The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
SAFETY AT SEA
ny MRS. FLOREN CE KELLEY
Secretary National Consumers' Leagu

York demonstrated with Captain Krei-
bohm. saying in substance; I'VE shall
not reach the burning ship in time to
do any good BY night the passengers
will be dead and the ship sunk. We
are getting more and more belated. Why
do we go back?'' He waited until she was
all through and then replied simply: I'VE
may save one life"
This spirit animated officers and crew.
this infinite respect for one human kfe.
1t is in. the sharpest. contrast to the
reckless failure OF the steamship COM
panies to provide enough seamen.
We arrived in sight of the burning boat
between 6 and clock on Thursday even
Ing The sea was then such that no boats
could be lowered until about midnight.
Then. in the captains gig, the first Of
ficer and six Of the 26 searnen rowed to-
wards the Volturno. as close as the sea
and the fire permitted, and returned.
They reported that nothing could be done
by our lifeboats until the waves sub
sided, that 400 people were alive on the
Volturno, the wind blowing the flames
and smoke away from the stern where
the survivors were assembled.
After short time, the same first Of
ficer called for 16 volunteers to man a
lifeboat. which went out with ~ searnen
two walters from the saloon. dining room
and two stokers. They returned bringing
three men who had jumped from the
burning steamer Some others appear
to have jumped, but not to have reached
the lifeboat. After an interval, second
lifeboat was lowered from the Kroon-
land with the fifth officer and 16 men, of
whom one was a dining room steward
making his second trip (this same stew
ard made two trips the following morn
ing) This second lifeboat brought back
a number of survivors.
A n fnln In han ,ivx<r -
erations We're perforce suspended because
the seamen. the stewards and the fire.
men were too exhausted to go out again
without an interval of rest Meanwhile
the Grosser Kurfurst seems to have been
able to continue the work throughout the
night. 1t rescued I understand, 1870 sur
vivors compared with IS saved by the
Kroonland, although we were the first
ship to reach the scene in response to
the call for help transmitted by the Car
mania, and the last to leave, bringing
with us Captain Inch and his dog.
The humanity and the combined eau
ton and daring of Captain Kreibohm led
the first cabin passengers of the Kroon-
land to sign (without the commission OF a
single nanle) memorial to him, EXPRESS
ing our gratitude and admiration. The
officers and men who manned the life-
'oats faced death at every moment They
knew that all the boats lowered from
.he Volturno during the day had been
lost with all on board, so fearful was
the sea. Yet dhe Kroonland's officers
and men enlisted eagerly to man her iife-
boats. little group OF heroes.
The marvels OF wireless teleRraphy.
too. command afresh the admiration, Of
the world. Without wireless no soul
aboard the Volturno would have been
saved.
Admiration is due the Red Cross and
the Hebrew Immigrants Aid society
for their skill in reuniting families.
But heroism.. devotion. skill--the hu-
man interest OF the thrilling tales Of
rescue and reunion-must< not be al