Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-15
INCH TELLS OF
/ FIRE IN REPORT
Captain Of Volturno Gives First
Detailed Story Of His Ships
Destruction.

NEW YORK. Oct 15-Captain Inch'
of the Volturno, who is aboard the
Red Star liner Kroonland, now ap-
preaching New York, has made the
following report by wireless:
sable Island. S. S. Kroonlad.
october ID.
"Uranium Steamship Company, New
York:
AT $50 a. m. on October 3, 1913. in
latitude 1912 north and longituue
1851 west, fire was reported in nolu
No. l by the chief officer. At $50 a.
m flames were burning No l matches,
setting fire to the forecastle ana all
deck fittings.
81 slowed the ship down and kept
her before the wind to enable US TO
put the steam extinguishers in opera
ton, also three fire hoses from deck
connections, as the flames were gain
ing rapidly, reaching a height or the
foremost light and imprisoning the
watch below, who we're burned TO
death in the forecastle.
Series of Explosions.
"A series of explosions now oc-
Cured, wrecl<ing the saloon and nos
pital amidships. the compass ana
the explosion l gave orders to get
help by wireless as soon as names
burnt the matches, 1t seemingly being
impossible to save the ship.
II had the lifeboats provisioned and
swung out. The ship was rolling
heavily. Boats Nos. 10 and were
smashed, but No. was lowered into
the water with cabin passengers and
stewardess. in charge of Chief Or
flcer H. P. Miller.
After the boat left the ship she
capsized, throwing the occupants
into the water. She afterward righted
herself and several of the crew. got
back into the boat, the chief officer
being one of them.
mo. boat was lowered and got
away safely, filed with Storage pas
sengers in charge of Fourth Officer
Langsell.
Another Boat Wrecked.
mo. boat on being lowered was
caught under the stern of the ship,
the boat being completely wrecked.
Meanwhile the chief engineer, two
seamen and myself fought the fire
and apparently subdued the flames.
II gave orders to send no moro
boats away, as l had received word
from the Carmania that she was
hoping to be with us by II a. m. Life
belts were served out and put on each
passenger.
THE passengers now became
Gained Food was served out to
them at a. m. A bunker was found
TO be ablaze. 1t being impossible TO
step in the bunker on account OF
gases. The watertight doors were
closed and water was poured down
No. hatch, but the fire was gaining
all the time.
AT II a. m. the Carmania arrived |
and lowered a boat, but could not |
reach the ship on account of the high |
seas I asked the Carrnania to look |
for the two missing boats.
No Boats Could Reach Ship.
"The steamship Seydlitz arrived and |
lowered boats. but could not reach US. !
about D. m. the Carmania re- |
turned and tried to reach the ship !
with lifeboats. but all drifted past !
our bow too far away. Several !
steamers had arrived by dusk. /
''The Kroonland put away boats
which made four attempts to come
alongside us, but were swept away
each time. AT $3.50 p. m. the saloon /,
and charthouse were flaming. The !
deck. bridge and all before the funnel /,
were DidZAIR lltTCGl9.
THE pumps and dynamo stopped |
for want of steam. The Marconi |
operators We're working with the ac-
until II p. M, when the
on the bridge blew up, i
carrying off the aerial way.
Several boats by this time were
laying off the ship and induced pas
sengers to jump. and they were res
cued by boats. At u, midnight. the
weather was overcast and squally. /
Operations were suspended, it being
too dark for the boats to see.
Fire Spreads to Stern.
Fire, meanwhile, worked through /
the women's steerage to the after end
Of the ship, but the knowledge was /
kept from the passengers who were |
quiet throughout the rest of the night. |
1.-THE chief engineer, the Marconi !
operators and seamen and myself |
spent the night making small RATS |
In case the fire burned through the |
deck before daylight
Eat sis a. m, the first boat arrived. !