The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-25

There were similar distressing incidents
by the score, the most awful of ali occur
ring when the Utopia. with a final desper-
ate lurch, sank with her human freight
clinging about her and drew hundreds of
living persons down with her. Many of
those who had sprung into the sea as they
saw that the steamship could not float,
many moments longer Were then also
drawn into the whirlpool caused
by the Utopia's disappearance
Some came to the surface again
for a few moments before sinking
finally into their watery to nb. Others,
more lucky, were able to cling to pieces
of wreckage, floating spars, gratings, hatch
ways, boats, life belts, ETC.. and thus kept
themselves above water until rescued by
the war ships boats. But, as usual in
such cases, the weaker succumbed more
readily. Shrieking, praying women sank
to rise no more with their terrified Off
spring clasped to their breasts. Children
chung to their parents so desperately as
to, in several cases, cause the death of
both where both might have escaped had
better judgment been used. Husbands
and wives sank while grasDing each other
in frantic efforts TO keep each other afloat,
and many a good swimmer went down
with some Mortified, fear-maddened per-
son clinging to him with the tenacity OF
the desperation OF death.
Not until D p. IN. was 1t possible to give
a full and authentic account of the APP
palling castrophe, the failing light max
ing it difficult last night to see from the
shore what was going on at the scene OF
the disaster, and the terrible gale making
it almost impossible to communicate with
the vessels until late hour today.
Early last evening the Utopia was seen
steaming into the bay in the direction OF
the anchorage. When abreast of the iron
clad Arson the Utopis staggered as
though unable TO make Roadway
against the terrible current sud
denly the strong gale, combined
with the currents, swept the Inflated
vessel across the bows of the Arson, and
in moment her hull was pierced and cut
by the ram OF the ironc al. The Utopia,
after pulling clear OF the ironclai, driited
about before wind and sea. The rapid in
rush OF water through the rent in her side
caused her to settle down in five minutes
from the time of her first impact.
The Ansons boats were lowered imme-
diateiy, as were aso boats from the other
vessels OF the channel squadron. The
| Swedish man-of-war Freya and the cable
ship Amber and the ironclads turned their
powerful electric search i2hts on the scene
On shore the news OF the disaster spread
| quickly. An enormous crowd soon gath
cred on the parade and great excitement
prevailed. Little could be seen, however,
save the looming huils of the men-of-war
and the white RAYS of the search-lights
falling upon the ioam-flecked crests o. the
waves aud Illuminating the driving
spindrift. The shrieks Of the Utopia
passengers and crew cou be plainly
heard above tie roaring of the gale.
The sea was so heavy that the boats Of
the rescuerS could not with safety APP
proach the wreck SO they were com PEELED
TO lie to leeward, where they picked M
the people as they were swept from the
| deck
As the Utopia's bows settled terrific
scene was witnessed from the boats.
| Those still on board the sinking steamer
made a sudden rush en- mass- to the lore
rigging, struggling for their lives aud
vainiy seeking places OF refuge. Twenty
minutes latter the forecastle was sub
merged, and large number of persons
gathered there who had not dared TO ieap
overheard with the hope o. being rescued
by the boats, and who had failed in their
Efforts TO ascend the rigging, were carried
away by the waves.
The rescuers. blinded by the wind and
rain, saw nothing but q confused struggling
mass OF human beings entanglpd with
! the wreckage. A steam pinnace rescued all
those who had taken refuge in the main
rigging, but the last ones were not taken
off until ii o'clock at night. They were
so exhausted that they could do nothing
for themselves, so il was necessary TO haul
them into the boats by the brave blue
jackets in the rigging, who climbed into
ii ha no. ~.
people to the rescuers in the boats. Both
the British and the Swedish sailors did
pIucky and vigorous work.
While a steam pinnace belonging to the
British ironclad Immortalite was engaged
in the work OF rescue her screw fouled and
she became helpless aud drifted on the
rocks. In trying TO save themselves, two
OF the sailors aboard the pinuacs were
drowned. The remainder were rescued.
The total number OF lives lost is now
placed at SO. Divers are at work recov-
ering bodies from the wreck.
An ohcer OF the Utopia says owe
were slowing our engines, preparing to
anchor, when, before we realized our
danger, we found ourselves broadside on
the bows of the Arson. There was a
shout from both vessels, which was in
stantly followed by the Ansons ram tear
quarter OF mile from shore at the time"
The officers, in talking about the
catastrophe, say they will never forget the
scene that followed the collision. The
Italians were thrown into
state OF complete and cowardly
panic. They yelled frantically and
fought madly to reach the forecastle A
few OF the married men dragged their
wives with them, but the bulk OF the sim
gle men were needless of the piteous APP
peals of the women and children. The
forecastle and rigging were soon crowded
and the vessel began to settle down. Pres
emily an explosion, with deaiening report,
occurred in the forecastle, killing many
and throwing others into the sea. Luckily
the masts held and remained some yards
above the water as the vessel touched bot
tom. Some forty to fifty persons were
rescued from the masts.
The only instances of manliness occurred
among the people in the rigging. Many
men and nearly every woman clasped
children to their breasts, but they were
gradually overcome by exhaustion and
cold and were compelled to drop their
burdens and often follow themselves
Those in the lower rigging were exposed
| to the full force of the waves and were
swept away before the first of the Anson's
boats was able tn reach them. Some of
| the men had tied to themselves each his
1 - Ill II n