The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-12
Ten Liners, Summoned
by IS. 0. S." Call, I'm
able to Save All.
657 PASSENGERS;
521 ARE RESCUED
Steamer Volturno, Carrying
Mostly Steerage Passengers,
Takes Fire in Midocean, and
High Seas Greatly Inter
ferc in Transferring
of the Passengers.

Liverpool Eng. October 11.-ons
hundred and thirty-six persons lost
their lives when the steamship Vol
turno, of tho Uranium Line, was de-
stroyed at sea. on Friday, after hav-
ins been on fire for twenty four hours
Ten steamships surrounded the Vol
turno for sixteen hours while the fire
ragged at It's height, but none OF the res
cue fleet was able to lend assistance,
owing to tho terrific storm
The Volturno sailed from Rotterdam
for New York, via Halifax. on October
2. She carried twenty -four cabin pas
senSers, $40 steerage and a crew of
ninety-threc. OF the 657 known to
nave been on board, 52I have been re-
ported saved by the ten vessels.
Lifcbonts Are Crushed.
The greatest loss of life occurred
when four of the Volturno's six life
boats werc dashed to pieces against the
side OF the vessel moment after they
were launched. Other lifeboats launched
from the rescue fleet were also
crushed by tho waves.
Early Friday morning a terrific ex-
plosion in the Nolturno's boiler room
almost rent the vessel in half When
this occurred. the passengers on the
stricken ship believed they were
doomed. while the captains of the ves-
sells could see little chance of saving
those on the burning ship
storm Abntes, Passengers Saved.
Suddenly the g:sle abated and the sea-
calmed considerably when. within a
few moments, a score of life boats had
been launched from the vessels stand,
| ing by and were rushing toward the
stern of the Volturno.- where the pas
sengers and crew were huddled against
the rail.
When the Volturno was abandoned
Friday morning she was seen to be
gradually sinking. Her position was
Race and close to the spot where the
Titanic sank eighteen months ago.
Mnny Witness Disnster.
Never before has such disaster
been witnessed by SO many spectators.
Eluddled on the eight ocean liners, n
German tramp and a Standard OIL tank
steamer. which heard the Volturno's
IS. .. S" distress call by wireless.
were several hundred persons. who.
unmindful OF the cold and gale, and
danger of tho huge waves which
crashed over the vessels. remained on
deck throughout the afternoon and
night to watch the fire.
All during Thursday night one
searchlight from the Cunnrd liner
Carmania was kept steadily on the
over the ten vessels surrounding the
stricken ship. The cries or those on
the Nolturno were carried over the
water by the gale and the passengers
on all of the other vessels could see
the women and children huddled close
to the Volturno's after rail while the
men stood nearer the fire.
Cnrmnnia to Rescue.
That so many were rescued from the
Volturno was due to the prompt, ef-
iicient work OF Captain Barr of the
Carmania. The wireless operator on
the Carmania picked up faint IS. o.
S." call shortly after noon on Thursday.
The position of the Voiturno was given
and the following:
Come quick: ship afre; fear we are
doomed"
The Carmania, which sailed from,
New York October for Liverpool put
about and headed for tho point which
Captain Inch OF the Volturno, had re-
ported his vessel. When the Carmana
received the first wireless call she was
about seventy-eight miles from the
Volturno. Extra stokers were rushed
into the fireroom and within a short
time the Carmania was making twenty
knots under forced draught
Doomed Vessel Is Sighted.
At o'clock the lookout on the
Carmania sighted a black spot on the
horizon and the Cunarder was pointed
toward this. Shortly after 4 o'clock
Captain Barr slowed down his vessel
and circled the Volturno At that time
Il terrific gale was sweeping over the
sea. Captain Barr sgnaled TO Captain
Inch that any attempt to launch life
boats would prove disastrous, and the
Carmania was worked about until she
was closo to tho Volturno. Captain
Barr then attempted TO reach the burn
ing ship with lines shot from the bow
OF the Carmania, but owing to the
wind all OF the shots went wide of tho
mark
In the meantime the Carmania wire
less operator had been sending out
calls to all vessels which happened to
be In that section. Nine vessels an
swered these calls
Other Vessels Come Up.
Soon after 8 o'clock the North Ger
man-Lloyd liner Grosser Kurfurst
hove In sight. 4 little later the Ger
man tramp steamer Sedlitz came up
to the Volturno.
Following these, all at fun steam
and all centring on the source OF the
whirled across tho foamine waves by
the gale. came La Touraine, OF the
French Line: the Minneapolis, OF the
Atlantic Transport Line: the Kappa
hammock, the czar. OF tho Russian.
American Line: tho Narragansett, "a
Standard Oil tank steamer: tho De-
vonian. OF the Leyland Line. and the
Kroonland, of the Red Star Line.
Shortly before darkness closed in s
over the scene, Captain Inch ordsrcf
six lifcboats manned and fflled with
all women and children who cared to
leave These boata had barely touched
tho water when they were hurIed &
against the side oe the Nolturno and
four of them were crushed Hike egg