The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-10-17
INCH TELLS HOW
FIRE SWEPT SHIP
yolturnOs Captain Gives
Graphic Account of
Vessels Loss.
PRAISES HIS CREW
Sailors Fought Flames Night
and Day at Risk of
Their Lives.
GAVE AID
skipper Denies That There Was
Even Hint of Panic
Aboard Steamer.
PRAISES HIS CREW
GAVE AID

-------
Can Francis Inch OF tho burned Vol.
'.:no received about ninety reporters in
'Gs smoking room of the Krooniand
'stcrday as the Eod Star liner
s'oVly made het way up the bay. bring
lne eighty eight survivors from the ira
I'm companys lost steamship. The
nsh OF news gaih.rers did not f.azc the
't,ic captain a particle. He bowed all
FOUND. smiled quizzically and said. Her.
am. gentlemen. fire away"
II" led the way t. the smoking room.
pointed out n corner fsirly retired from
llr confusion OF things and settled him
,|f for the talk. Til, ucwspap,' rne'.
'"Jkcd Capt Inch over with NOR. inter
-. than is usually shown To- great states
ven or champion athletes. They expected
20 see "a big. siaiwart man with vide
shoulders and powerful build.
Indcr Average Height.
Capt. Inch is. if anything. under the
1N erage height. He is slightly built II
lands and feet are small. II surpris, d
o.C that he was the commando" who
ought fire for twonty-four hours without
morsel OF food and with uni!agging
.1uragt. His head is small and wei!
lapcd. His hair is black. curly and thin
the top. where a bald slo; is showing.
Twcnty-two years at sea out of his
'Airty-six years OF life have made him
'oo> q bit older than he is. His eyes are
lar nd nj hon l, r,sts N ,I
the run of good story they CLEAN with
I0,erest. lie is smooth shaNen. His COM
Dlexion is ruddy and brown from many
sea winds. His nose is straight. his
pou,h well modelled and his chin square
and strong.
The captain spoke with slight English
, ccsnt lie - british subject and has
wife and three children over nome"
, 10 Nere waiting anNiously for his ca"ie-
.5am He told his story without much
., stioning. lie has u well ordered mind
. y the details Of the burning OF the ship
.G Of the rescue OF the passengers were
-ar and precise.
Praise for the Carmanis.
II want To say first or" said the
ptain. that the Carnania Of the Cunard
Line behaved splcndidiy. Apparently
"a on. has been some criticism of Capt.
''a'l and the tactics he used. Those
. .It!c.sms were not justified. capt Barr
, everything that could he expected
o., him He had big ship. hard to
.ndlc in such sea. but he came close
20 us oncc Or twice and he made every
,lfori to lower boats when he first came
10 the scene. He succeeded in getting
r,e boat into the sea. but 1t had to
u1l' after u hard fight.
"Again want to emphasize that there
as no, the vestige of panic. ANY man
With common sense must realize that
90 immigrants unused to the sea. to
= orms and to fire were frightened. The
omen cried "A good deal. After some
FL, the explosions they screamed. The
non were nervous and prowled about
l. after decks, but at no time did they
.aac Wild rushes for the boats, nor did
'y huock down women or injure chill
,',n Those stories are lies, wicked lies
First Alarm of Fire.
What caused the fire ] do not know.
. doubt IL 1t will ever be known.
,ss asleep in my quarters at 80 4. NJ.
,,t Thursday when Chief officer Miller
3 Jor fellow. fear he is dead-came
inning to my cabin and said: Captain.
here's fire in Hold I. II seems
be pretty bad Jumped UP at once
nd threw OH part of my clothes. Step
ing outside gave orders TO slow
The ship down. We had been running at
bout eight knots in a head sea.
Fad the Volturno turned before the wind
o as to keep the fire from backing ait
Il directed that all hands assemble at
Aer fire stations. They did so. My
Neu. bless en- did their duty. They were
nder discipline at all times. Later on
hen ordered some OF them to jump
.Hto the sea to show tho way to women
frald tn jump these men obeyed me, al
though they knew they might never be
',ved ordered the officers and stew
rds 20 keep the news of the FIRE from
10 rassengers.
Directing Rescue Work.
NJ Miller said to me: They know
ur'dd", captain.2 The flames are al
'eaJy .h"wing,' I stepped outside and
vent little way forward. BY that time
~ officers had directed the passengers
I'D - .u the after deck and to put on life
'''> F'r, and life belts that had been
"'''.. ,t'd The preservers and belts
'" l good condition. There was no
''n"'. on our ship from rotten belts, let
'" a1 YOU.
Vt '.ii \. NJ. Mr.. Miller said to me:
. ima,H. she's afame forward I went
- Pho forward deck and saw that the
"''s "ere jumping as high as the fore
'" ls',t, forty feet AT least. II was
' '''H al of flame The life RATS were
'Is Ii', and so were the wooden
g" hrInss. AZ | stood there one man
'''c' from the forecastle. lie was all
'"n'd poor chap. But he got better
!'ic. THIS was O!!cr. the quar-
''''' ! said to him: Where have
''''' from lie said; I'm Just