Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-10-17

nIeu Win all ~CmFl and children
who cared TO be saved. These boats
had barely touched the water
when ;hey were hurled against tire
side of the Volturno and four Of
them were crushed like egg shells.
rhe other two managed to get
clear of Toe burning vessel and one
was picked 10 by the Gar and
the other by the Seydliz.
; 1t vas then apparent to the cap
tsins Of the eleven vessels that any
attempt at rescue by means of life
boats would prove GnaYailing. Cap
tain Barr then brought the Car.
u aria close TO the stern Of the Vol
turnO and fred several lines at TIE
burning ship, but the gale was too
strong and the leaden ends fell into
the sea. One line carried close 10
the rail and scores Of eager HANDS
reached out TO clutch the line the.
meant safety. But when the lire
fell 3 few feet short o. the Vol
Jurno's q stern cry Of anguish went
up from the frantic passengers
~hich mas carried to the other
vessels.
By consent Of the commanders Of
all Of the vessels in the rescue
fleet Captain Barr was allowed TO
take command Of the situation. He
then decided tha: the ten vessels
that forced the rescue feet would
form in battle line in a circle about
the NOlturEo. Then under half
speed the ten vessels began 10
racrh aronHd the Volturno, then 4
mass Of flames which continued
through the night.
Shortly before dawn the watch
ers on the vessels which formed
the circle were appalled, to see an
immense fame shoot Up from about
the middle OF the Volturno.
Al instant later this was follow
ed by e report which could re
heard on ell of the vessels. When
the mss Of flames and burning ma
lerisl had settled down it was seen
that a great rent had been torn in
the burning vessel. This was later
learned to have been caused by an
explosion Of the boilers.
Up to this time the crew, assist
ed by many Of the male passengers
had put VI a steady fight against
the f mes. For a long time the
steam pumps had been used to
food the holds and when the heat
in the fire room became unbear-
able the hand pumps were put into
action. Many Of the passengers
took turn at these pumps and it
was by the use Of these that the
flames were prevented from reach
ing the sfterholds, over which the
women and children we're huddled.
The wireless accounts received here
tonight differ as 10 how the pass
engcrs lost their lives. Many &C.
counts state that many persons
were either killed in the explosion
OF blown from tFe deck Of the Vol
turno and ere drowned. One cap
tain asserted he could see many
bodies flying through the air fol-
lowing the explosion. The belief
that many had been blown from
the ship was so strong at this time
that scores Of life buoys with lights
attached were set adrift in the
hope that some Of those who rad
been blown from the ship would
be able to reach them in the dark
New York.--Oct l3-Indications
are that there we're no native born
Americans on the steamship Vol
turno. a nearly complete passcn-
ger list received here from Rotter-
dam showed that practically all on
board were emigrants, mostly
bnund for Canada. The total num-
Der Of young children and babies
aboard was ST.
The emiRTants on board the Vol
tUrno were composed of Russians.
Dalmatians, Poles and a few Ger.
mans. Most Of them we're bound
for Canada.
The Volturno sailed under an in