The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-10-17
STEAMER BURNS;
MANY LIVES LOST
VESSEL GOES DOWN AFTER SCI
OUT or eBt PASSENGERS
HAVE BEEN RESCUED.
Wireless Calls Ten Lines to Aid Of
Doomed ship, But LIfeboats Are
Beaten Back by Waves and
Passengers Are Drowned.

London Not since the sinking OF
the Titanic has there been recorded
such tragedy at sea as the burning
Of the steamship volturno in mid-At-
lantic, on October IL, with loss, 80
far as at present known, of 1856 lives
and the rescue Of 521. The survivors
we're placed aboard feet of steam
ers summoned by the Volturno's calls
for help. some OF which are bound
eastward and others westward.
The volturno sailed from Rotter-
dam ON October 5 for New York.
According to the official statement,
she carried twenty-five first-class
cabin passengers, 538 steerage and a
crew numbering SO. The rescue ships
reached the scene OF the disaster In
plenty Of time to save all, but for
hours stood by the blazing vessel,
impotent because of the storm to
reach the agonized men, women and
children crowding the after part OF
the ship and within stones throw.
All night Thursday the lifeboats
made desperate effort to get along
side the Volturno, but the waves
beat them back again, and not until
the storm abated at daylight Friday
did the rescuers succeed In receiving
the survivors from the doomed ship.
The Voiturno was well equipped
with boats, sufficient, the agents say.
for thosuand people, but the bois
ferrous sea or lack of boat drill or
panic among the passengers prevent
Ing the successful employment OF
them. The rescue ships were able
to lower lifeboats, but apparently
most of the boats launched from the
volturno were smashed or upset and
the occupants drowned. Two of the
boats. crowded with passengers, are
reported to have got away from the
ship, but a search for them has
proved fruitless and they have prac
tically been given up as lost. The
occupants OF these boats are includ
ed in the death roll.
The steamer Carmania, bound fol
New York from Liverpool, was sew
enty-eight miles away when the cal
for help sounded. Captain Barr, or
dering full steam, In spite of the
gale. drove through the seas at TWEEN
ty knots an hour and was first of the
fleet to reach the burning vessel. Sh'
was followed by La Touraine, Min
neapolis. Rappahannock, Gar Mar
ragansett, Devonian, Kroonland
Grosser Kurfuerst and Seydlitz a
various hours throughout the day
But try as they might, the rescuinl
vessels could not get either line o
lifeboat to the Volturno.
The burning steamer lay in tn,
trough of the seas, pounding helr
lessly, with her propellers fouled b.
the boats tackle The terrified pas
sengers were huddled together al
far as 1t was possible to get from
the flames, while throughout tn,
day the officers and crew fought des
perately with whatever appliance
were at hand to hold the fire II
check But night came on and tn
seas abated only slightly. The circl
OF steamers kept their searchlight
, playing and waited patiently within
the danger zone for the first momen
when they might again launch tn
lifeboats.
, When day broke the Volturno wa
! still afloat. The gale had moderate'
and the seas almost Gained down
From every one OF the encirclln
! steamers lifeboats were sent out an,
to these women and children wer
: lowered first. Several trips were nee
/ essary before the survivors were re
} moved to place OF safety.