Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1913-10-15
THRILLING STORY OF FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Arthur SpurgsOn Gives Vivid Description Of
the Rescue Work on 8urned Steamer.

RI'Hul Spu!StUu uIvtS vIf'u UGSuI'Piu" v
the Rescue Work on 8urned Steamer.
London, Oct, 12.-Forty of the
1856 persons lost from the steam.
ship Volturno in mid-Atlantic
were in the two boats which sue
ceeded in getting away from the
bur;ling vessel aLd which without
doubt we're swsmped. The ma.
jority of the other persons who
lost their lives were in four other
boats which were smashed against
the steamers sides in attempts to
launch them.
All this occurred before the ar
rival of the Carmania and the
other liners summoned by wire
less calls for help The Carmsnia
with one lone survivor of the
Volturno abroad found it toe
rough to stop at @ leenstown and
is proceeding direct to Fish
guard. From that survivor,
however, comas a thrilling story
Of the burning of the steamer, of
the terror, the struggle for the
boats. the death of those who
went ever the sides and his own
desperate fight for life.
Arthur Spurgeon, a passenger
on the Csrmania, III a wireless
dispatch, gives a vivid description
of the race of the Carmanis and
supplements his story with that
of the survivor, Walter Trinte-
pohl, q German, who swan to the
Carmauia and wss rescued in an
exhausted condition. He has
besn 10 the CArmania's hospital
threatened with pneumonia. He
told his story to Mr.. Spurgeon
before he beca me- seriously i'll,
but owing TO his exhausted state
and his broken English, his ae-
count of the disaster wassSome-
what incohsrent.
Trintepohl had been employed
at Barcelona and took third class
passage on the Volturno to secure
a position offered him in New
York.
"All went well," said Trinte-
pohl, "untll 6 O'Clock Thursday
morning, when the fire alarm
sounded. We we're aroused and
told to 20 on deck as fire had
broken out ID the hole. On as.
sembliug lifebelts were handed
around and much time was oc-
cupied in fastening them. We
were told that the fire soon might
be quenched, but the captain
thought it wise for all to have
belts as a precaution.
'The fire frightened the chill.
drep, who cried bitterly. There
were MANY babies in arms. The
fire grew worse. We saw things
blazing down below. About 10
O'Clock there was 3 cry to lower
the boats.
1.-THE captain behaved splendid.
ly. So did the officers who were
English. I am sorry to say that
the crew, who were Germans and
Belgians. behaved very badly
The people rushed about wildly
and the crew seemed to think
they ought to have first place and
instead of quieting the passengers
they made the panic worse.
"This boat was smashed against
the ships side just ss it reach
ed the water it broke in two and
all in it we're drowned.
meanwhile, attempts were
made to lower the second boat.
cannot say who was in charge OF
this boat, but 1 do know that
after the chief steward had thrown
provisions in he jumped in him
self. There were more men than
women and children in this boat
which did not 60 down, for it Wal
broken against the ship ard al
were drownsd. Three other boati
were put cut aft. The fourth
officer was in one of them, but
cannot cay which one. All Wal
confusion. The ropes broke ant
the occupants we're thrown init
the water aud drowned or killed.
''When the captain saw wha'
happened he cut the tackle of th'
other boats SO that they could no
be launched.
1--WE were glad when we sav
the Carmania come.
1.-THE fremen rushed up from