The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-13
CARMANIA REACHES
PORT AFTER RESCUE
Walter Trintepohl Gave the
First Account of the Dis
aster That Befell the Ship
Volturno in Mid-ocean
but Story Is Incoherent

ers which brought succor to the Inflated
volturno when she was burning in mid
ocean had arrived at their destination
this morning. BY wireless report from
the Carmania, the first to reach the
scene of the disaster, it was said she
would probably reach Fishguard this aft
ernoon.. All the other vessels which
PLAYED such a heroic part in the rescue
of the volturno's passengers and which
are coming to Europe are expected to
reach port with the survivors to-day or
tomorrow. The Uranium line officials
have made plans to forward those who
wish to America on other vessels as soon
as possible.
London, Oct. l3.--Forty of the one
hundred and thirty-six persons lost from
the steamship Volturno in mid Atlantic
on Thursday were in the two boats
which succeeded in getting away from
the burning vessels, and which without
doubt were swamped, The majority of
LIe OtlleI NlititbS ioob thtb iNNo "si1h
four other boats were smashed against
the steamers sides in an attempt to
launch them.
All this occurred before the arrival of
the Carmania and the other liners sum-
moned by wireless calls for help. From
the Carmanina's lone survivor comes
thrilling story of the burning OF the
steamer, of the terror, the struggle for
the boats, the death of those who went
over the sides and his own desperate
fight for life.
Arthur Spurgeon, passenger on the
Carmania, in wireless dispatch, sup
pements his own description of the race
of the Carmania to the burning vessel
and the rescue of the passengers of the
volturno by the story told him by the
survivor, Walter Trintepohl, German,
who swan to the Carmania and was
rescued in an exhausted condition. Since
being taken aboard the Carmania Trinte
pohl has been in the ships hospital,
threatened with pneumonia. He told his
story TO Mr.. Spurgeon before he became
seriously ill, but owing to his exhausted
state and his broken English his ac-
count of the disaster was somewhat in.
coherent.
"All went WELL" said Trintepohl, "un-
til six 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. On as
sembling life belts were handed around
and much time was occupied in fastening
them. We were told that the fire might
soon be quenched, but the captain
thought it wise for all to have belts as
precaution.
"The fire frightened the children, who
cried bitterly. There were many babies
in arms.
"The fire grew worse. We saw things
blazing down below. About ten o'clock
there was a cry to lower the boats.
"The captain behaved splcnddly. So
did the officers, who were English. /
am sorry to say that the crew, who were
Germans and Belgians, behaved very
badly. The people rushed about wildly,
and the crew seemed to think they ought
to have first place, and instead Of quiet
ing the passengers they made the panic
worse.
"The first officer took charge of the
first boat, but, although he wanted the
women and children saved first, ma
jority of those who entered 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 steward had thrown
provisions in he jumped in himself
, There were more men than women and
children in this boat, which did not 90
down from the davits for it was broken
against the ship and all were drowned
"These two boats were amidships
Three other boats We're put out aft
The fourth officer was in one of them
but ! cannot say which one. All was
confusion. The ropes broke and the oc-
cupants were thrown into the water and
drowned or killed. When the captain
saw what had happened he cut the
tackle of the other boats so that they
could not be launched
eve were so glad when we saw the
Carmania come, for we said: Now we
shall all be saved
"The firemen rushed up from below
and refused to go back. The captain
drew his revolver and drove them below,
but soon after, as the fire was spreading,
they were obliged to abandon the boilers
"As soon as the Carmania was sighted