The sun., 1913-10-15

the gallantry Of Capt. Inch and his on
GERS and crew. Here is the story as Mr..
SQuiers tells IL in his message to THE
Sun.
''Ss. Kroonland. via Sable Island Oc.
tober ith
''on october 2 a, abou, 80 \. NJ the
wireless operator OF the kroonland picked
up a message from the volturno which
said that the Volturno was burning. capt
kreibohm Immediately changed the
kroonland's course and made full speed
toward the position reported by the Vol
tuino
1T was n pitiful cry for help that the
Nolturno sent out. Following the simpi.
call was message, We cant stop
the ftre. Come quick or 6J0 lives will be
lost Neel'nanss the Msrconi operator
on the Kroonland. put all the cheer he
could into the reply hA flashed back Our
message was. Cheer up. We are coming
old man. anu We will TAX. YOU Oft.
There was savage storm and the
Kroonland had to struggle through noun
famous waves We had 100 miles to
cover to goi to the Volturno and YOU
can imagine how the passengers of our
ship felt while Capt. Kr.ibohm was driv-
ing hts ship. We spent part OF the time
In collecting clothes for possible suivi, :
o's. Everybody contributed. women and
men. The cooks and stewards made
ready to supply no; coT-. and food. All
we hoped WAS that God would be good
enough to give us chance to use those
things.
81; was D 80 +. NJ. when we got ga.
the V"lturno A great sea was running.
The Nolturno was blazing like a furnace
all afre forward OF the funnel The
flames shot up in the air fifty or sixty
feet every once in while. A vast cloud
OF smoke was rolling away toward the
M o lNd
ing from the gases generated by the lire.
I'VE could see the passengers grouped
at the stcSn of the ship. Their cries for
help wrunE our hearts. Women could be
seen stretching out their arms toward US
or holding out their babies for US to see
Capt kreibOhm held a consultation with
his officers and then ordered a boat low
cred. There WAS only a gamblers chance
that the boat could struggle to the Vol
turnO. but We were gambling against
death. The brave officers OF tho krOon-
land were determined to risk their own
lives in behalf Of the Voiturno's people.
Fifth Officer kummc and a volunteer
crew goI lifeboat into the sea AT
heavy risk. Several times waves almost
crushed the boat against the Kroonland.
After what seemed an age the boat re-
turned having been unable to get near
the volturno.
The Kroonland was manuuvred 40
that she was brought within hailing dis
tunce. Then there was a terrific eX-
plosion. The magazine OF the Nolturno.
as We found out later. had blown up.
destroying the bridge and the wireless ap'
paratus. The Nolturno sent up rockets.
Again Capt. krsibohm ordered lifeboats
O, erboard and this time the boats were
more successful. They took from the
gers who had literally been driven over
board by the flames. This rescue work
was accomplished between i. NJ. and
midnight.
At daylight the storm had slackcned.
\ great fleet of small boats from the
many steamers that had coupe up and
were standing all around gathered near
the Voturnos stern. Three OF these were
lifeboats fiom our ship and We took on
seventy six more OF the survivors The
last who came on the snip was the brave
captain and he brought his dog Jack
with him. In that boat were tho chief
engineer and some of the crew.
"Whilc the small boats we're taking off
ras sengeis an oil tank. the Sarragansett,
pumped streams of oil on the sea. The oil
vas very effective and there might have
been many lives lost had not the Mar
raEansett been on hand.
zone Of our boats brought to us three
little children who had been separated
from their MOtncTs. " was me 10 see
our women passengers take charge OF
these babies. warm and feed them and put
Them to bed. II Ia supposed that their
parents are on another steamer. There are
many such separations and It will take
weeks to reunite some Of the families.
The survivors OH the kroonland praise
Cant. Inch, his officers and his crew
a armly. They can't say too much about
Capt. Inch's gallantry and coolness. They
believe that Il was owing n Capt. Inch
hat hundreds more lives were not lost.
There are good words for members Of the
rev. All Of Thursday night when the
situation on the Volturno was desperate
he bakers toiled making bread and
coffee for the wrstched passengers. The
iecks were 30 hot at that time that the
soies were burned from their shoes as
hey worked.
unfortunately Capt. Inch was SER
ously. though not fatally injured. His
lace. arms and hands we're burned. When
,e came aboard the Kroonland one could
not toll ne was . white man. His face
vas scorched and blackened from fre and
,moke. His eyes were red. They pained
him. His uniform hung In tstters. Hts
'hoes had been nearly burned from his
'eet.
I'VE did all that 1t was possible to do
ne caring for the survivors. some Of
whom are injured or who are sick from
exhaustion, worry or exposure. The |
< Eroonland Aypects 10 reach Nav York on |