Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-10-13
Wild Panic Ensues in Which
Crew Show Themselves
Cowards.
BEAT OFF THE WOMEN.
Officers of Ill-Fatcd Steamer Behave
Splendidly But Their Men Acted in
Brutal Manner.

London, Eng, Oct. Is. The first
survivors story of the tragedy Of the
burned liner Volturno, in which 1876
men, women and children y3ied. is be-
ing told.
The survivor is Walter Trentepohl,
German stcerage passenger, who
was picked up by the Cunarder as he
lloated near where she was standing
by the Volturno, with a life belt about
HIM His account tells in simple,
tcrse, direct fashion dreadful mar
rative Of men gone mad, of cowarlice,
and beast-like fighting to escape; of
death by fire and by drowning, of
the black terror that overcame almost
all; Of the bravery of the officers; of
destruction that overlook five boats
through being crushed against
the side of the ship when safety was
just beyond; OF the separation of
men from women and children so that
the latter might be saved; Of the aw-
full fight for the boats when men of
; the crew beat off mothers with
a.abes in their arms, and Of his own
thrilling escape.
The story was obtained just before
the survivor lapsed into unconscious
ness from pneumonia caused by his
iuus exposure IN the water
His narrative was pieced together
by Arthur Spurgeon Carmania pas
senger who talked with the incoher-
ent and sometimes delirious victim
who spoke in broken English before
the illness brough insensibility. And
the statement is amplifed by per-
sonal report from Mr.. Spurgeon who
! is booked on the Carmania's list as be-
ing from New York
Mr. Spurgeon describes graphically
the dash of the Cunarder on the res
cue mission and the frightful sight
that was revealed when the wind tore
away the curtain Of black smoke that
disclosed the ship being consumed by
flames with those left aboard her hud-
died together on the stern.
This grim chapter came by the same
J medium that kept the rec
ord from being blacker-the wireless.
The Carmania, due in Queenstown in
The morning found sea too rought to
atep there, she is proceeding directly
to Liverpool. To end the agony of
suspense, her captain sent Trinte-
pohl's and Spurgeon's story ashore by
radiograph.
Trintepohl, who had been employed
at Barcelona, Spain, took q third class
passage on the Folturno from Rotter
dam,to obtain a position Offered him
at New York.
GAN went well, sad Trintcpohl, "un-
ill 6 o'clock Thursday morning, when
the first alarm sounded.
"Wc were aroused and told to go on
deck as fire had broken out in the
hold On assembling, life belts were
handed around, and wuch time was oc~
cupicd in fastening them.
I'VE were told that the fire might
soon being 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 III
4 o'clock there was croy to lower the
\ boats
"rhc captain behaved splendidly, SO
did the officers. who were English.
Iam sorry to say the crew who were
/ Germans ;and Belgians. behaved very
! badly.
"The people rushed about wildly
ami the crew seemed to think they
ought to have first place, and instead
of quieting the passengers they made
the panic worse.
1.-The first officer took charge of tht
first boat, but, though he wanted III,
women and children saved firsta ma
iority of those who entered the boa
we're members of the crew.
This boat was smashed against tn
Ships side as it. was being lowered
Jus as it reached the water it brok