Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-10-11

ing storm in mid-Atlantic on Thursday
destroyed the liner Volturno on hel
voyage from Rotterdam to New York
with a loss of life of either 1876 or 23f
of her passengers and crew. Ten 9th
er liners, called by wireless to the res
cue were standing by impotent tC
avert the tragedy owing to the noun
famous seas.
Again the wireless played leading
part in the drama. By its means ano
through the heroism of those who re
sponded TO the call, the lives of 521 OF
those on board the Volturno We're
saved
The Volturno was owned by Cana
dian Northern Steamship company
but had been chartered to the Uran'
ium line.
Officials of the steamer company de-
clared this morning that those Oh
board included "a cabin and $40 steer
age passengers and crew of SO, max
ing total of 657. The wireless dis
patch received from the Carmania,
said that 521 had been saved and 236
had lost their lives. This makes a
total of 757, or just 100 more than the
number on board as given by the com
pany. Checking from all available
sources, however, would indicate that
an error occurred in wireless trans
mission figures has been made and
that the lower total, 1876. is correct,
When the Carmania reached the vi
cnity of the Volturno at noon she
found the forward end of the dis
tressed vessel burning fiercely. The
flaming ship was at the same time
rolling heavily while her propellers
were fouled with tackle used in low
ering the six life boats.
1t was learned by the captain of
the CarmaNia that only two out OF six
boats had succeeded in getting safely
away from the Volturno. The other
four, crowded with passengers and
members of the crew, had smashed
against the side of the vessel and all
their occupants had been thrown into
the sea and drowned
In spite of the terrific gale raging
when she arrived near the Volturno
the captain of the Carmania had one
OF the life boats lowered to help in
the rescue.
After two hours battle with the
waves during which the life boat lost
all but three of her oars, the life boat
returned to the Carmania which is
succeeded in making without loss OF
life or broken limbs among the mem
bers of the boat crew.
Captain Barr of the Carmania then
maneuvered his big vessel very close
to the Volturno and finally got the
Carmania's bow within a hundred feet
of the Volturnos stern. 1t was found
impossible, however, to cast a line on
board the Volturno or to get anybody
off her.
1t was a terrifying sight for the
passengers and crew of the Carmania
to see so close to them the hundreds
of passengers. including women and
children, on the decks of the Voltur-
no and yet be unable to help them
Captain Barr of the Carmania in
the meanwhile kept his wireless ap-
paratus at work communicating with
all the vessels within the radius of
his instruments. At 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon the Grosser Kurfurst and
Seydlitz came in sight and these two
were Joined later by the Kronland, the
Devonian, Rappahannock, Minneapo-
lis, Ia Touraine and the Asian.
At about 8 o'clock in the evening,
when the darkness was at its black
est, flames burst through amidships
of the Volturno from her engine room
and coal bunkers.
AS the fire lighted up the sky there
followed an explosion which sent into
of rockets.
At twenty minutes past nine the
operator on board the Vol
turno had to turn over the connection
of his instruments to the reserve bat !
teries, as the fire had reached the
boilers and engine room and had put
the pumps and dynamos out of ac
ton.
At daybreak the Volturno was still
floating with her human cargo hud-
died in masses in her poop. The sea |
had moderated considerably and flo !
tilla of boats had gathered round the
stern of the Volturno Shortly after.
ward the remaining passengers and
crew were saved
523 Rescued.
Bremen, Oct. 1.-THE captain OF
the Grosser Kurfurst, in wireless re-
port of the Volturno disaster says the
total of those rescued was 523. The |
report adds that two full boatloads !!
from the volturno were still being
sought for at the time the dispatch |
was sent but it was improbable they
" ould be found.
The full text of the report of the !
captain of the Grosser Kurfurst was ,
as follows:
I'VE received the appeals for help