CAPTAIN INCH'S STORY. FIRE STARTED IN NO. 1 HOLD. CALLS FOR HELP,

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 93, 16 October 1913, Page 7

CAPTAIN INCH'S STORY. FIRE STARTED IN NO. 1 HOLD. CALLS FOR HELP,

LONDON, 15th October. Captain Inch, of the ill-fated steamer Volturno, in his narrative of the disaster, states that the fire on the Volturno originated in No. 1 hold, and spread so rapidly tha,t the watch below were imprisoned and burned to death. "The chief officer discovered the fire in No. 1 hold. The flames burnt through the hatches, and fired the forecastle deck and fittings, and gained rapidly, reaching to the height of the foremast light. "xhe watch below," continued thecaptain, "were imprisoned and incinerated, while a series of 'explosions wreck ed the saloon and hospital amidships, and damaged the steering gear; "I sent the wireless call for help," narrated Captain Inch, "and as it seemed impossible to save the ship, we provisioned and swung out the boats. The 'fiftip was rolling heavily and two of the boats were smashed. The third was successfully lowered. It contained the ■cabin passengers, the first officer, and crew, and stewards. This boat was capsized, and its occupants thrown into the wa,ter ; it was lighted by the chief officer, and several of the crew reentered her. The fourth boat contained the steerage passengers, and was in charge of Mr. Langsell, the fourth officer. It got away x safely. The fifth boat was caught under the stern and wrecked. "Meanwhile, the chief engineer, two seamen, and myself fought the fire, which, apparently, was subdued. I -then ordered them not to lower any more boats, as I had by this time received word from the Carmania. "At last the passengers became calmer. Then we discovered that the bunker was ablaze. We closed the watertight doors and poured water into No. 2 hatch, the fire continuously gaining all the while. The Carmania tJien arrived, but her Iffe-rafts drifted past us out of reach. By dusk other steamers arrived, and each futilely attempted to reach us. The saloon chart-house was now aflame, and all the deck before the funnel was blazing fiercely. AN EXPLOSION. "Just before midnight an explosion wrecked the wireless aerial. The firo worked through the women's steerage cabins to the after end of the ship, but we kept this knowledge from the passengers, who were quietly brought out. The chief engineer, the Marconi operators, the sailors, and myself 6peiit the f night in making small rafts. '"The fire had burned through the deck before daylight, and at five next morning tho liners' boats came alongside, and the passengers were loaded in an orderly manner without panic. The women wept when help came alongside. I searched tho ship afterwards, but found no one aboard, and then decided to abandon her, as No. 3 hatch was then alight." In consequence of the discovery of old manuscripts at the Supreme Court by Mr. Robert M'Nab, the New Zealand historian, it is probable (says the Sydney Sun) that a consideiable portion of early New Z«ftknd Jhietory will have to bo , re-wetter