The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-10-17
J Six Hundred Helpless onB Blazing Steamer
Volturno in Midocean.
TWENTY SHIPS ANSWER WIRELESS CALL.
A Survivors Thrilling Story Of the Scene on the
voIturno- Declares the Sailors Made
Panic Worse.

tepohl, q German. who swan to the
Carmania and was rescued in an ex-
hausted condition.
Survivor Seriously III.
Since taken aboard the Carmania
Trintepohl has been in the ships, hos
-pital threatened with pneumonia. He
told his story to Mr.. Sturgeon before
he became seriously i'll, but owing to
his exhausted state and his broken
English his account OF the disaster
was somewhat incoherent.
All went WELL" said Trintepohl,
until s o'clock Thursday morning,
when the fire alarm sounded. We
were aroused and told to go on deck,
as fire had broken out in the hold
On assembling life-belts were handed
saround and much time was occupied
In fastening them. We were told
that the fire might soon be quenched,
but the captain thought 1t was wise
for all to 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 cry to lower.
the boats.
Officers Act NobIy. Z
THE scaptain behaved splendidly.
So did the officers, who were English
! am sorry to say that the crew, who
were Germans and Belgians, behaved
very badly The people rushed about
wildly, and the crew seemed to think
AheY ought to have first place, and
instead Of quieting 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,
q majority Of those who entered the
boat were members OF the crew.
This boat was smashed against the
ships side. Just as 1t reached the
water 1t broke in two, and ali 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 go 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 aft.
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 Carmania 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 be-
lew, 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 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
historical. M
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 5iisterina Decks.
1--WE 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 and hotter. But we did not
seem to feel the heat"
When shown his boot with the sole
half burned through, Trintepohl said
Il 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 good swim