The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-17
SHIP BURNS IN MIO-OCEAN
STEAMER VOLTURNO CATCHES
FIRE IN MlDOCEAN AND 1856
LIVES WERE LOST.
THE WIRELESS BRINGS AID
Over Five Hundred Passengers Were
Saved-Lifeboats Smashed-Many
Jumped Overheard and
Were Swept Away.

London.-Not since the Titanic sank
has Europe been so thrilled as by
wireless message Saturday telling OF
the burning of the steamship Volturno
in mid-Atlantic with loss, so far as
is at present known, of 1875 lives and
the rescue Of 52l.
The Voturno sailed from ROTTERDAM
on Oct 2 for New York, and accord
ing to the official statement she car
ried % first cabin passengers, 53s
steerage and a crew numbering 80.
The rescue ships reached the scene
of the disaster in plenty OF time TO
save all, but for hours stood by the
blazing vessel, impotent, because OF
the storm, to reach the agonized men,
women and children crowdlng the
after part of the ship, which was with
in stones throw.
All night Thursday the lifeboats
made a desperate effort to get along
side the Volturno, but the waves beat
them back again and again and not
until the storm abated at daylight FRI
day did the rescuers succeed IN re-
moving the survivors from the doomed
ship
The Volturno was equipped with
boats sufficient, the agents say, for a
thousand people, but the boisterous
sea or lack of boat drill, or panic
among the passengers prevented the
successful employment OF them. The
rescue ships were able to lower life,
boats, but apparently most OF the
boats launched from the Volturno
were smashed or upset and the occu
pants drowned. Two of the boats
| crowded with passengers, are reported
to have got away from the ship, but a
search for them has proved frultless
and they have practically been given
up as lost. The occupants of these
boats are included in the death roll
The steamer Carmania, bound from
New York for Liverpool, was seventy
eight miles away when the call fol
help sounded. Captain Barr ordered
full steam in spite of the gale ant
was the first of the fleet to reach the
burning vessel. The Carmania was
followed by La Touraine, Minneapolis
Rappahanock, Car, Narragansett, De
yonian, Kroonland, Grosser Kurfurs
and Seydlitz at various hours through
out the day. But try as they might
the rescuing vesselC could get neithe
line nor lifeboat to the Volturno, tn
forward part of which was almos
hidden by a dense cloud of smok
when the Carmania arrived.
The burning steamer lay in tn
trough of the sea, pounding helplessl
with her propellers fouled by tn
boats tackle. The terrified passer
gers were huddled together as far a
it was possible to get from the flame
while throughout the day the officer
and crew fought desperately wit
whatever appliances were at hand
hold the fire in check. But night cam
on and the seas abated only slight.
The circle of steamers kept thei
searchlights playing and waited p;
tiently within the danger zone for tn
first moment when they might agai
launch the lifeboats. The hopeless
ness Of the situation was manifesto
at o'clock in the evening when
great explosion tore away part of til
upper works and flames burst fro
the engien room. 1t then became
matter of how long the Volturno wou
stay above the water.
Meanwhile, several Of the terrific
passengers, wrapped in life buoy
dropped over into the sea- One
them was taken aboard the Carmani
+ 1t may be that others found a have
: with others vessels of the fleet, b
y some undoubtedly were swept ava
. When day broke the volturno was st
afloat. The gale had moderated al
the seas had Gained down. From {
i most every one Of the encirclil
u steamers lifeboats were sent out al
0 into these the women and childr
l. were lowered first. Several trips we
y necessary before the survivors we
moved to place of safety.
r It Is pointed out as remarkat
n coincidence that the Volturno, abe
1t four years ago, made a notable resc
h in great storm in mid-Atlantic
n the crew Of French vessel. Capita
n Harrison, who then commanded
y Volturno, was decorated by the Fren
n government for his daring act.
ir Passenger tells of the rescue:
O. "As the fire on the Volturno ke
is away from the after deck, we kept n
Or neuvering near and sent three bo;
away which made many trips. AT
Is o'clock the last boat alongside CARR
20 the captain.
is Nobody was left on board. We
Pc succeeded in taking off eighty-eis
lg passengers and the captains dog.
40 | hno%c ~. L. H.