STEAMER ON FIRE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1913, Page 7

STEAMER ON FIRE

IN MID-ATLANTIC SUPPOSED HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE TEN STEAMERS TO THE RESCUE. SUMMONED BY WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. i s (By Teiegraplj.— Press Assoclation.-CopyrltfiU LONDON, 12th October. The Canard liner Carmania (19,524 tons) last evening received an urgent wireless message from the Canadian Northern Steamship's steel twin-screw steamer Volturno (3581 tons) stating that the Volturno was on fire seventy-eight miles away. The Carmania hastened to the spot; and found that the Volturno ! was burning forward fiercely. j Two boats filled with passengers got j safely away from the burning steamer, j Four other boats, however, were i smashed against the sides of the Voltumo j by terrific seas, and the occupants were drowned. A fierce gale prevented the Carmania's boats from approaching tho VoltUrno. Meanwhile, Captain Barr, of the Carmania, manoeuvred within 100 feet of the Volturno's stern, and nine other steamers were wirelessly summoned. Search lights were erected by the Carmania and directed on the naming veesel and on the surging waters; but heavy soas and growing darkness frustrated Tepeated efforts to reach the Volturno. Accounts by some of those who were rescued state that the flames were first seen to burst through the engine-room, and an explosion was then heard. The passengers donned the lifebelts, and many huddled together on the poop awaiting the arrival of rescuers, while others took to the boats. It was only possible for the Carmania to stand by, and for those aboard to throw life-buoys to the wrecked travellers who Were battling in the turbulent waters. Numbers of struggling swimmers were picked up by the vessels which came to the Tescue. The Volturno was istill afloat at daybreak, when the sea moderated. The Carmania rescued one passenger, La Touraine forty, the Minneapolis -thirty, the Rappahannock nineteen, the Czar 112, the Narragansett 29, the Devonian 59, the Kroonland 90, the Grosser Kurfust 105, and the Seydritz 86— -the total of those saved being 512. It is feared, that the remainder have perished. The Kroonland rescued the captain, chief, second, third, and fifth engineers, and two telegraphists. According to the purser, the Volturno's cabin passengers number 24, the steerage passengers 540, and the crew 193, the total number of pel-sons aboard being 757. The Canadian Northern Steamships, Ltd., owned the vessel, which was on tha way from Rotterdam to New York.