Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-16
STEAMER BURNS;
MANY LIVES LOST
VESSEL GOES DOWN AFTER So
OUT OF 65t PASSENGERS
HAVE BEEN RESCUED.
Wireless Calls Ten Lines to Aid of
Doomed ship. But Lifeboats Are
Beaten Back by Waves and
Passengers Are Drowned.

London.-Not since the sinking OF
the Titanic has there been recorded
such tragedy AT sea as the burning
OF the steamship Volturno in mid-At-
lantic, on October II. with a loss. so
far as al present known. of 1856 lives
and the rescue of 521. The survivors
were placed aboard a fleet OF steam
ers summoned by the Volturno's calls
for help. some OF which are bound
eastward and others westward.
The Volturno sailed from Rotter
dam on October for New York.
According to the official statement.
she carried twenty-five first-class
cabin passengers, 5SS steerage and
crew numbering 90. The rescue ships
reached the scene of the disaster in
plenty OF time 10 save all, but for
hours stood by the blazing vessel.
impotent because of the storm 10
reach the agonized men, women and
children crowding the after part OF
the ship and within a stones throw.
All night Thursday the lifeboats
made a desperate effort 10 get along
side the Volturno, but the waves
beat them back again, and not until
the storm abated at daylight Friday
did the rescuers succeed in receiving
the survivors from the doomed ship.
The Volturno was well equipped
with boats. sufficient. the agents say,
for a thosuand people, but the bois
ferrous sea or lack OF boat drill or
panic among the passengers prevent
ing the successful employment OF
them. The rescue ships were able
to lower lifeboats, but apparently
most OF the boats launched from the
Nolturno were smashed or upset and
the occupants drowned. Two OF the
boats. crowded with passengers, are
reported 10 have got away from the
ship but a search for them has
proved fruitless and they have prac-
tically been given up as lost. The
occupants OF these boats are includ-
ed in the death roll.
The steamer Carmania, bound for
New York from Liverpool, was sew
enty-eight miles away when the call
for help. sounded. Captain Barr. or
dering full steam. in spite OF the
gale, drove through the seas at TWEEN
ty knots an hour and was first OF the
feet to reach the burning vessel. She
was followed by La Touraine, Min
neapolis. Rappahannock. Car. Mar
ragansett, Devonian. Kroonland.
Grosser Kurfuerst and Seydlitz at
various hours throughout the day.
But try as they might. the rescuing
vessels could not get either line or
lifeboat to the Volturno.
The burning steamer lay in the
trough OF the seas, pounding help
lessly, with her propellers fouled by
the boats tackle. The terrified pas
sengers were huddled together as
far as 1t was possible to get from
the flames. while throughout the
day the officers and crew fought des-
perately with whatever appliances
were at hand to hold the hie in
check. But night came on and the
seas abated only slightly The circle
Of steamers kept their searchlights
playing and waited patiently within
the danger zone for the first moment
when they might again launch the
lifeboats.
When day broke the Volturno was
still afioat. The gale had moderated
and the seas almost Gained down.
From every one OF the encircling
steamers lifeboats were sent out and
to these women and children were
lowered first. Several trips were nee
essary before the survivors were re-
moved to a place OF safety.