| Flare Gun from the RMS Lusitania | |
|---|---|
| |
| Imbued with the terror and emotions that flew around wildly as the boat was sunk by German U-Boats. | |
|
Origin |
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania |
|
Type |
Antique Flare Gun |
|
Effects |
Shooting flare into the air causes anyone looking at the light to become overwhelmed by a the sensation of drowning. |
|
Downsides |
If not worn with gloves, the flare gun gives frostbite to the hand or trigger finger. |
|
Activation |
Pointing in air and shooting |
|
Collected by |
Nick Renson and Claudia Donovan |
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
30948-23409348 |
|
Shelf |
28404-4323-49930 |
|
Date of Collection |
Oct 20, 2013 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 was a major turning point in the Great War (First World War) that stirred up both the UK and the US. During the sinking, many aboard the boat tried to escape from the cold waters by jumping into lifeboats. This was unfortunate for them, as most of the lifeboats were either destroyed or stuck on the boat.
One of the passengers took the flare gun and planned to fire it off once he got into a lifeboat. He succeeded to find an unoccupied lifeboat, but collapsed from his weight. Contracting hypothermia, the passenger didn't have much time to find another lifeboat, but after finding another, his strength had diminished and he froze hunched over the boat with the flare gun frozen in hand. This became imbued with the icy chill and the death of over a thousand people that were victims of this act of war.
Effects[]
Shooting a flare into the air causes anyone looking at the light to become overwhelmed by a the sensation of drowning. If not worn with gloves, the flare gun gives frostbite to the hand or trigger finger.
When fired, the sound of the gun is muffled by the sound of a missile firing off. Also, it is noted that when the flare flashes blue and the victim is effected, the sounds of screams can be heard, as they are the echoes of the victims of the sinking ship. The victim is also known to cough up water as they "Drown".
Collection[]
Used by Edward Norton against the Russian Mafia, after they took his daughter from him for not paying fees, the bearer collected this from his great grandmother's things, who (as a child) took the flare gun from the boat she was in after the ship sank.