Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-10-18

disaster to New York. has de.
jed a flaw in her crank shaft,
.Ich Is retarding her speed.
Captain Francis Inch. OF the Vol
turno. sent his story OF the disaster
which cost 1856 lives by wireless from
the Kroonland, on which he Is being
brought TO New York. 10 the officers OF
the Uranium line.
AT ESQ n. M. Oct 0, 1913 latitude
49l2 north longitude 345i west, fire
was reported in hold No. by the
chief officer" Captain Ineh's narrative
reads. at 6.55 a. III. flames were burn
Ing through No. matches. setting fire
10 the forecastle and all deck fittings.
| slowed the ship down and kept her
before the wind TO enable us 10 put the
steam extinguishers in operation, also
three fire hose from deck connections.
The flames were gaining rapidly,
reaching the height Of the foremost
light and imprisoning the watch be-
low, who were burned to death in the
forecastle.
"A series OF explosions now occur
red wrecking the saloon and hospital
amidships. the compass and steering
gear being also damaged by the ex-
plosions gave orders to get help by
wireless as soon as the llames burnt
the matches.
ut seemingly being impossible to
save the ship. | had boats provisioned
and swung out. The ship was rolling
heavily Boats Nos 10 and . were
smashed. but No was lowered in
the water with cabin passengers and
stewardess, In charge OF II. l.. Miller.
chief officer. After this boat left the
ship she capsized. throwing her occu.
pants into the water She afterwards
righted herself and several of the crew
got back into the boat. the chief Off
Ger being one of them.
1.-THE No. boat was lowered and
got away safely. filed with steerage
passengers In charge OF Fourth Officer
Langsel. The No boat on being
lowered was caught under the stern
of the ship. the boat being wrecked.
Meanwhile the chief engineer two
seamen and myself fought the flames.
gave orders TO send no more boats
away. as had received word from the
Carmania that she was hoping to be
with us by II a. M. Life belts were
put on each passenger The passengers
now became calmer. Food was served
to them.
AT 3 a. m. the bunker was found
TO be ablaze. 1t being impossible TO
stop the fire in the bunker on account
OF gases, the water tight covers were
closed and water poured down the
No . hatch into the fire, but the fire
was gaining all the time.
AT II a. III. the Carmania arrived
and lowered boat. but could not
reach the ship on account OF the high
seas. asked the Carmania to look for
the No. . boat The steamship SeydliiZ
arrived and lowered boats. which could
not reach us.
Several steamships had arrived by
dusk. The Kroonland put away boats.
which made -four attempts to come
alongside. but were swept away each
time.
AT $50 D. m. the saloon and chart
house were blazing. The deck. bridge
and all before the lnnel were burning
fiercely. Our pumps and dynamo stop.
ped for want of steam. The Marconi
operators were working with the &C,
cumulators until II y. m. when the
magazine on the bridge blew up. car
rying the aerial away.
Several boats by this time were
lying of the ship. They induced passen.
gers 10 jump and they We're rescued
by boats. The fire meanwhile worked
through the womcn's steerage 10 tho
after end Of the ship. hut we kept the
knowledge OF this from the passengers.
who were quiet throughout the rest OF
the night
1.-THE chief engineer. the Marconl
men and seamcn and myself passed the
night making small RATS in case the
fire burned through the deck before
daylight.
AT SIS a. m. the first boat arrived.
Weather and sea having moderated,
boats were enabled to come alongside
the ship. which enabled passengers TO
embark quickly All the steamships
around the ship sent boats. Now We
were enabled 10 load three boats with
passengers al once. The passengers
left in an orderly way egd there was
no panic. women brSakir}g down and
crying when help was alongside. and
all. about 400 passengers, lwere OF tho
ship by a. m. | searched the ship
myself and found no one else on board,
!, decided TO abandon her. as the
o. q hatch was well alight by now.
with remainder OF the crew EN-.
uked on board the nroonland.
The ship was abandoned In lati'
1890 north. longitude 1857 west.
.<.t.-a G a.. N.tl1.a.