The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-11-04

Mrs. Hatkofsky had not been told
that the names of her three sons have
been published in an official list OF
those lost, given out by the company
owning the Volturno, and which is in
the possession of the relatives, "for,"
they argue, "she would still have hopes
that they were rescued" The moth
er's belief that the boys could have
swum the distance despite the condi--
lions, is shared by the 17-year-old son,
Abraham, who insists he could have
made the swim himself, and that all
were better swimmers than he.
Mrs. Hatkofsky herself would not
talk much of the tragedy when seen
today, except to close her eyes and
Groom softly to herself, after the man.
ner of her people. Abraham, she in
dicated, could tell of it, as he saw it all.
Boats They Were In Smashed
"My brothers," said the lad through
an interpreter, "were among those who
pushed to the front and offered to
help. We thought it a time for swim
mers, and we were proud of our ability
to stay in the water under any con-
dition. We had been in the water
since we could paddle. My mother is
an expert swimmer. My little sister
Yena can swim.
"For that reason we were up in
front, and when they lowered the first
boat on Thursday, Pima, Daniel and
Keva went in it, as the officer said it
might be overturned and he wanted
men who could swim. Fully forty were
crowded into the single life boat, and
it was swung from the ships side
But no sooner had it struck the water
and been cut loose from the davitt
tackle, than big wave picked it up
and threw the boat against the iron
sides of the ship, smashing it into
splinters and all were thrown into the
water. l saw my brothers trying to
help, but nothing could be done; then
l heard Pima call to them, and the last
l saw was the three striking out to-
gether in the direction of one of the
rescue ships. l am sure they would
have made the swim, and they must be
on some ship.
Saw Many Perish
"The rest of the day on the ship
was awful. l saw two more boats
cut away only to capsize and the peo-
pie in them drown. | saw men and
women leap into the sea through fear
of the flames. l saw one big sailor
beat the crazed passengers back with
a club from the boats which they were
determined to launch. He knocked
them down like pins. He knew boat
couldn't live in that sea.
"All day and night we huddled in a
corner, my mother and the other child
rem. We had but little in the way of
clothing, and the cold was intense. The
fire burned nearer and during the
night more people jumped into the sea-.
Men and women prayed. The next day
the sea was calmer, and few boats
came along side and the women and
children and then the men were low
cred over the side of the ship into the
boats.
81 helped load my mother and little
sisters and brothers in one of the boats"
went on the lad proudly, with a toss
of his head, "and then l stayed with
the captain. I knew if there was no
room left, | could swim to one of the
ships, but there l was and | was low
cred over just ahead of Captain Inch
and his dog and came away from the
ship in the same boat with him. But
l was taken to ship other than the
one my mother was in.
Pays Sailor to Row Him to Car
81 knew where she was, for | had
watched. She was on the Gar. /
had about five dollars of your money
in my pocket, and | paid that to a
sailor to row me over to the Gar, and
later the captain came over on the
same boat. He was fine man.
cat Rotterdam the ship company
didn't do much for US. The Emf
grants society gave US some clothing
and our meals until we were shipped
for New York. Then we came here.
My mother thinks my brothers are safe
and if there was one chance in thou
sand for them to have made the swim,
1 think she is right. Minneapolis
Tribune