The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-10-24
MODEST STORY or
WIRELESS HEROES
IOlDBY OPERATORS
PART THE WIRELESS TELE-
GRAPH PLAYED IN VoLTUR-
NO TRAGEDY.
DIFFICULTY IN SENDING SIGNALS
Issued Distress Calls for Seventeen
Hours, and Until instruments Re-
fused to work, Carrying Them to
Upper Deck for Final Service.

Upper Deck for Final Service.
NEW YORK, Oct. 1S.-The part
the wireless played in the Volturno
tragedy is told in the following log,
kept by Senior Operator w. Seldom,
of the lost ship;
"Oct. 9.-Voluturno found to be on
fire 6:55 a. M, latitude 1912 north,
34.51 west longitude. At the time
my junior, Mr.. Pennington, was on
watch, when captain gave out or
ders send out distress signals, which
done Immediately. We then called
steamers Carmania, Seydlitz,/ Grosser
Kerfuerst, individually. Immediately
finished calling Seydlitz answered.
We gave him our position replied
was coming under force steam to our
aid Just as junior gave our position
l reached cabin; Immediately gave
out distress call soon as finished with
Seydlitz, getting instant reply from
Carmania. Then gave him position.
His reply was, Coming all speed
now, fifty-nine miles from you. Hope
reach you 3 p. m. Greenwich merid-
ian time but he arrived 2.10 p. m.
| Greenwich meridian time) During
this time we kept up incessant COM
munication. After giving Carmania
position, Grosser Kerfuerst answer
ed. Then l again gave position. He
then replied, Coming all speed
Great difficulty experienced in re-
ceiying, owing occasional earthing Of
aerial through leads coming into con-
| nection with water tanks on deck,
this caused by sagging of aerial ow-
ing foremost supports giving way.
After some time they managed to
get mast propped, then leads altered
right position, no more earthing took
place, signals quite o. k. Further
hampered by ship rolling so great al
most impossible send at times.
"Carmania sent out calls. About
half an hour later was in communi-
cation steamer Kroonland, 1OS miles
distant. Also gave him position. He
replied, Cheer up. old man; coming
all speed your rescue Five p. m.
| steamer Seydlitz came alongside to
windward. Thirty minutes later the
Grosser Kerfuerst arrived. At this.
time Carmania ten miles distant,
cruising for our missing boats which
left ship when fire broke out On
request returned Immediately, all this
time in continuous communication
with all ships around us. Received
prompt reply all this time.
"1:06 Greenwich meridian time).-
Power set gave out Did best. Used
it as long as possible Towards end
current so poor junior holding start
ing handle taking out all resistance.
/ Then commenced using emergency
set, which lasted IL midnight Green
| witch meridian time), when owing
magazine explosion blowing away the
aerial could work no longer. Worked
set from outbreak fire thus keeping
communication seventeen hours.
then only left posts owing aerial go
ing. If this had not occurred accum-
. ualtors would have. lasted several
hours longer.
| From start junior stood by me, de-
serves great credit for way rendered
valuable assistance conveying mes
sages to and from captain, who for
ward fighting flames. When we
could do no more inside cabin did
what little possible on deck. This
very little. owing passengers refus-
ling jump for boats which. could not
come right alongside owing suction
being great,
"2 a. m. Greenwich meridian time.)
Oct. 10.-Junior jumped for Kroon-
Hand boat, captain order; picked up
unconscious. l stayed until last boat
left with captain. chief engineer, re-
mainder of crew. w. Seldom.
"Senor Operator"