The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-15
AS INCH TELLS IT.
CONTINUED from Psg- one.l

CContinued from Pa g- One.)
failed. because of the heavy weather
to get boats to the burning liner, some
passengers Jumped overheard and were
picked up by the attending craft. BY
midnight the fire had worked its wa!
aft but this direful news was kept from
the passengers, the captain says, ane
there was no panic.
Fearful that the fire might burst
through the after decks before day
break and transform the entire steam
er into a mass of flames, the captain
and crew worked hard through the
small hours making RATS for use in an
emergency requiring the quick aban-
donment of the steamer. But the
night passed without the happening
Captain Inch feared and wind and sea
having moderated, the transfer of the
passengers to the steamers lowering
about the blazing Volturno was begun
at early dawn and accomplished in
less than three hours without mishap.
through the after matches, however,
and captain and crew left the doomed
steamer to her fate.
Captain Inch sent his story of the
disaster by wireless from the Kroon-
land. on which he is being brought to
this port, to the officers of the Uran-
ium line here. Captain Inch's narra-
tive reads:
The Captains Story.
"At $50 a. m, Oct. 9, 1918, latitude
1912 north, longitude 34.51, the fire
was reported in hold No. l. by chief
officer At 6:55 a. m. flames were burn
ing through No. 1 matches, setting fire
to the forecastle and all fittings. 1
slowed the ship down and kept her
before the wind, to enable us to put
the steam extinguishers in operation,
also the fire hose from deck connec-
lions.
"A series of explosions now occurred,
wrecking the salon and hospital amid
ships, the compass and steering gear
being also damaged by the explosions.
I gave orders to get help by wireless
as soon as the flames burnt the
matches.
1T seemingly being impossible to
save the ship, I had boats provisioned
and swung out. The ship was rolling
heavily. Boats Nos. 10 and were
smashed, but No. 2 was lowered in
the water with cabin passeng gers and
stewardess in charge of Chief officer
P. P. Miller. After this boat left the
ship she capsized throwing her occu-
pants into the water. She afterward
righted herself and several of the crew
got back into the boat, the chief officer
being one of them.
THE No. boat was lowered and
got away safely filled with steerage
passengers, in charge of Fourth officer
Langsen. The No. boat on being
lowered, was caught under the stern
of the ship, the boat being completely
wrecked.
Meanwhile, the chief engineer, two
seamen and myself fought the fire and
apparently subdued the flames. I gave
orders to send no more boats away, S
had received word from the Car
mania that she was hoping to be with
us by II a. m. Life belts were served
out and put on each passenger. The
passengers now became calmer. Food
was served out to them.
Bunker Ablaze.
AT a. m. the bunker was found to
be ablaze. 1t being impossible to stop
the fire in the bunker on account of
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. m. the Carmania arrived
and lowered a boat, but could not
reach the ship on account of high seas.
Asked Carmania to look for the No.
boat.
1.-The steamship Seydlitz arrived and
lowered boats which could not reach
us. About p. m. the Carmania re
turned and tried to reach the ship with
life RATS but all drifted past our bow,
too far away.
Several steamers had arrived by
which made four attempts to come
alongside but were swept away each
time.
"At $50 p. m. the salon and chart
house were flaming. The deck. bridge
and all before the funnel were blazing
f1ercely. Pumps and dynamo stopped
for want of steam. Marconi opera
tors working with the accumulation
until II p. m, when the magazine 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 We're res
cued by boats. At II midnight, the
weather was overcast and squally.
Operations were suspended, it 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 spent
the night making small RATS in case
the fire burned through the deck be-
fore daylight
"At Sis a. m, the first boat ar
rived. Weather and sea having mod
Grated, boats were enabled to come
alongside ship which enabled passen-
gers to embark quickly. All the
steamers laying around the ship sent
boats. Now we were enabled to load
three boats with passengers at once.