Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-13

carmania. and was rescued in an ex-
hausted condition. Since being taken
aboard the Carmania Trintepohi has been
pneumonia He told his story to MI.
Spurgeon before he became seriously III:
but owing to his exhausted state ana
his broken English. his account OF the
disaster was somewhat incoherent
Fire Alarm Sounded.
Trintepohi had been employed at Bar
celona and took third-class passage on the
yolturno to secure a position offered him
In New York
"All went WE'LL" said Trintepohi, until
g o'clock Thursday morning. when the fre
alarm sounded. We were aroused and
told to go on deck as IRE had broken ous
in the hold. On assembling, hfebelts
were handed around, and much time was
occupied In fastening them We were toid
that the ire might soon be quenched, but
the captain thought 1t wise for all TO
have belts as precaution.
1.-THE fire frightened the children, who
cried bitterly. There were many babies
in arms.
1.-The fire grew worse. We saw things
blazing down below, About 10 O'CLOCK
there was a cry to lower the boats.
1.-THE captain behaved splendidly. So
did the officers. who were English. I am
sorry to say that the crew. who were Ger
mans 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 quieting the
passengers they made the panic worse.
1.-The first officer took charge Of the
first boat. but. although he wanted the
women and children saved first a major
ity of those who entered the boat were
members of the crew.
Boat Smashed; All Drowned.
This boat was smashed against the
ships side Just as IL reached the water
it broke in two. and all were drowned.
Meanwhile attempts were made to low
er the second boat. ! cannot say who was
in charge of this, but do know that
after the chief steward had thrown pro-
visions in. he jumped in himself. There
were more men than women and children
In this boat. which did not go down, Tor
it was broken against the ship and all
were drowned.
''These two boats were amidships. Three
other boats were put out aft. The fourth
officer was in one of them, but l cannot
say which one. All was confusion. The
ropes broke and the occupants were
thrown into the water 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
I'VE were SO glad when we saw the Car
mania come. for we said: Now we shall
all be saved.
THE firemen rushed up from below and
refused to go back. The captain drew his
revolver and drove them below. but soon
after, as the fire was spreading, they were
obliged to abandon the engines.
Women Become Hysterical.
LAS soon as the Carmania was sighted
the captain made all the women and
children go to one side and the men to
the other side He had been compelled to
leave the bridge and go aft because 1t
was too hot. Women wept. shrieked,
laughed and became hysterical.
I've had not thought of food, but in the
afternoon We considered 1t better to get
something. and went to the kitchens,
which we found deserted, made coffee
and helped ourselves to biscuit and beef.
But most Of the passengers refused to
eat.
1--WE saw RATS sent from the Carmania.
but nobody told US to jump In. In fact.
We knew not what they were there for.
About o o'clock the decks aft began to
get warm: then hotter and hotter. But
we did not seem to feel the heat"
When shown his boot with the sole half
burned through. Trintepohl said:
II don't remember this, but 1t 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 l am good swimmer. and
an English passenger and one of the
crew said they would accompany me. !
jumped first: they followed. but I never
saw them again.
II made for the German ship. but they
did not hear me. Then 1 came toward
the Carmania and shouted Hep and
was seen by aid of the searchlight
was about an hour In the sea, and be-
came half-unconscious. l know not how
During the day Ave sailors and one
steward fell into the fire and were burn
ed to death.
Denies Boats Got Away.
IT know nothing more. came away
because IL was too hot to stay any
longer, and feared the wohle ship
would blow up"
When Trintepohl was told that accord
ing to the captains wireless message six
boats had been launched. and two got
away. he said: 1T Is not so. l was
there all the time and saw everything.
No boat got away"
Mr.. Spurseon in his own account tells
of the attempts to get lifeboats along
side the Volturno. Nothing he says,
was seen of the two boats launched
with about twenty passengers each, after
they left the Volturno's SIDE Four
others were smashed against the ships
side and the occupants either killed or
drowned.
"At 8 o'clock Thursday night the cap
tain Of the Volturno sent q despairing
message, which read: For Gods sake.
helm us or We perish
Spared the After Deck.