The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-10-15

story told him by the survivor, Wal
ter Trintepohl. a German, who
swan to the Carmania and was res
cued in an exhausted condition.
Since, being taken aboard the Car
mania. Trintepohl has been in the
ships hospital, threatened with
pneumonia.
"All went WELL" said Trintepohl,
until 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. AS
the passengers assembled life belts
we're handed around, and much time
was occupied in fastening them. We
were told the fire might soon be
quenched, but the captain thought
it wise for all to have belts as a pre-
caution.
THE fire grew worse. We saw
things blazing down below. About
10 O'Clock the order came to lower
the boats
THE captain behaved splendidly.
So did the officers, who were Eng
fish. ! am sorry to say that the
crew, who were Germans and Bel
gians, behaved very badly. The peo-
pie rushed about wildly, and the
crew seemed to think they ought to
have first place. and instead of
quieting the passengers, made the
panic worse.
1.-THE first officer took charge of
the first boat, but although he want
ed the women and children saved
first, majority of those who enter
ed the boat were members of the
crew.
This boat was smashed against
the ships side. Just as it reached
the water it broke in two and all
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 stew
ard 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 We're drowned.
Those two boats were amidships.
Three other boats were put out aft.
The fourth officer was in one of
them, cannot say which. 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 they could not be
launched.
I'VE were so glad when we saw
the Carmania come. for we said
" Now We shall all be saved
''As soon as the Carmania was
sighted the captain made all the wO-
men and schildren go to one side.
and the men to the other side. He
had been compelled to leave the
bridge and go aft because it was too
hot. Women wept. shrieked, laugh
ed and became hysterical.
1--WE saw RATS sent from the Car
mania but nobody told us to jump
In In fact, we did not know what
they were there for. About 6
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.
II 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 II
better to jump. for am good
swimmer. and an English passenger
and one of the crew said they would
accompany me. jumped first. they
followed. but never saw them
again.
Il made for the German ship, but
they did not hear me. Then l came
toward the Carmania and shouted.
Help! Help! and was saved by aid
of the .'earchlight. | was about an
hour in the sea. and became half un-
conscious. | do not know how was
got out.
IL know nothing more | came
away because il was too hot to stay
any longer and ! feared the whole
ship would blow up"
When Trintepohl was told that
according to the captains wireless
message, six boats had been launch
ed and two got away. he said;
1T Is not so. ! was there all the
A n.