St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-19
A DRIFTING WAR SHIP.
Another Account of the Sinking
Blames the Anson.

bIdD1cS the AnSOn.
GIBRALTAR, March 1S.-Another ac-
count of the disaster attributes it to the
fact the war ship Arson was drifting
before the gale, and that in so doing
she rammed the Utopia abaft the fun
mel. After ramming the Utopia. the
Arson is said to have reversed her ep-
gines, which caused her to back awav
from the Utopia, which vessel was
practically hanging on the SpCr of the
Anson's ram, and the Utopia almost
Immediately afterwards sank beneath
the waves. Everything possible was
done by the officers and seamen of the
British war ships in their efforts to save
the lives of the unfortunate people on
board the Utopia. So much so that four
Seamen were washed overheard and
drowned from one of the war sbip's
steam launches while taking part in the
rescue. Among the UtOpia's officers
and passengers who were saved bv the
boats of the warShipS were: Can't. Nc
Keague, the ships doctor, boatswain.
chief steward and carpenter. The scene
after the collision has probably never
before been witnessed in the history of
maritime disasters. On one side was
the sinking passenger steamship.
crowded with about 700 emigrants, who
filled the air with wild appeals for help
and ShriekS of terror as thev saw death
awaiting them in the dark. angry waters
of the bay of Gibraltar. Overhead
the clouds rushed furiously, driven
along by the stlOng southwest gale
which has been one of the causes of the
calamity. Right and left of the sinking
vessel were the two monster battle
ships, the Rodney and the Anson, huge
specimens OF Britain's most powerful
fighting ships, pouring the light of their
powerful electric refectors upon the
disabled steamship, lighting up the
clearly, too clearly, the terrible position
in which they were placed. Here and
there were the warship's small boats,
manned by sturdy blue-jackets. who
strained every nerve as they bent to
their oars in that heavy sea. while striv-
ing gallantly to be first to reach the
drowning passengers of the Utopia. The
rescued passengers, estimated 10 num-
Der about two hundred possibly more)
souls, were most kindly cared for on
board the warships, or were taken
ashore and housed III the different gov
ernment buildings.
A naval court Of inquiry will be con-
vened on board the British flagship, H.
~ ~ -AAASOa1s ISh uiio- 1OsOJO tOLS dllU
1880 horse power. flying the flag of
Rear Admi:al Lotus E. Jones and COM
manded by Capt. B. F. Clark. The
Rooney the other British war ship.
mixed up in some not definitely ex-
planned manner with the sinking of the
Utopia. mounts ten guns, is of 10, 100
tons and II, 800 horse power. She is COM
manded by Capt. John B. Warren.
Both war ships belong to the Channel
squadron. of which Admiral Jones is
the second in command. The au-
thorities of Gibraltar are furnishing
the rescued people with lodg-
ings, food and clothing. 1t is
expected that the Anchor line people
will shortly take steps to forward the
Utopia's Survivors to their destinations
in the United States by another steam
ship of their line. Some OF the Italians,
however, are so badly scared by their
experiences of last night that they an
nOunce their intention of never agoin
crossing the dangers of al ocean voy-
age.