The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-10-17


mania.
Capt. Barr of the Carmania then
Unanswered his big vessel very close
to the Volturno and minally got the
Carmania's bow within hundred feet
of the Volturno's stern.
The burning steamer lay in the
trough of the sea, pounding helplessly
with her propellors fouled by the boats
tackle. The terrified passengers were
huddled together as far as it was pos
sible to get away from the flames,
while throughout the day the officers
and crew fought desperately with
whatever appliances were at hand to
hold the fire in check. But night
came on and the seas abated only
slightly. The circle of steamers kept
the searchlights playing and waited
patiently within the danger zone for
the first moment when they might
again launch the lifeboats.
Explosion Spreads Fire.
The hopelessnes of the situation
was manifested at o'clock in the
evening when a great explosion tore
away a part Of the upper works and
flames burst from the engine room.
1t then became matter of how long
the Volturno would stay above the
water.
Meanwhile several of THE terrified
passengers, wrapped in life preserv-
ers, dropped overheard into the sea.
One Of them was taken aboard the
Carmania. Most of them were swept
away.
The gale moderated slightly toward
night, and each of the succeeding
ships, as soon as it was possible for
her to do so, put out boats from her
davits and lowered them to the sea
The waves, however, were so high that
although the small craft made some
progress in the direction of the Vol
turno, it was impossible for them to
get alongside, and they returned to
their ships, in most cases doing this
with the greatest difficulty, owing to
the overwhelming seas and the dark
ness.
The Carmania kept her searchlight
going throughout the night, throwing
their rays across the foaming seas in
the quest for possible struggling swim
mere or lifeboats from the Volturno.
Thousands Look on Helpless.
The spectacle of the great vessel be-
ing consumed by fire with over 500
souls on board and surrounded by
fleet of huge lighted hulls, crowded
with the thousands of spectators, all
anxious, but unable, to help, owing to
the mountainous seas, beggars descrip-
ton.
All that could be done by the would
be helpers was to throw overheard
from their vessels dozens of lighted
life bouys and stand by in the hope
of picking up some of those who had
been cast into the sea.
When day broke the Volturno was
still afloat. The gale had moderated
and the seas had Gained down. From
almost every one of the encircling
steamers lifeboats were sent out and
into these the women and children
were lowered first. Several trips were
before the survivors were
moved to place of safety.
1t seemed that the storm began to
die down Immediately after the ex.
plosion. When the first rays of dawn
shot across the water it could be seen
that the fire had gone down consider
ably, owing to its having practically
burned itself out.
Pour Oil on Waters.
1t was then that the fight to remove
the passengers began. It was also
then that the great value of the Mar.
Standard Oil tank steam
er, dawned upon the captains. A few
seconds later the pumps on the oil
steamer were working and streams of
oil were being poured out over the
water. With the battle line" still
the Narragansett circled
the Volturno and as the oil spread
over the surface of the sea it seemed
to materially calm the sea.
When the effects of the oil were no
ticeable and it was apparent that the
gale had spent itself, the lifeboats
from the rescue fleet were launched
and the work of removing the terror
stricken passengers began in earnest.
Captain Inch had dashed himself to
a mast of the Volturno and directed
the order of leaving the vessel. The
general rule of the sea women and
children first" was obeyed In the
sense. There were a large
aumber Of women and children among
the passengers, most of whom had en-
barked in the steerage. When these
had been landed safely on one or other
Of the vessels the men and members
Of the crew began to leave. Captain
Inch was the last man to leave the
Voltuno. AS the young captain slid
iown the rope to the waiting boat he
.ook one last look over his vessel as