trustees and Founding Fathers.
In Bluefield is a bridge that spans the Norfolk Southern Corporation railroad tracks on Poplar Street. It is the Frank S. Easley Bridge named in honor of Frank.
He was a President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club, President of Wright Milling Company, and Director of First National Bank of Bluefield.
He was a Past Master at Bluefield Mercer Masonic Lodge #85, a Shriner, Past Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar, member of Royal Arch Chapter, and had completed several steps into Scottish Rites.
On January 29 1914 Frank had married Elizabeth Tyler. They had gone to Bermuda on their Honeymoon. The Arcadian which was marketed as the most palatial liner ever in the Bermuda service, made this trip along with a sister ship called the Tagus every week.
Frank was born on 3 August 1878 in Pearisburg, Giles County, Virginia. He was the youngest of 11 children born to John White Easley. His mother Minerva Boyd Pack was John's second wife.
When Frank was 26 the year was 1904 and he was living with his family in Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia and working for a company called American Smelting and Refining Company that had offices in New York City. He worked as a fuel agent manager of the steamship line in New York for their Mexico Exports and Imports.
11 January 1916 near Santa Isabella, Chihuahua, Mexico, men known as Villistas, who were loyal to Pancho Villa killed and mutilated 18 employees of the American Smelting and Refining Company who were on a train. Frank was not there.
It is 1912 and Frank works as a shipping agent at the Pocahontas Fuel Company. This company is a branch of Pocahontas Mine no. 1, the earliest coal mine in the Pocahontas Coalfield or the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pocahontas Fuel Company, operated mines in West Virginia at Jenkinjones, Bishop, and Itmann , and in Virginia at Boissevain and Amonate.
In early 1915 Frank is working for the Pocahontas Coke Company as a Manager. Later that year Frank becomes the President of the Bluefield Coal and Coke Company and his offices are in the Law & Commerce Building in Bluefield.
In 1919 Frank and his wife move into "The Breezes" a Tudor Revival style home built by Alex B. Mahood.
Frank applied for and was accepted as a Sons of the American Revolution. Daniel Easley, his 4th Great Grandfather, my 5th Great Grandfather was a private during the Revolutionary War and helped fight for the independence of America.
Frank passed away 26 May 1952.
The Library at Bluefield College is named the Easley Library in memory of Frank and his brother David who were both on the Board of Trustees and Founding Fathers.
In Bluefield is a bridge that spans the Norfolk Southern Corporation railroad tracks on Poplar Street. It is the Frank S. Easley Bridge named in honor of Frank.
He was a President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club, President of Wright Milling Company, and Director of First National Bank of Bluefield.
He was a Past Master at Bluefield Mercer Masonic Lodge #85, a Shriner, Past Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar, member of Royal Arch Chapter, and had completed several steps into Scottish Rites.
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