The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-13
Volturno Disaster F'oreseen.

Volturno- Disaster Foreseen.
New York, Oct. 13.-A. story of pre-
monition of such a disaster as occurred
in the burning of the steamer Volturno
at sea has turned I'D. as such stories
so often do following great catas-
trophies but always to be regarded as
remarkable Mrs. F. W. Alexander
of this city. who has made so many
trips on the Uranium line steamships
that she knows many officers of the
line. has reported to the company S
offices here that c. J. Pennington, one
of the wireless operators On the Vol
turno, had told her about a month ago
of a terrifying dream he had had of a
fire aboard the ship at sea. In his
sleep he said he saw himself at work
at his instruments calling for help
while passengers were in panic. Help
came finally from many big ships just
as 1T turned out in the Volturno disas-
ter and he was among the rescued.
Mrs. Alexander declared that the
young mans dream had so affected
him that he had written his employers
asking to be transferred
Captain Spangenberg's Report.
New York, Oct. 13.-The part played
by the steamer Grosser Kurfurst in the
tragedy of the volturno is described
IN a wireless message received by the
North German Lloyd line today from
Captain Spangenberg.
burning condition." reads the message.
The fire commenced with q heavy ex-
plos1on in the bow, resulting in the
death of several of the passengers and
crew. Eleven vessels surrounded the
Volturno. A heavy north-northwest
storm, high seas and swell prevailed.
Two boats of the GroSser kurfurSt
remained on the water all night but it
was almost impossible to approach the
wreck.
During the night 80 persons were
saved by the two boats and at dawn
6S more. One of the Volturno's boats.
containing five men, was picked up and
the men taken on board.
Their boat sank Immediately after
their rescue"
Although the total saved by the
Grosser Kurfurst as given above is
los, the classification of the rescued a:
counts for but 104 in the next para
graph of the message which reads as
follows:
Saved, Grosser Kurfurst, Sc passen-
gers, second officer, one engineer, so of
crew. Total saved by all ships 523.
About 100 are missing. When We left
the Carmania and Touraine were
searching the sea for two of the Vol
turno's boats which were full of pas
sengers. but their success was impro-
bable. Almost all of the Volturno's
boats were smashed by high seas when
lowered.
THE wreck of the Volturno is drift
ing and dangerous to shipping. We
continued our voyage after losing "A
hours.
THE survivors were we'll cared for
and comfortably lodged" The Grosser
kurfurst should reach this port We'd
nesday.
"On Friday Second Officer E. L.
Lloyd of the Volturno, was one of the
0f Hn III ytAt- u f0l1 f-.o,
a height of 20 feet while repairing the
wireless apparatus on hoard his YES
sci, but continued to fight the fire all
day and at o'clock in the evening
made perilous trip to the Grosser
K urfuerSt in small boat with three
others from the sVolturno. The little
craft was sinking when she was pick
ed up by one of the life boats from
the Grosser Kurfuerst. The total num-
Der of those saved is believed to be
$685."
Captain Inch's Last Message.
London, Oct. 13.-The last message
received by the Carmania from the
of the doomed steamship
Volturno before he abandoned the
burning vessel was follows:
Cannot something be done to help
rs? We must abandon the ship. Her
plates are buckling. stand close as I
may have to jump for it
Captain Francis Inch handed this
% the wireless operator of the Vol
-urno just before he was driven out
IF his room by the flames. Shortly
afterward the Volturno was raging
furnace from funnel to forecastle
The rescue of the only passenger |
aiken on board the Carmania, Walter !
a German, was effected by |
| gallant seaman of the Carma mia s |
rev. His name is HIGHWAY. When !
lie saw that the efforts of those who !
we're trying to reach the man strug-
cling in the water from ladders hang |
ng down the ships side were useless, /
lie dived from the upper deck of the |
Carmania and attached a lifeline to |
he exhausted swimmer.
The British cruiser Donegal was dis |
patched today from the west coast of |
to destroy the blazing derelict |
VOlturno.
Story From the Grosser Klrfuerst.
On Board the North German Lloyd |
steamship Grosser Kurfuerst at Sea-
By wireless telegraph to Cape Race) |
Oct. 13.-"With los survivors on
BOARD from the steamship Volturno,
burned to the waters edge during a |
-ale in mid-Atlantic and abandoned on
Friday last, the Grosser Kurfuerst is
approaching New York. The passen-
:ers and crew of the Grosser Kur-
uerst witnessed some thrilling scenes
when their vessel, called by distress
ignals from the Eolturno, arrived in
Ter vicinity.
I'VE found the Volturno burning
iercely and her crew and passengers
helpless in the heavy seas 1t was
earned by wireless messages from the
tanning vessel that the fire had been
tarted by an explosion in the forward
lold at Z o'clock on Thursday morn
ng ships time.
ION the arrival of the Grosser Kur-
uerst, the flames from the hold of
he Volturno were leaping so feet into
he air through the hatchways 1t
vas learned that fifty or more of the
7olturno's crew and steerage passen-
.ers had been killed by the explosion
nd the fire. Six boats were lowered