Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-10-16

London. Oct. 12.-The latest ac-
count of the disaster to the steamship
yolturno, burned and abandoned in
mid ocean Friday morning, confirm
that the loss OF life will be limited to
about l36.
The Carmanla, lrsI of the rescuing
ships TO reach the burning steamer,
arrived OF queenstown this morning,
but owing to the gale, proceeded direct
70 Fienguard, where she is due TO ar
rive at II a. m.
A graphic story by the solitary sur
yivor ABOARD the Carman1a was re-
ceived by wireless and presents ter
rible picture of the horror, the panic
and confusion aboard the burning
liner. Walter Trintepohl, a German,
who tells the story, however, is clear
ly suffering from the stress OF illness
and his AWFUL experience and his story
is too incoherent to be accepted III
every detail.
Captain Last to Leave.
Most important, ii true, is his denial
that two boats got away from the Vol
turno. According to the accounts
CAPTAIN Inch was the last to leave his
vessel, which was still buring late Fri
day night and was a danger To- naV1ga-
hCn.
Forty OF the 23O persons lost from
the lost steamship Volturno in mid
Atlantic were in the two boats which
succeeded in getting away from tine
burning vessel and which without
doubt were swamped. The majority
of the other persons who lost their
lives were in four boats which were
smashed against the steamers sides In
attempting to launch them.
All this occurred before the arrival
of the Carmania and the other liners
summoned by wireless calls for help.
Thrilling Story.
The Carmania with one lone surVl-
yor of the Volturno aboard found 1t
too rough to stop at Queenstown and
is proceeding direct to F1shguard'
From that survivor, however comes
thrilling story of the burning of the
steamer, of the terror, the struggle for
the boats, the death of those VINO went
ever the sides and his own desperate
fight for life.
Arthur Spurgeon, a passenger ON
the Carmania, in a wireless dispatch
gives a vivid description of the race
of the Carmania and supplements MS
story with that of the survivor, Walt c
'Trintepohl, a German, who saWm to
the Carmania and wa srescued in an
exhausted condition.
Since being taken aboard the Car
mania Trintepohl has been in the
ships hospital threatened with pneu-
nOnia. He told his story to Mr.. Spud"
geon before he became seriously Ill,
but owing to his exhausted state and
his broken English, his account or the
disaster was somewhat incoherent.
Coming to New York.
Trintepohl had been employed at
Barcelona and took third-class pass
ing on the VoIturno to secure a posi-
ton offered him in New York.
Gall went WELL" said Trintepohl
until 6 o'clock Thursday, morning
when the fire alarm sounded. We
were aroused and told to go on deck,
as fire had broken out in the hold
On assembling, life belts were hand
ed around and much time was occupied
In fastening them. We were told that
the fire soon might be quenched, Dut
the captain thought it wise for all to
have a belt as a precaution.
The fire frightened the children
who cried bitterly. There were many
babies in arms. The fire grew worse
We saw things blazing down below
About 10 o'clock there was cry tn
lower the boats.
The captain behaved splend1dly
SO did the officers, who were English
l am sorry to say that the crew, who
We're Germans and Belgians, behaved
very badly.
The people rushed about wildly and
the crew seemed to think they ought
10 have first place, and instead oi
or2eting the passengers they made the
panic worse.
The first officer took charge OF the
Hrst boat, but although he wanted the
women and children saved first, a ma
Jorlty of those who entered the boat
were members of the crew.
Ih1s boat was smashed against the
Sh1p's side. Just as it reached the
water it broke in two and all in II
We're drowned.
Meanwhile, attempts were made tc
Io"er the second boat. cannot say
"0o was in charge of this, but dc
snow that after The Chief steward had
,nfoWn provisions in, he jumped in
himself. There were more men thar
women and children in this boat Il
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