St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-19
G|bRALTAh'S HORROR.
Five Hundred and Seventy
Souls Lost From the Ill
Fated Utopia.
A Fearful Scramble for Life
by the Victims Of the Aw-
full Disaster.
The Flashing Electric Search
Lights Presented an Ap-
palling Picture.
The Sinking Ship Created a
Terrible Maelstrom OF De-
struetion.

Struetion.
GIBRALTAR, March IS. ) p. m. No
until now has it been possible to give
full and authentic account of the ap-
palling catastrophe, the falling light
making it difficult last night to see from
the shore what was going on at scene of
the disaster. and the terrible gale max
ing it almost impossible to communicate
with the vessel until late hour to-day.
Early last evening the Utopia was seen
steaming into the bay in the direction
of the anchorage. When abreast of the
irOnclad Arson the Utopia staggered as
though unable to make headWay
against the terrible current. Suddenly
the strong gale, combined with the cur
rent swept the ill-fated vessel across
the bows of the Arson, and in a moment
her hull was pierced and cut by the ram
of the irOnclad. The UtOpia, after pull
ing clear of the irOnclad, drifted about
before wind and sea. The rapid lnrush
of water through the rent III her
side caused her to settle down in five
minutes from the time OF the first i'm
pact. The Anson's boats were lowered
immediately, as were also boats from
the other vessels of the British channel
squadron, the Swedish man-of-war
Freya and the cable ship Amber, and
the ironcIads turned their powerful
electric search lights on the scene of
the disaster to assist the rescuers. On
shore the news of the disaster spread
quickly. An enormous crowd soon
gathered on the parade and great eX-
citement prevailed. Little could be
seen. however. save the looming hulS
of the men-of-war and the white search
lights falling upon the fOam-f1ecked
crests of the waves and Illuminating
the driving spindrift. The
SiariekS Of the Passengers
and crew could be plainly heard above
the roaring of the gale. The sea was
so heavy that the boats of the rescuers
could not with safety approach the
wreck, so they were compelled to lie to
leeward, where they picked up the peo-
pie as they were swept from the decks.
As the Ctopia's bows settled terrific
scene was witnessed from the boats.
Those still on board the sinking steamer
made 4 sudden rush Ell masse to the
fore rigging struggling for their lives
and valnly seeking places of refuge.
Twenty minutes later the forcaStle was
submerged and large number OF per-
sons gathered there, who had not dared
to leap over board with the hope
of 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 confused, struggling
mass Of human beings entangled with
wreckages. y steam pinnace rescued
all those VINO had taken refuge in the
main rigging, but the last ones were not
taken off until II o'clock at mig hC. They
were so exhausted that they could do
nothing for themselves, so it was neces-
sary TO haul them into the boats by the
brave biuejackets in the rigging, who
clambered into the shrOudS and passed
the helpless people to the rescuers in
the boats. Both the British and Swed-
iSh sailors did plucky and vigorous
work. While steam pinnace belong
ing TO one or the irOncladS was engaged
IN the work OF rescue, her screw fouled
and she became helpless and
DrifIed on the Rocks.
In trying to save themselves two of
the sailors aboard the pinnace were
drowned. The remainder were res
CNNds iC lpldl iuilDEl Ol lives lOSI III
now placed at $40. Divers are at work
recovering bodies from the wreck.
Petersen, Swedish quartermaster,
who had been steering the Utopia a
short time before the collision. saws
that just before the vessels came to-
gether he went below. While there he
felt the shock of the collision and
rushed from below, but before he
reached the main deck the Utopia had
gone broadside on upon the spur of the
AnsOn'S ram. The commander of the
Utopia, Capt. McKeague, according to
Peterson. was on the steamships
bridge until the last moment. Peterson
adds that as the Utopia was crushed by
the AnsOn's ram he clambered up the
davitS OF one of the steamships boats
and cut the ropes holding to it. lie
bad no time, however, to lower the boat
away, as the bows of the Utopia had
passed beneath the war ship, andit was
evident that the passenger Stt aner was
rapidly sinking. Soon after, the boats
OF the AnSon having been properly low
ered- one Of the man-of-war's cutters
ran alongside the Utopia and Peterson
managed TO jump into her. He saws
that while on board the Utopia after
the collision he was surrounded by
terrible mass of human beings,
Fighting Their Way
desperately and savageIy regardless of
sex or age. towards the boats. Men.
women and children tumbled and
climbed over each other in that hor-
Fible fight for a chance of escape from
drowning. Cne poor woman who was
rescued by the Anson's blue Jackets.
went raving Zad when she was CON
WINGED that her children were drowned.
There were similarly distressing Incl
dents by the score. the most awful of
all occurring when the Utopia, with a
final desperate lurch, sank with her
human freight clinglng 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
down in the whirlpool caused by the
Utopla's disappearance. Some came
TO the surface again for a few moments
before sinking finally into their watery
tomb. Others, more lucky, we're able
TO cling to pieces of Wreckage, floating
SparS. oars, gratings, hatchways. boats.
lie belts, ETC., and thus kept them
selves above water until rescued bv
the warship's boats. But, as usual in
such cases, the weaker succumbed more
readily.
Shriekin9. Praying Women
sank to rise no more, with their terrified
offspring clasped to their breasts.
Children clung to their parents so des-
perately 2s 10 in several cases cause the
Death Of both, where both miGnt have
escaped had better iudn;unnf haan mead