News from 1918 THE CARPATHIA TORPEDOED

[Mark Baber]

On 17 July 1918, Carpathia was torpedoed and sunk, with the loss of five lives. It took a few days before the news was reported; here's how The Times dealt with Carpathia's loss.

The Times (London), 20 July 1918

THE CARPATHIA TORPEDOED
---
The Cunard steamer Carpathia was sunk by an enemy torpedo in the
Atlantic, west of Ireland, last Wednesday while on the outward voyage.

Survivors state that the vessel was sunk by a German submarine at about
9:15 on Wednesday morning. All of the passengers and crew were saved
except three firemen and two trimmers, who are supposed to have been
killed by an explosion in the engine-room.

The survivors number 215, including 36 saloon and 21 steerage
passengers.

Members of the crew state that just after the passengers had breakfasted
a torpedo struck the vessel slightly forward of the engine-room and a
minute or two later a second torpedo crashed into the engine-room.
There was no panic on board, and the passengers and the surviving
members of the crew got away in small boats without difficulty.

The Carpathia, 13,603 tons, was built in 1903 by Swan and Hunter
(Limited), of Newcastle. She rescued survivors of the Titanic and the
Volturno.

-30-

 

[Matthew Lips]

Pardon my total ignorance, but what was the Volturno? Didn't know that Carpathia had galloped to the rescue more than once (I guess after Titanic all else pales somewhat), but I would sure be grateful for more details!

Thanks.

 

[Rosanne MacIntyre]

MAB,

Can you quote your source on this being the Carpathia as the Cunard rescue ship? I remember
chatting with Molony last year on this and no
conclusion drawn. The reason for my question is
that Baarslag in SOS to the Rescue has a good 15-20 pages dedicated to Volturno and states the first out of 11 ships coming to aid Volturno was the Cunarder Carmania, under the command of Capt Barr.

Matthew,

Volturno was a 3600 ton ship owned by Unranium
Steamship Company that caught fire Oct 9, 1913
in route from Rotterdam for Hailfax & NY. They were forced to lower lifeboats in a gale and lost the first 3 (2 drifted away never to found & the third was crushed by the stern being lifted by a wave and smashing it).

Rescue ships worked for over a day to get the
remaining 500+ passengers and crew off the burning ship.

If you have a chance to get your hands on Baarslag's book, I highly recommend it. A great
read!

Rosanne MacIntyre

 

[Mark Baber]

Hi, Ro---

I don't know a whole lot about Volurno's rescue, other than that a bunch of ships were involved in assisting her passengers. Whether The Times is correct in saying that Carpathia was one of them, I don't know. I'll check the stuff I have at home tonight and report back then.

Baarslag's is a terrific book...one of a relative handful that I keep right over my 'puter, always within arm's reach.

 

[Rosanne MacIntyre]

Thanks Mark! Just found this wonderful website on the sinking and hope y'all will enjoy.

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~daamen1/volturno/index.htm


Rosanne MacIntyre

 

[Mark Baber]

Having had a little time to check my standard reference works tonight, I can report that none of them say that Carpathia was involved in the rescue of Volturno's passengers.

 

[Matthew Lips]

Rosanne - thanks very much for the info. It was all news to me, would be nice to think that Carpathia had led an even more eventful life than I already knew about!

 

[Darlene Carroll]

Carpathia Help... does anyone know when or how she sank ?

 

[Mark Baber]

Darlene---

Our collective knowledge of Carpathia appears here:
https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/10264/10264.html?1027668000