SHIP ABLAZE IN MID-OCEAN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 7

SHIP ABLAZE IN MID-OCEAN.

TERRIBLE ORDEAL FOR PASSENGERS. ATLANTIC LINERS RACE TO HELP. THRILLING SPECTACLE. 521 SAVED; 236 MISSING, By Telegraph—Press As bo cia-tloii—Co p (Rec. October 12, 6.5 p.m.) London, October 11. Tho Cunard mail steamer Carmania last evening received a wireless messago that the steamer Volturno was on fire seventy-eight miles away. Tho Carmania hastened to tho scone, and found tho Volturno burning forward fiercely. Two boat-loads of passengers had got safely away, but four others had been smashed against the vessel's sides by tho terriilic 6ens, and tho occupants drowned. | Tho gale prevented tho Carmania b boats from approaching. Meanwhilo Captain Barr, of the manoeuvred to within a hundred loot of the Volturno's stern. Nino other steamers, which had heard tho wireless call, then camo hurrying up. Search-lights were erected, hut the heavy seas and growing darkness frustrated repeated efforts to reach tho vessel. Flames burst through tho enginoroom, and an explosion was heard. Tho passengers, with life-belts on them, wero mostly huddled on the poop astern, and it was only possible to t'irow life-buoys into the water and stand by. Numbers of struggling swimmers wero picked up in this way. Tho Volturno was still afloat at daybreak, and tho sea was _ moderate. Altogether tho Carmania_ rescued ono, the La Touraine 40, tho Minneapolis 30, the Rappahannock 19, tho Czar 112, the Narragansett 29, tho Devonian 69, tho Ivroonland 90, the Grosser Kurfust 105, and tho Seydritz 36.. It is feared that the remainder, numbering 236, have porished. Tlio Kroonland rescued the captain, tho chief, second, third, and fifth engineers, and two telegraphists. According to tho purser, the Volturno's cabin passengers numbered 24; steerage, 540; crew, 193. The Canadian Northern Steam Ship Company owned tho vessolj which was stoaming from Rotterdam to New York.

AN AWESOME SPECTACLE. SCENE WHEN DARKNESS FELL? (Rec. October 13, 0.15 a.m.) London, October 12. The Volturno was almost exactly in mid-Atlantio when the disaster ocourred. Tho Carmania received tho call early on Thursday and reached the scene at noon. Ten other vessels also responded and arrived by four in tho afternoon. Whon the darkness fell tho scene was a thrilling ono. The Volturno was burning fiercely and was surrounded by huge brilliantlylighted lnills—an international fleet, crowded with thousands of spectators. Tho vessels were rolling and plunging in mountainous seas, and unablo to render succour. It was not until 9.20 o'clock yesterday morning that tho survivors wero taicn off.

TO RECOVER THE DEAD. BURIAL STEAMER DISPATCHED. (Reo. Ootobor 13, 0.15 a.m.) Nov/ Yorft, October 12. The ngentsi for tlio Uranium Line believe that there is a likelihood of a greater number having been saved from tho burning ship than was at first thought probable. Tho steamer Uranium has been dispatched to recover tho bodies and (jive proper burial to tho dead. Tho Uranium is expected to reach tho sceno of tlio disaster on Wednesday.^ Tlio Red Cross Committee hero is arranging for the caro of the survivors whon they land.