Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-15
CAPT. INCH OF VOLTUR-
NO TELLS HIS STORY
Continued from Page one.)

abandonment of the steamer But the
night passed without the happening
Capt. Inch feared, and wind and sea
having moderated, the transfer of the
passengers to the steamers lowering
about the blazing Volturno, was be-
gun at early dawn and accomplished
in less than three hours without mis-
hap. BY that time the fire was eating
up through the after matches. how
ever, and captain and crew left the
doomed steamer to her fate.
Captain Francis Inch of the Volturno'
sent his story of the disaster by wire
less, tonight, from the kroonland, on
which he Is being brought to this port,
to the offices Of the Uranium Line,
here. Capt. Inch's nara tive reads:
AT $50 A. NJ. Oct 9. 1913. Lat 1912,
Nerth. Long. 34.5l West, fire was re-
ported in hold No. by chief officer.
At 655 A. NJ, flames were burning
through the No. matches, setting fire
to the foreeastie and all deck fittings.
/ slowed the ship down and kept her
before the wind to enable us to put the
steam extinguishers In operation, also
three fire hose from deck connections.
The flames were gaining rapidly.
reaching the height of the foremost
light and imprisoning the watch be-
low, who were burned to death in the
foreca stle.
"A series of explosions now occurred,
wrecking the saloon and hospital amid
ships. the compass and steering gear
being also damaged by the explosions.
l gave orders to get help by wireless
as soon as the flames burned the
hatclies.
1t seemingly being impossible to
save the ship, ] had boats provisioned
ana swung out. The ship was rolling
5 heaViiy. Boats Nos. 10 and were
smashed. out No. 2 was lowered in the
water with cabin passengers and stew
ardess in charge of Chief Officer Fl y
miller After this boat left the shin
she capsized, throwing her occupants
INTO The water. She afterwards right
ca herself and several of the crew eot
paek INTO the boat the chief officer
being one OF them. The No 6 boat was
lowered and got away safely filed
WIN steeraee passengers In charge of
Fourth officer Langsel The Ne. :
boat on being lowered was caught nm
DER the stern of the ship, the boat be-
ing completely wrecked.
Meanwhile, the chief engineer. two
seamen and myself fought the fire and
apparently subdued the flames. r gave
eroers to send no more boats away
as | had received word from the Cur
mania that she was hoping to be with
us-sby II A. M. Life belts were served
out and put on each passenger. The
passengers now became calmer. Food
was served out to them.
a. A. NJ, the bunker was found
10 be ablaze 1t being impossible to
stop the fire in the bunker on account
of the gases, the watertight doors
were closed and water poured down
the No. hatch onto the fire. but the
fire was gaining all the time.
At ii A. Nj. the Carmania arrived
and lowered boat. but it could not
reach the ship on account of the high
seas. Asked Carmania to look for the
NO. boat, The steamship Seydlitz ar
rived and lowered boats which could
not reach us. About Q p NJ, the Car
mania returned and tried TO reach the
ship with life RATS. bat all drifted
past our bow, too far away.
Several steamers had arrived by
dusk. the Krooniand put away boats
alongside. but were swept away each
time.
''At $50 p. M, the saloon and chart
house were flaming. The deck, bridge
ane all before the funnel were blazing
Hereby. Pumps and dynamos stop
ped for want of steam. Marceni op-
orators working with the accumula-
tors. until IL p. NJ. when the maya
zine on the bridge blew up, carrying
The aerial away.
Several boats by this time were
laying off the ship and induced pas
sengers to. jump and they were res
cued by boats. AT IL A. M, midnight
the weather was overcast and squally.
Operations We're suspended, il being
too dark for boats to see. The fire
meanwhile worked through the wom-
ems steerage TO the after end of the
ship. but we kept knowledge of this
from the passengers, who were quiet
throughout the rest of the night.
1.-THE chief engineer. the Marconi
men and seamen and myself passed
the night making small RATS in case
the. fire burned through the deck be-
fore daylight.
AL DID a M, the Hfst boat az
rived. Weather and sea having mod
Grated, boats were enabled to come
alongside ship which enabled passen
gers to embark quickly. All the steam
ers laying around the ship sent boats.
Now We were enabled 10 load three
boats with passengers at once. The
passengers left in a very orderly way
and there was no panic, women
breaking down and crying when help
was alongside. and all were off the
ship by A. NJ. about 400 passengers
/ searched the ship myself and found
no one else on board, 50 decided TIC
abandon her as the No. 3 hatch was
well alight ny now, so with remainder
OF crew embarked on the Kroonland
.Nothing at all has been heard OF tn
two missing boats. Passing vessels wer
asked to keep a lookout for them.
II wish to express my heartiest thank
and gratitude TO the captains of ship
who stood by; also to the officers ap
crews who came 10 our assistance. Fo
their bravery and endurance in their Ell
deayor to Come alongside the ship. ais