THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8690, 16 October 1913, Page 5

THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.

HOPELESS FIGHT WITH THE ■ - ■■-■• - FLAMES. ;' ■

(Per Press ' Association—Copyright)

LONDON, October! 14. Captain "Inch 'states that 'the! chief officer discovered the fire in No. 1 hold. The fire burnt through the hatches and fired the forecastle and deck fittings. The flames gained rapidly, reaching the height of the foremast "light. The; watch below was imprisoned and all perished, while -explosions wrecked the saloon and the hospital amidships and damaged the steering gear. ' i Captain Inch sent a wireless call, and as it seemed impossible, to save the ship he provisioned and swung out the boats. • . ,

The ship was rolling heavily. Two boats were smashed, but the third was successfully lowered. It contained cabin passengers, the first officer and a crew of stewards. The boat capsized and the occupants were thrown into the

water, L The boat was righted and the chief officer and several of the crew reentered her/ ;

A fourth boat, containing steerage passengers, in charge of Mr Langsell, fourth-officer, got away safely.

The fifth boat was caught under the stern arid wrecked.

"Meanwhile," continued the captain, "the chief/engineer/ two seamen,, and myself fought'the fire and apparently subdued it, I ordered that no,more boais should be lowered, as T had received word from the Carmania.

" The passengers became calmer. It then, was discovered that the bunker ■was.ablaze. 1' We ; closed the water-tight doors and poured water down No. 2 hatch, the fire continuously gaining.

"The Carmania arrived and her liferafts drifted past us out of reach. By dusk other steamers arrived and futilely attempted to- reach us.

"The saloon and chart-house were aflame and all the vessel before . the funnel was blazing fiercely. Just before midnight an explosion wrecked the wireless aerial. The fire worked through the women's steerage to^ the after-end of the ship, but I kept the knowledge from the 1 passengers, who were, quietly, brought out. The chief engineer, the Marconi . operators, the j sailors and myself spent the night mak-! ing. the small rafts. The fire burned through the deck Before daylight.

;''At 5 in the morning the liner's boats were alongside-and the passenger.*; were placed; on,, board in an orderly manner and! without panic. The women- wept when- Helpi was alongside.

I searched the ship, but found none aboard! 'I deckled' to abandon the. vessel'-as No. 3' hatch was alight."