The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-03-26

bic fight for a chance to escape from
drowning. One poor woman who was
rescued by the Anson's blue jackets
went raving mad when she was con-
vinced that her children had been
drowned.
HUNDREDS IN THE VORTEX.
There were similarly distressing in.
cidents by the score, the most awful
occurring when the Utopia, with final
desperate lurch, sank with her human
freight clingiDg about her and drew
hundreds OF living persons down with
her in the vortex can 4 hy her last
plunge. Many Of base Nho had
sprung into the sea, as hey saw that
the steamship could not float many
moments longer, were then also draw,
down in the Whirlpool caused ny thc
Utopia's disappearance. Some came
TO the surface again for a few mo.
ments before sinking finally into their
watery tomb. Others, more lucky,
were able to cling to pieces Of wreck
age, floating spars, oars, gratings,
hatchways, boats, life belts. ETC., and
thus kept themselves above water un.
I'll rescued by the warship's boat.
But AS usual in such cases, the weak.
er succum ed more readily. Shrieking,
praying women sank to rise no more
with their terrified oEsprings clasped
to their breasts. Children clung to
their parents so desperately as to, in
several cases, cause the death OF both
whore both might have escaped bad
better judgment been used. Husbands
and wives sank while grasping each
other in frantic efforts to keep each
other afiuat and many good swimmers
went down with some horrlfed, fear
maddened person clinging to him
with the tenacity Of the desperation
of death.
The officers and crew of II. NJ. S
Anson state that the Utopia iouled
the ram of the AnsoD, and thus caused
the damage which resulted in the
passenger steamer sinking within n
few minutes after being struck. The
Anson's officer, assert that no blame
Can be attached tn the war vessel.
cowARDLY WORK OF ITALIANS.
An officer Of the Utopia Gays; "We
were slowing the speed Of our engines
preparing TO anchor, when, before We
realized our danger, we found our
selves broadside on the bows oI
the Anson. There was shout from
both vessels, which was instantly
followed by the Anson's ram tearing
into the Utopia. We were about {
quarter Of 6 mile from shore at thu
time"
The officers, in talking about thu
catastrophe, say they will never for
get the scene that followed the col
lision. The Italiaas were thrown in
to state OF complete and coward!
panic. They yelled frantically ant
fought madly TO reach the forecastle
A few Of the marriedmen dragged thei
wives with them, but the bulk Of sin
gle men were needless of the piteou
appeals OF the women and children
The forecastle and III, ugging wer
soon crowded and the vessel began Il
settle down.
Presently an explosion with deal
ening report occurred in the forecastlt
killing many AID throwing others in
to the sea. Luckily the masts he'll
and remained some yards above tn
water as the vessel touched the bot
, tom. From forty TO fifty we're rescue'
} from the masts. The only instance O
manliness occurred among the peopl
/, in-the rigging. Mary men and nearl
every wohan clasped children to thei
brePsts, but they we're gradually over
e come by sheer exhaustion and coll
and were compelled to drop thei
u burdens and often follow themselves
y Those in the lower rigging, wh
o were exposed to the full force Of tn
, waves, were swept away before tn
y first of the Ansun's boals were able I
, reach them. Some Of he men ha
d tied to themselves each his wife q
8 child, hoping to be able to float unit
l. they were saved Several bodies s.
y tied together were washed ashor
II dead. The majority of the Italian'
l. however, behaved more like beast
e than like reasoning men.