The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-10-17
Six HundredHel pless on Blazing Steamer
VoIturno In Midocean.
TWENTY SHIPS ANSWER WIRELESS CALL.
A Survivors Thrilling Story of the Scene on the
VOIturno- Declares the Sailors Made
Panic Worse.

tepohl, a German, who swan 70 the
Carmania and was rescued in an eX
hausted condition.
Survivor Seriously H.
Since taken aboard the Carmania
Triutepohl has been in the ships hos.
pi,al threatened with pneumonia. He
Joid his story 10 Mr. Sturgeon before
he became seriously ILL., but owing TO
his exhausted state and his broken
English mis- account OF the disaster
was somewhat incoherent.
al, went we'll" said Trintepohl.
unit! e o'clock Thursday morning,
when the fire alarm sounded We
we're aroused and told to 90 on deck,
a fire had broken out in the hold.
On assembling life-belts were handed
around and much time was occupied
in fastening them. We were told
that the fire might soon be quenched,
but the captain thought it was wise
for all 10 have belts as precaution.
The FIRE frightened the children.
who cried bitterly. There were
many babies in arms.
The fire grew worse. We saw
things blazing down below. About
10 o'clock there was a cry to lower
the boats
Officers Act Noby.
The captain behaved splendidly.
SO did the officers, who were English.
7 am sorry to say that the crew, who
We're Germans and Belgians, behaved
very badly The people rushed about
wildly and the crew seemed to think
they ought to have first place, and
instead Of quoting the passengers
they made the panic worse.
The first officer took charge Of
the first boat, but although he wanted
the women and children saved first,
a majority Of those who entered the
boat We're members Of the crew.
This boat was smashed against the
ships side. Just as it reached the
water it broke in two, and all were
drowned.
Meanwhile attempts were made to
lower the second boat. | cannot say
who was in charge of this, but | do
know that after the chief steward had
thrown provisions in he jumped in
himself There were more men than
women and children in this boat,
which did not 90 down, for it was
broken against the ship and all were
drowned.
Cut Tackle OF Other Boats.
These two boats were amidships.
Three other boats were put out att
The fourth officer was in one Of them,
but | cannot say which one. All was
confusion. The ropes broke and the
occupants were thrown into the wa
ter and drowned or killed When the
captain saw what had happened he cut
the tackle of the other boats, so that
they could not be launched.
We were so glad when we saw
the CaTmania come, for we said:
Now we shall all be saved.
THE fremen rushed up from below
and refused to 90 back. The captain
drew his revolver and drove them be
low, but soon after, as the fire was
spreading, they were obliged to aban-
don the engines.
AS soon as the Carmania was sight.
ed the captain made ali the women
ana children 90 to one side and the
men to the other side He had been
compelled to leave the bridge and go
aft because it was too hot. Women
vept, shr;eked laughed and became
historical
I'VE had not thought Of food, but
in the afternoon we considered it bet.
ter to get something and went to the
kitchens. which we found deserted.
made coffee and helped ourselves to
biscuits and beef But most OF the
passengers refused TO eat.
The 5istering Decks.
I'VE saw RATS sent from the Car
mania, but nobody told us to jump in.
In fact we knew not what they were
there for About O'Clock the decks
aft began to get very warm. then
hotter AID hotter. But we did not
seem to feel the heat
When shown his boot with the sole
half burned through, Trintepohl said
81 don't remember this. but it was
awful when the flames burst out. Some
Of the men and women tore their hair,
but others were quite still
After the explosion | thought it
better to jump, for | am a good swim