The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-23
Was Bound From Liverpool to
New York in BALLAST With
Crew Of l47
ONE-THIRD THOSE ON
BOARD AMERICANS
Ship Was Scheduled to Have
Sailed Today for Buenos
Aires From New York--prob-
ably Another U-boat Victim

New York, Dec. 22.-The H.
oOO-ton Lsmport Holt pas
sengcr liner Voltaire. with crew
Of 40, probably onc-third of
them Americans, Is believed To
have been sunk OF Liverpool by "a
4 German submarine.
The liner Is two weeks over
due in New York, and II was
learned today officials OF the line
have all but given up hope that
she will ever he seen again.
Even the possibility mat she may
have become disabled and may have
been drifting on the open seas was
lessened by the news today that the
Vauban, OF the same line, due in New
York. and which left Liverpool two
/. weeks after the Noltaire, was heard
Y from by wireless at Halifax on Thurs
day.
An official Of the line said tonight
that the company had been keeping
the matter quiet, hoping against hope
that the Noltaire would eventually
tarn up.
There Is one slim chance, this Of
fetal said that the Noliaire might
have broken her shaft and is UNI
able u proceed. But she is equipped
with a powerful apparatus and could
easily Summon aid our only hope is
tina. She is rcfraInlng from using her
fwlI eless Tor fear she might divulge
her position 10 submarines.
III sh2 is lost and her crew has
been s.. OUT ~ open boats, ! would
rot CIV" ;hem ten minutes as the
tiuc thoy probably would survive IN
the present weather.
Give Nj Hope.
We we're more hopeful until the
New York arrived the other day, after
n raxEage tnrouEh heavy seas, Now
we do not believe We will ever hear
from her
:. This official said no vessel sine" the
war began had drifted two weeks
withoue calling aid If she was equip
FED with wireless,
The Noltaire left Liverpool on No
senher 2s In ballast she was due
.here about twelve TO fifteen days later.
She was to have sailed for South
America tomorrow with a cargo in
50, coo 600 in gold The sailing has
been cancelled II was announced to-
J aight.
One-Third of Grew Americans.
No Official information was obtain
able as to the exact number of Amer
leans on board the Noltaire. 1t was
stated that when she left New York
early in November with cargo OF
meat for Liverpool she had crew
of 147 men. about one-third OF them
Americans. The crew was paid In
Liverpool. The number OF Americans
reshipping could not be obtained. II
was stated that probably all of them
would return with the vessel. The
Noltaire was one of the fastest boats
pf Lamport and Holt Line. She has
been in the New York Buenos Aires
trade and has made several trips
South in the last year. She was
especially desirable for this purpose
because Of the big demand for steam
ers equipped with strong rooms 10
carry gold. Gold is being shipped in
great quantities by bankers to South
America to pay for American imports
from there. No search is being d.
rected for the vessel from this side,
Il was stated, but the British ad
mirAlty several days ago began an
inquiry. Whether warships have been
sent in search of her is not known
here.
The boat was butt IN Glasgow In
1907 and was under the British nag