The Washington times., 1913-10-14

HAVRE, France, Oct H.-The burned
Volturno had but nine available life
boats when the ship caught fire, ac-
cording to Frederick Badke. q German
soldier, who was a passenger on the
nl-f6ted liner. He was among the
forty-two Volturno survivors who ar
rived today aboard the French liner
La Touraine, the second of the rescue
squadron to reach port.
The Volturno had only nine boats,
that I could see," Badke said. There
may have been others, but I did not
see them. The nine / saw Were old
when they struck the sides of the
rolling steamer.
They seemed absolutely useless.
saw one boat lowered with q hole in
its bottom. 1t sank Immediately, with
all on board.
away. I saw four smashed, drowning
all the occupants. Somebody, l be-
lieve il was the captain. then cut the
others from their davits, seeing that
they were destroying lives, rather than
saving them
Tackle Badly Tangled.
The tackle of all the boats was so
tangled that they were lowered with
difficulty. The crew did not seem to
know anything about them and the
passengers had to help lug the cTm-
bersome things over the side
"All of US would certainly have heen
drowned had not other ships come to
the rescue The Volturno's boats die
not save a single passenger
Badke, twenty-five years old, lived
with his mother in America for several
years. and then returned to Germany
for his three years Of compulsory, mil
itary service. He had completed his
term and was on his way to America
when the disaster happened.
They say we will be taken back TO
Rotterdam for transshipn,ent to Amer
ica," said Badke. Not me. 1 will stay
in Europe until die before l will start
across the ocean again by that line
Nine babies, some of them under q
yer old, all scantily clad, and a few
WRAPPED only in blankets. were
among the forty-two Volturno sur
vivors brought to port by La Tour
aine.
Some of their parents were killed in
Thursdays disaster. Others have been
located py the far-reaching wireless
of the Atlantic aboard the rescuinG
steamships.
Until they can be restored to their
parents, the Uranium officials will
take the best of care of the little
waits of the sea, and they Will be re-
turned 10 their parents as quickly
as possible, aboard the swiftest liners
available.
The first lifeboat that reached La
Touratne carried seven of the little
babies. some crying Justify, others too
frightened and cold TO make a sound
One little boy. naked and wrapped
in a blanket, was sound asleep when
he vas passed over La Touraine's s
The first cabin women of the
French boat crowded the boat deck
when the baby survivors were taken
aboard, crying Historically over
them, they We'd with each other for
possession of the little ones.
Expensive first-class staterooms
babies were washed and fed, and
wrapped in all manner of apparel
until clothing could be provided for
them.
Tearing up some Of their own skirts
and bodices, some of them of the
Some of them. wealthy women who
made clothes for the little waits.
Some og them, wealthy women who
perhaps had never sewed a stitch
before, obtained needles and thread
and with their fingers stitched little
slips and warm deTgarments for
the tiny survivors of fire and sea.
Some of the Touraine women, more
impulsive than the rest, wanted 10
adopt the babies that the sea had
given into their care, but when they
were assured that the wireless had
found the parents of most and might
find them all, the women turned the
children over to the Uranium Of
ficials who met the ship at the dock.
A. ]. Norton, IN architect, of Denver
In Tn1,raina ic-
ally described the scene at the burning
Volturno.
La Touraine was one Of the last OF
the liners to arrive on the scene Thurs
day night said Norton. First we
could see only dull red glow over the
afre. Then we saw column Of smoke,
the top of which spread over the water
for miles.
I'VE got close enough to make out
the fear-distorted faces OF the women
children, and men on the deck of the
Volturno, and all around US in the wa
ter We could see men.
Captain Caussin ordered boats lower
ed and they picked up several survi-
vors. At the risk Of their lives the
Touraine's sailors remained in the wa
ter in small boats all night, but they
were unable to get to the Volturno
until early morning.
i DeHeVe tnSt one OF our DOatS was
the first to get to the stern of the Vol
turno on Friday morning The first
boat returned with two survivors The
leg Of one was broken. The second boat
brought seven. I think the lifeboats on
none Of the other liners were working
that early.
II. Magowsky, a YIddish common sal
lor of the Volturno said:
-Four Volturno sailors, off watch.
were suffocated in the forecastle before
we knew there was a fire. Perhaps more
died that way. An explosion did not
start the fire, as far as ] know. II
came afterward.
IT was scrubbing the deck amidships
when a ships bog came racing down
the deck yelling Fire. at every jump
He made the full length of the ship
arousing sailors and passengers.
This was about 6 a. m, and the first
knowledge any of us had of fire. There
was much smoke forward, and appar-
emily the flames had been srnoulderinG
in the hold for come time.
when the fire did break out. ii shot
high in the air forward and spread with
amazing rapidly.
IT saw no panic. We all turned in
and fought the fire down below the en-
gines stopped. We STAYED IN that blaz-
ing hell as long as mortal men could
stav Our hair and brows were sinSed
off, our hands and faces blistered, and
our shoes burned through. We stay"i
there until Thursday night. No man
quit. No man thought of food.
Engines Stopped.
Captain Inch did not have to drive
any of MS pack with his pistol. because
none tried TO leave until ali had been
4 he Th, cea mn