The Washington times., 1913-10-14
IIFEBOATS | ROTTEN,
SURVIVOR ASSERTS
Broke Like Eggshes Against Side of Boa-0ne Lowered by
Passengers of VoIIrno Had Hole in Bottom-Captain
Cut Ropes to Prevent Others Being Launched.

All who attempted to leave the VOL
turno in our boats We're lost.
The fact that the last TO be taken
off were mostly women and children
does not indicate cowardice on tne
part of the crew Or the men passen-
gers. A great many men and sailors
Jumped overheard during THURSDAY
night Some were drowned and others
were rescued by the surrounding steam
ers. There We're few besides women
and children and the volturno's OFF,
GERS left aboard when the lifeboats got
to US early Friday morning"
injured By Jump.
Hendrick Mennema, thirty-three,
the Dutch second cook on the Vol
turno, was one Of those injured in
jumping from the burning ship. His
leg was broken and he arrived In La
Touraine's hospital
Until the engines were abandoned
I saw no confusion and no trouble"
he said. 'T did not see Captain lnch
draw his pistol and 1 think that story
is a fabrication, because there was no
occasion for a display Of force. NO
body tried to quit work
The passengers were reassured
from time to time by Captain Inch.
controlled and that the Carmania was
coming.
stewards stopped fighting fre long
enough to distribute coffee and sand
wiches among the steerage and bring
milk for the babies. I think that
everybody. I saw no cowardice and
no cruelty. Those who lost their
lives, did SO through their own haste.
First On Scene.
Il cannot understand how the Car
r,op;o Gonna IN oova oplv one If waa
the first ship to reach US.
lowering myself by a rope into one Of
La Touraines boats. This was my
first trip, after four years on land.
The Volturno's boats saved no ono.
l cannot account for that, but I am
positive that all Of us would have
| and I think the Narragansett deserves
the most credit Of all. for furnishing
the oil that Gained the waves.
Few Of the survivors. aboard the
Touraine spoke English or French.
| and were unable to communicate with
their rescuers. They kneeled on the
decks and wept today when q tug
| boat, meeting the liner at the harbor's
entrance, brought score Of newspa-
per correspondents who could speak
Dutch and German. When some Of
those on the tug gave the survivors
money, they kissed their hands. All of
them had lost their baggage. and had
only the clothes they wore. and little
! money"
LIVERPOOL, Oct. 1.-THE following
facts were brought out or substantiated
| today by the first complete story of the
burning Of the volturno:
The Volturno had only nine 1ifeboats
that were fit for use.
All apparently were rotten, and not in
condition for launching.
The crew seemed ignorant of their use,
and passengers help drag six of them
] over the side.
One Of those that was smashed, was
/ lowered with hole in its bottom.
The fire apparently smoldered for
hours before IT was discovered.
Four and perhaps more Of the crew
were smothered in the forecastle by
smoke before the fire was discovered.
Members Of the crew saw no coward
ice, and denied that Captain Inch used
his pistol to keep the flre-fighters at
work.
No confusion or panic was noticed
among passengers or crew.
Women and children were the last 10
be taken OF the Volturno because many
men leaped overheard during the night,
and few waited for the lifeboats of the
rescue fleet
Ten little babies, all separated from
their parents, We're rescued by La
Touraine and cared for by women In
the first-class cabins