The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-17
Rcfutes Interviews With Steer
age Passengers That Crew
Acted as towards.
DEFENDS OFFICERS AND MEN
Makes No Criticism OF Tactics
OF Any OF the Boats That
Stood By.

New York. October 16.-Francis Inch,
the boyish-l looking Briton who com
manded the burned steamer Volturno,
came to port tonight, bringing with
him eighty-seven survivors, passen-
gers and crew OF his ill-fated vessel
Ills story OF the disaster, IN which 1876
lives were lost. had preceded him by
wireless, but In n cabin OF the steam
ship kroonland. which brought him
here, Captain Inch told his tale in sim
ply phrased and modestly spoken de-
tail that described still more wildly
the panorama OF the Nolturnos loss
and tho rescue OF more than 500 OF
those she had on board
Cowardice there was none on the
Nolturno. either among officers or
crew. Inch said. There was no rush
of seamen which made il necessary for
him to warn them back with his re-
volver His revolver was in q drawer
ship and no one on board drew a re-
Volver These statements ne intended
should refute the stories told by steer
age passengers who arrived yesterday
on the Grosser Kurfuerst.
Makes No Criticism.
The Volturno's master, besides de-
Tending his own officers and men. said
he had no criticism to make OF the tao
ties OF any of the boats that stood by.
The Carmana did its best, the same
as the others" he said There Is
nothing but praise for every one. |
didn't expect a boat could live In those
seas when the Carmania and the other
first few ships came up. The Carma-
mia did drop a boat" Inch declared.
but it could not get near. for the Vol
turno drifted faster than the crew
could row
Eighteen cabin and two steerage
passengers entered the first lfeboat
that ventured to leave the Volturno.
Only enough of the crew stepped into
self in its after-tackle and capsized.
All in il were drowned, except Chic /
officer Miller and Il steward.
Into the next boat went thirty pas
sengers and ten sailors. This boat got
away. but has not been heard from.
The third boat tooff off forty, ten OF
them sailors AS she settled into the
water ten more jumped aboard from
the Nolturno's deck. y wave swept it
under the Volturno's stern. "Shc just
sat on it and crushed it out of sight"
said Inch. The bos'n dived, and was
the only one TO escape"
Denies Stcerase Stories.
Inch denied reports of rotting tackle
and fire hose and of unsafe lifeboats
all of which were in good condition, he
said. lie also denied stories of steerage
passengers that women were swept
overheard and babies trampled on in a
rush to be rescued into the Grosser
Kurfuerst's first boat.
Before L climbed down I went over
the ship to see if any one remained
Inch said. The fire had eaten it's way
beyond amidships under the decks.
found no one alive. though there were
bodies in the forccastle. men who had
been cut off and burned to death ]
went to the rail with my dog. wrapping
1t In blanket. l leaned over. Here,
said. catch my baby l dropped the
dog into the arms of n Kroonland Off
Ger in the lifeboat. He opened the
blanket tenderly. Why, it's n dog he
said. Il thought II was your KID
Inch's three kids" and their mother
are in London. One of his first acts
upon arriving here was to send them a
cablegram. Their father went thirty
six hours without eating Or drinking,
refusing to leave the work OF fire fight
ing. blast OF heat blinded his eyes
with pain, and the skin pealed from
his face, when he received his first
medical attention after being rescued.
They had to drop cocaine into his eyes
Before no could see again.
Among the survivors on the KYoon-
land were three children. the where
abouts OF their parents unknown.