ON THE BURNING LINER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 7

ON THE BURNING LINER.

VOLTURNO DISASTER TOLD BY A SURVIVOR. TERRIBLE SCENES ON DECK. PANIC-STRICKEN SAILORS RUSH THE BOATS. According to the account given by a German passenger, Heir Trintcpohl, who jumped overboard from tho burning jliner Volturno in mid-Atlan-tic, and was rescued by the Carmania, terrible scenes were witnessed on tho deck 'of the doomed ship as the firo gained tho mastery. The foreign section of the crcw behaved badly, and rushed the boats. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. October 13, 11.10 p.m.) London, October 13. Herr Trintcpohl, a German passenger, who was rescued from tho burning liner Volturno by the Cunard linor Carmauia, states that the alarm of fire was raised at six o'clock on Thursday morning. Tho outbreak occurred in' one of the holds. Tho passengers were ordered on deck, and lifebelts distributed as a precaution, tho captain stating that he hoped to extinguish the flames. Tho womon were much upset, and the children cricd bitterly as the fire became worse, and they saw things blazing down below, Disorder on Deck. At ten o'clock tho cry went up to put out the boats. Captain Inch and the English officers behaved splendidly, but the German and Belgian members of the crow behaved badly. People rushed' about wildly. Tho crew seemed to think that they ought to havo first place, and made the panic worso. ' Five Boats Smashed—All Lost. Tho first officer took charge of tho first boat, and wanted tho women and children first, bht the majority of those who got into tho boat wore members of tho crow. Tho boat was smashed as soon as it touched tho water, and all were drowned. As tho second boat was lowered, tho chief stowiird threw somo food in, and jumped in himself. There were mora men than women in this boat, which also was smashed against tho liner's sido before reaching the water. All tho occupants perished. Three other boats were then put out aft of the steamer, but tho ropes broke, and the occupants were either drowned or killed. No boat got away, for the captain then cut tho tackle, to prevent othor boats being launched.

Firemen Cowed by Revolver. When tho Carmania arrived, the firemon rushed up on deck, but tho captain, with revolver in hand, drove them tiack. He was compelled to leave tho bridgo owing to tho lieat from the flames. Tho women and children wero then placed on one sido of tho deck, and the moil on tho other. Tho women shrieked, and laughed hysterically. Then ensued an awful scene, when tho flames burst out froni below. Somo of tho men and women tore their hair, Others kept quiet and still. A Jump for Life. After tho explosion occurred, Herr Trintcpohl, an English passenger,' and a number of tho crow decided to jump ovorboard. Trintopohl did not see his companions again. Five of the sailors and one of tho stewards fell into tho firo, and were incinerated. '

The Carmanin arrived at Fishguard on Monday moyiing. Tho Narragansotto, an oil-tank steamer, manoeuvred to the windward of the burning Volturno, and pumped oil into the sea. HELP! OR WE PERISH! CAPTAIN'S DESPAIRING MESSAGE London, October 12. The captain, of tho Volturno, at 9 o'clock on Thursday night, 6ent a last despairing message: "For God's sake holp us or wo perish." By a miracle, tho flames did not spread to arterdeck. The sea moderated, permitting tlio rescue of . 621 persons. It is supposed that 136 perished. Two boats containing; forty persons wore not seen after leaving tho Volturno. It is believed that 110 wero drowned before the Carmania's arrival. The Carmania has sent a wireless message stating that tho Volturno was still burning at 8 o'clock on Friday night. A wireless message received at Bremen from the Grosser Kurfurst states that tho Volturno fire was apparently caused by a violent explosion forward, which killed sovoral of tho passengers and crew.