Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12

tors. Huddled on the eight ocean
liners. a German tramp and a
Standard Oil tank steamer which
heard the Volturno's IS. O. S" dis
tress caIl by wireless. were several
hundred persons. who, unmindful O.
the biting cold Of the gale and the
danger from the huge waves which
crashed over the vessels, remained on
deck throughout the afternoon and
night to watch the fire
All during Thursday night one
searchlight from the Cunarder Car
mania was kept steadily on the Vol
turno, while another played over the
ten vessels that surrounded the
stricken ship. The cries Of those on
the Nolturno were carried by the gale
and the passengers on all OF the Other
vessels could see the women and chill
dren huddled close TO Volturno's aft
er rail- while the men stood nearer
the fire.
That so many were rescued from
the Nolturno was due 10 the prompt.
efficient work OF Captain Barr, of the
Carmania The wireless operator on
the Carmania picked up a faint rs.
O. s. call shortly after noon on
Thursday.
The position Of the Volturno was
given and the following:
Come quick; ship afire; fear we
ere doomed"
Carmania Rushes to Rescue.
The Carmanla which sailed from
New York October 4 for Liverpool,
put about and headed for the point
where Captain Inch, OF the VOlturnJ,
had reported his vessel When the
Carmania received the first wireless
call She was about Is miles from the
Nolturno. Extra stokers were rushed
into the fireroom and withld short
time the Carmania was making %
knots under forced draught.
At o'clock the lookout on the
Carmania sighted a black spot on the
horizon and the Cunarder was point
ed toward this Shortly after I
O'Clock Captain Barr Slowed down his
vessel and clrcled the Volturno. At
that time a terrific gale was sweeping
over the sea. Captain Barr slgnaled
10 Captain Inch that any attempt 10
launch lifeboats would prove disas-
trous and the Carmania was worked
about until she was close to the Vol
turno.
Captain Barr then attempted to
reach the burning ship with lines shot
from the bow OF the Carmania. But
owing to the wind all Of the shots
went wide Of the mark.
m Inc meantime Lllt A4dI ldiltd
wireless operator had been sending
out calls to all vessels which hap
pened to be in that section OF the
transatlantic track Nine vessels
answered these calls.
Soon after o'clock the North Ger
man liner Grosser Kurfurst. which
sailed from Bremen on October T.
hove in sight. A little later the Ger
man tramp steamer Seydlitz came up
TO the Volturno,
Others Steam TO Aid.
Following these. all at full steam
Ind all centering on the source Of the
black line OF smoke which was being
whirled across the foaming waves by
the gale, came La Touraine, OF the
French line, which sailed from New
York October 4 for Hgvre; the Min
neapolis. Of the Atlantic transport
line. which left New York October
Tor St John. the Car. OF the Rus
sian-Amerlcan line, which sailed from
New York on October 4 for Rotter-
dam and Libau the Narragansett a
Standard oil tank steamer which
sailed from New York October for
LIVERPOOL: the Devonian. Of the Lev
land line. bound from Boston for Liv-
erpool and the Kroonland. Of the Red
Star line. which left Bremen October
for New York.
Shortly before darkness closed in
over the scene Captain Inch ordered
six lifeboats manned and filled with
all women and-children who cared to
leave. These boats had barely touched
the water when they were hurled
against the aide of the Volturno and
four Of them were crushed like egg
shells The other two MANAGED to
get clear Of the burning vessel and
one was picked IN bv the Car and
the other by the Sevdlitz
Lines Can't Reach Ship.
1t was then apparent to the cap
tains OF the eleven vessels that any
attempt at rescue nv means OF life
boats would prove unavailing Cap
tain Barr then brought the Carmania
close TO the stern Of the Nolturno and
fred several lines at the burning
ship. but the gale was too strong and
the leaden ends fell into the sea.
One line carried close 10 the rail
and scores of eager hands reached
out to clutch the lire that meant
safety. But when the line fell few
feet short of the Volturno's stern a
cry OF anguish went up from the
frantic passengers which was carried
90 the other vessels.
BY consent Of the commanders of
ell Of the vessels ta the rescue fleet.
Captain Barr was allowed 20 take
command Of the situation. He then
decided that the ten vessels which
formed the rescue fleet would form
in battle lire" in a circle about the
NolturnO. Then. under half speed
the ten vessels began a march aroun6
the Nolturno. then a mass OF flames,