Includes: Itinerary and bill for passage of Mr. J.P. Gray and Mrs. Terance Gray (with young Stuart) from Los Angeles by train to New York, and then by sea aboard the Lusitania to Liverpool, on letterhead of Pacific Mail Steamship Co. * A.L.S. (pencil) from J.P. Gray to Carrie, describing the impending journey aboard the Lusitania. 2 pp. on 2 sheets of thin paper. April 15, 1915. * A.L.S. from Terance "Ted" Gray, to Ethyl & All, about the coming visit. 8 pp. on two 4-page folding notesheets. April 15, 1915. * A.L.S. from Ethyl to Papa, Ted & Baby, from Edinburgh, addressed to them aboard the Lusitania, delighted at the prospect of seeing them soon. With envelope. May 5, 1915. * A.L.S. from Carrie, addressed Dear All, describing the awful event, and searching for survivors, etc. 8 pp. on two 4-page folding notesheets. May 9, 1915. * A.L.S. (pencil) from Chicago, unsigned, expressing relief that Papa was alive, but expressing anguish for "my poor little Ted and Stuart." 2 pp. on single sheet of Great Northern Hotel letterhead. May 10th, 1915. * A.L.S. from Frank R. Stoller of the Individual Underwriting Corporation, to Mr. W.H. Gray, expressing condolences for his loss and enclosing a check.
A poignant reminder of the cost of war, as a family was ripped apart by the sinking of the R.M.S. Lusitania on May 7, 1915, killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard. The letter from Carrie on May 9 is the most telling: "I have not left the Cunard off. since I came until now - have met 2 trains but not Papa... This is awful, awful. No word of poor Ted & Baby - I fear no hope of ever seeing or hearing of her again... I shall first find Papa, we'll see what he thinks best, shall go Queenstown & look thro hospitals... Everyone is so dazed... boat down in 10 minutes, panic awful, hundreds lost lives by trying to go to their rooms for wraps or purses, while the crew jumped, that is why so many were saved..."