Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-10-16

oNi @Oue lOT Ine nrSt moment
when they might again launch the
lifeboats.
Women and Children First.
The hopelessness of the situation
was manifested at 8 o'clock at night
when a great explosion tore away a
part OF the upper works, and flames
burst from the engine room. 1t then
became a matter Of how long the Vol
turno would stay above the waters.
Meanwhile, several of the terrified
passengers, wrapped in life buoys,
dropped into the sea. One of them
was taken aboard the Carmania. 1t
may be that others found haven with
the other vessels of the feet, but
some undoubtedly were swept away.
When day broke, the Volturno was
still atioat. The gale had moderated
and the seas had Gained. From al.
most every one Of the encircling
steamers lifeboats were sent out and
into these the women and children
were lowered first. Several trips
we're necessary before the survivors
were removed to a place of safety.
Lifeboats Smashed Against Ship.
The captain of the Carmania report
ed that only two of the Volturnos six
lifeboats got away safely from the
vessel The other four. filled with
passengers and members of the crew,
were smashed against the burning
ship, and all their occupants drowned.
The Carmanla, soon after reaching
the scene, launched one of its life
boats with extreme difficulty owing TO
the tempest, and the craft, in charge
OF First Officer Bardner, made a des-
perate, but futile. effort to get along
side the doomed Volturno. In a two
hours battle with the waves, all but
three of the liefboat's oars were
broken or torn from the hands of the
crew. Bardner finally took the craft
back to the Carmania without injury
to any of his men.
searohIisht Plays in Waves.
Capt. Barr of the Carmania then
maneuvered his vessel to within 100
feet of the Volturno's stern, but it
was impossible to cast line aboard
the ship or to get anybody on or OFF
her.
The Carmania's wireless meantime
communicated with all the vessels 4;
was possible to reach, calling them
to the rescue.
Toward night the gale abated
slightly. and each of the 10 ships
which had arrived to assist in rescue
put out boats, which made some
progress toward the Volturno, but the
high seats made 1t impossible TO get
alongside, and the lifeboats returned
to their ships with great difficulty.
Searchlights played on the foaming
waves In quest of struggling swim
mers or lifeboats from the burning
ship. All that the ten liners could do
was to throw overheard lighted life
buoys and stand by in the hope OF
picking up some of those who had
been cast into the ocean.
Volturno's Dynamos Out of Action.
The Nolturno's wireless operator at
9:20 at night had to turn over the
connection of his instrument to the
reserve batteries as the fire had
reached the boiler and engine room
and had put the pumps and dynamos
out of action.
A thrilling rescue was made few
minutes later when cries for help
were heard from the water near the
Carmania. The searchlight disclosed
a man wearing a lifebelt being tossed
about on the waves. He was rescued
after n Carmania sailor had been low
cred into the water with a lifeline,
which he placed about the mans
waist The rescued man was a steer
age passenger from the Volturno.
Other cries were heard, but before
the searchlights could show whence
they came they died away and no
further bodies were seen.
The Volturno still was afioat at day
break, her great human cargo hud'
died among the ashes in her poop.
The rescue vessels gathered around
the Volturno's stern, as the gale had
moderated. 1t was possible then 10
send lifeboats to the hulk and take
off the survivors.