The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-16
WIRELESS PHASE
Story of the Loss of the Steam
er VOIturnO
AS Told in Log of the Wireless
Operator.
RECEIVED IMMEDIATE REPLY
To an Individual Message to
the Carmania.
The instruments Were Kept
Going for IL Hours.
RECEIVED IMMEDIATE REPLY

| New York, Oct. 16.-The wireless
phase of the Volturno tragedy is told
IN the following log kept by Senior OPP
orator w. Seddon, of the lost ship. 1t
was sent to the Associated Press today
by wireless from the Kroonland:
| Steamer Kroonland, October 16.-
October VOlturnO found to be on fire,
6:55 a. m, latitude 1912 north "a. 81 west
| longitude. AT that time my junior, Mr..
Pennington was on watch when cap
tain gave orders to send out distress
| signals which was done Immediately.
! We then called steamers Carmania,
| Seydlitz, Grosser kurfuerst, individual
| ly. Immediately finished calling, Seyd-
| litZ answered. We gave him our posi-
| ton; replied was coming under forced
steam TO our aid. Just as junior gave
our position 1 reached the cabin i'm
mediately, gave our distress call as
| soon as finished with Seydlitz getting
| instant reply from Carmania. Then
gave him position His reply was,
Coming all speed now, SO miles from
you. Hope to reach you p. m. Green
wich meridian time), but he arrived
2:1O p. m. Greenwich meridian time).
During this time we kept up inces-
SAINT communication. After giving Car
mania position, Grosser Kurfuerst an
swered. Then 1 gave position again.
He then replied, Coming all speed.
ing owing occasional earthing of aerial
through leads coming into connection
with water tanks on decks, this caused
by sagging of aerial owing to foremaSt
supporters giving way. After some
time they managed to get mast prop
ped then leads altered right position.
No more earthing took place signals
quite o. K. Further hampered by ship
rolling so almost impossible send at
times. Carmania sent out calls About
half hour later L was in communica-
ton steamer Kroonland, los miles dis
tance. Also gave him position.
He replied: Cheer up, old man, COM
ing all speer to your rescue Five
p. m, steamer Seydlitz came alongside
to Windward, 80 minutes later Grosser
Kurfuerst arrived. At this time Car
mania ten miles distant cruising for
our missing boats which left ship when
fire broke out On request returned
Immediately, all this time in continuous
communication with all ships around
US. Received prompt reply all this
time.
Power Set Gave Out.
''1:06 (Greenwich meridian), power set
gave out. Did best, used it as long
as possible Towards end current so
poor Junior holding starting handle
taking out all resistance. Then com
menced use emergency set which lasted
II midnight Greenwich meridian time),
when owing to magazine explosion
blowing away aerial could work no
longer. Worked set from outbreak
fire, thus keeping communication II
hours, then only left posts owing aerial
going. If this not occurred accumula-
tors would have lasted several hours
longer.
Il wish to mention from start, junior
stood by me, deserves great credit for
way rendered valuable assistance con-
veying messages to and from captain,
who was forward fighting flames. When
We could not do more inside cabin. did
what little possible on deck. This was
very little, owing passengers refusing to
jump for boats which could not come
right alongside owing suction being
great. Two a. m. Greenwich meridian
time), october 10, Junior jumped for
Kroonland boat, captains orders. Picked
up unconscious. 1 stayed until last
boat left with the captain, and chief
engineer, remainder of crew.
(Signed) wv. seldom,
Senior Operator Steamship Volturno."
No Sign of Hulk
Liverpool Oct. 16.-NO sign of the
hulk of the Volturno was seen by the
Cymric on her voyage across the At