The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-30
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT
OF DISASTER
FARGO MAN WHO WAS ON
BOARD CAMPANlA TELLS OF
THE BURNING OF THE VOL
TURNo-FEW DRY EYES ON
BOARD THE GREAT cAMPANIA.

The following letter written by a
to readers of The Forum:
On board the r. M. S, Carmania,
Friday, Oct. Ito The Forum: l
know that the report of the burning
of the Volturno has been known by
you for some time, but I presume that
1t will be Of interest to the Fargo
people to have an account from one
Of their number. Word was passed
to all the passengers Of our ship at
breakfast on Thursday morning that
a ship was on fire seVenty-eight miles
north Of us, n we pulled up full
speed direct to them. Words can
never convey the impression made up
on me. I saw the crew drawing out
and manning the life boats, bringing
out ropes, ladders and buoys. Every
eye was dimmed as we looked for
ward. and at II a. m we were in
sight and could see the smoke as it
came rolling toward us. We shouted
to them to have courage and they
beckoned back to us. We were SO
close that we could see women hold
ing their babies out to us. The sea
was terribly rough and the wind high,
making it almost impossible for our
ship to lower lifeboats. The boat
which they got away was dashed
again and again against the ships
side. Bravely they rowed out to the
burning ship, but in vain. Time and
time again they were swept out of
our view, and when they rose they
went farther and farther away. After
two hours Of fruitless efforts and with
three oars left out Of eight, they gave
up and came back. They went against
wind and sea for three miles after
working four and a half hours under
the greatest difficulties.
Our captain tool us within 100
yards of the burning vessel, and we
threw out six floats, each capable Of
carrying thirty people, but all were
lost. We then threw out buoys; they
were also carried away. Early In
the morning they had cast down six
Of their life boats, O Il of which were
torn to pieces and two were lost in
the sea with about ~thirty-tiVe people
on each.
Darkness was coming on and the
fire was burning fiercely. Oh! how
u hearts ached to see them. We
were 1000 miles east of New York and
1000 miles west of Liverpool. We had
kept up the distress signal for them
all day and were answered by ten
ShlpS AT y O'Clock the fire suddenly
burst forth again with more violence
than ever, and they tent forth their
sky rockets which is the final appeal
and last call in distress, and the cap
tain sent his final message For Gods
sake send us help" Think, if you can,
Of nine magnificent ships carrying
fully 5000 people with outstretched
hands at this hour awaiting the doom
Of 657 souls. At $50 a terrible ex-
plosion occurred ON the burning ship
and men leaped into the water, and
the "Carmania" carrying the only
~searchlight guided one to us, and he
swan and fioated aaginst the heavy
sea and chilling wind three miles and
was rescued by us. Nothing more
could be done. The dark hours SEEM
ed more like an age than q night, and
at $3.50 a. m. on Friday, through the
united efforts of all the ships, and the
management of our captain, Commo-
dore Barr, and the kind act IF provid-
ence in calming the sea, $40 people
We're rescued.
We have pictures of the scene, and
will gladly furnish them to you upon
our return
We will land in Liverpool Monday
some thirty-six hours late.
Yours faithfully,
w. L, Finch.