The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-15
OF
FIRE AT SEA
CONTINUED from page l.,

Sr6Q IN the Salnerl0S DARKNESS anu
4 the voyage in deaths jaws began.
THE waves we're terrific said
I Lloyd in describing the trip to the
! Kurfuerst. While the men rowed, |
kept flashing the light of little
pocket electric light we had, so the
watchers on the surrounding ships
could see We were still afioat- 1t was
an awful struggle for two miles. But
we made 1t. When we reached the
Kurfuersts side the other four men
clambered up the lines and just as l.,
almost exhausted, was hauled In, the
boat went down beneath my feet But
we had shown them boat could live
even in that sea and after our task
was done, boats were lowered from
lseveral vessels and life saving began"
Why was there only one person
saved by the Carmania ?" Lloyd was
asked. God only Knows, was his
reply. mo boats were lowered from
the Carmania and no boats were sent
from her even after we had shown
the way"
In Lloyd's near blame Of the Car
mania, many Volturno survivors and
passengers Of the Grosser Kurfuerst
Joined. Among these were Mr.. and
Mrs. ]. s. Adam, Baltimore, where
Mr.. Adams is managing editor OF the
Sun. and Mrs. NJ. T. Langenheim, of
Pittsburgh.
why didn't the Carmania rescue
more than one person2" they we're
asked. and like Lloyd all -ney could
say was God only knows"
Officer Lloyd's story follows: II was
asleep when the explosion came,
about Z a. m. / family heard the re-
port and was aroused by the alarm
Iof fire. All hands were ordered on
deck, when the flames were shooting
sixty feet into the air. For moment
we thought the entire boat was ablaze
SC intense was the heat, even while
we stood Just forward OF amidship.
The captain ordered the crew to man
I the lifeboats. At this time there was
q terrific gale and terrible sea roll
ing. We ripped up part of the deck
around the hatchway from which the
flames were shooting and put into
use every piece of FIRE fighting ap-
lparatus on board the Volturno. In the
meantime boats No. l and 4 with their
respective crews and passeng ers,
mostly women, were swung overheard
This was about 7:S0 a. M, Thursday.
Boat No. / was caught on the crest
Iof a gigantic wave and swung directly
under the propeller. which chopped the
small craft to pieces and l suppose
literally chewed up many of its hap
less occupants. No. boat took the
water about the time boat No. | was
ground to pieces It also swamped.
It's occupants were never seen again.
Then the captain decided to wait In
hope that the sea would go down as
| the sun came up. II the meantime
We had been sending cut wireless calls
| for aid and had received answer that
several ships were on their way to
us. Just before the crew left the
boats to give all their attention to TN
fire which increased in intensity in
! the gale, word was sent back to the
passengers that help was coming. A
mighty cheer broke the stiffness OF
death that had followed the swamp
ing of boats and 4. Then they sang
a hymn and prayed in a dozen differ
ent tongues. those who were not
overcome or nysterical. BY 1920 the
steamers steering gear forward burn
| ed away and we We're at the mercy cl
! the seas. Then the bridge went
Captain Inch left barely in time te
escape sheet of fame thrown Ill
when second and smaller explosion
occurred His eyes and face were
badly injured. We kept full speed
ahead. calling always for help unit
the flames put our wireless out o.
commission at 1870 a. m. Thursday
morning The captain called for some
one to climb the rigging. I was near
est SO UP | went Just as reached
the top fell to the deck. My fall
was broken somewhat by ropes ant
boat coverings. went up again
scarcely able to hold on in the wint
land readjusted the wireless so
could be used. The crew with th,
captain leading them, kept UP thei
fight against the fire until 4:30 Thurs
day evening. Then the steam an,
water gave out with the exception o
lust enough steam to work the wire
less. About $50 Captain Inch sen
messages to the rescue ships, which
some OF us then saw for the frs
time. He asked that boats be sen
out to us. The only answer was
Tried best, but sea too heavy
Then 1t was the captain said w
would have to show that boat coul
: live in the sea
Second Officer Edward Lloyd an
, Third officer Walter Dussellman {
the Yolturno denied absolutely tha
there had been any show of cowardic
on the part of the crew during tn
fire. 1t might be said that there wa
: one execution the officers added a