New-York tribune., 1913-10-27


culties as soon as she got from under
our lee. l had advised Gardner that
whether he got any people or not he
would have to pull clear, keep head TO
sea and trust me to pick him up.
His boat was nearly turned over, so
that he lost all our oars but three. and
only by using his sea anchor and bail
ing did he keep afoat. He could not
reach the Volturno. l tried to short
turn the ship, but she would not look
at II, so | had to make q bold sweep to
get 70 windward and drop down on
him. 1t was two hours before we got
him alongside again."
Meanwhile a. abor 1'l5, I marconied
the Nolturno: Cannot take people off by
boat; too much sea. IL you cannot hold
hre and must abandon. will keep close 70
Windward. II time, will run to windward
and look for your boats. Suggest life line
and belts, If necessary He consented 10
my looking for his boats, asking me not
to go too far. At $40 p. m. we sighted
the German steamer seydlitz and mar
conied to him: 4 am going northwest
ten miles to look for boats. VIII you
stand by Volturno? | will return | ran
about eight miles, seeing only three buoy
ancy tanks, as OF broken boats, and was
recalled by an urgent signal from the
Nolturno, whereupon | returned full
speed.
II had held a consultation of officers,
inviting suggestions, and the chief officer
advised dropping RATS under his lee. |
agreed TO this and marconied to Vol
turno: VIII run to leeward and drop
some RATS. Try to get one. Can you
move engines? The ship drives fast and
must go To windward to pick up boats.
This message he received
"On my return found that the Grosser
Kurfurst had arrived and that the Seyd-
litz was picking up his boats to the wind
ward of the Volturno after apparently
an experience similar 10 our own At 4:33
p. m. | stopped close TO the Nolturno' s
lee and dropped six liferafts. He could
not. apparently, move his engines. and
they drove past ahead of him. Meanwhile
backed and got my bow within about
one hundred feet of his stern. and he
tried to float lrebuoys TO me. His idea
was TO run rope between the ships and
haul boat back and forth. II would
have been quite impossible in such a
heavy sea
The Grosser Kurfurst was by thii
time under his lee, and ! had to back
away. / had great difficulty in getting
my ship into position unless with plenty
OF sea room. | got a position TO windward
of the Volturno. and held 1t.
Until the weather moderated there was
no hope OF doing anything with the boats
Other steamers were arriving, so At I
p. m sent a message TO all ships: Have
tried a boat and dropped RATS; cannot do
more under existing conditions. This
ship hard to manpuvre. II any sugges-
tions or attempts will keep clear
thought II wise TO do this and not ham
per the efforts OF others. | did not think
he would last till morning, in which case
IL Il came as last resource to trust u
llfelines and lfebelts. ! was in position
10 drive down on him with lifelines fore
and aft ladders over, side well lighted
with clusters and searchlight going.
was careful not TO blind other ships with
il and used IL to pick up boats, lighting
I'D the Vo.turno occasionally TO see what
was happening.
This position ! maintained througi
the night, and was about half mile dis
tant, but could not get closer as abou
ten steamers were all close together. a
9:15 p. IN. ! observed flames The Vol
turno fred distress rockets. and at abou
10 u. m the Grosser Kurfurst, which wa
still 10 leeward OF the Noturno. started
sending boats. asking me by Morse to lool
out for them, which did with the search
light. The Minneapolis also sent boats
making the same request at about mia
night, recognizing that II the boats coul'
not make back | would drive down or
them and pick them up.
''It was still blowing strong and squally
We were using oil, and | believe the ship
10 leeward were doing the same. A
about II p. m. We heard cries from th'
water, and picked up with the searchligh
a man swimming toward us. II was on
OF the third class passengers OF the Vol
turno who was got on board exhausted
About this time a handy twin screw boat
the Czar. ran in between us and the Vol
turno and picked up several boats whicl
we spotted by the searchlight. At a. m
the Kroonland advised: Sent three boats
picked up thirteen persons. From wher
! lay ! could not fetch the Volturno. 81
none were sent. and could not get close
without upsetting the whole scheme.
81 sighted two empty boats.
AT 4:30 | sighted three boats by search
lights and moved a little ahead for tn
foremost one He kept pulling ahea
under my lee. being afraid of cominI
alongside for fear OF smashing his boat
| hailed him to come alongside an'
abandon his boat as he said his crev
was exhausted. and got him aboard a
$40 a. m There was considerable se'
there, even under our lee, as we hat
run out OF the oil slick. We got the crew
out, but the officer was knocked over
hoard Fortunately we had a rope or
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