Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-19
THE DISASTER IN pETAlt.
An Almost Unparalleled Scene of Wreck
TaeLoss of Life.

GBy Anglo.American cable 70 the Dispatchl
GIBRALTAR, March 1s.-Another account
OF the disaster attributes it 10 the fact
that the British war ship Arson was DRIFT
ing before the gale, and in so doing ram
med the Utopia abaft the funnel. After
ramming the Utopia the Anson Is SAID 10
have reversed her engines, which caused
her to back away from the Utopia, when
vessel was practically impaled on the, spur
OF the Anson's ram, and the Utopia almost
Immediately afterwards sank.
EVERYTHING DONE TO SAVE LIFE.
Everything possible was done by the
officers and seamen of the British war-ships
in their efforts to save life. and four sea;
men were washed overheard and drowned
from one of the war-ship's steam
launches while taking part in the work OF
rescue. Among the Utopias officers and
petty officers who were saved by boats from
the war-ships were Captain Mckeague and
the ships doctor, boatswaln, chief stew
ard, and carpenter.
SCENE UNPARALLELED.
The scene after the collision has proba-
bly, never before been paralleled IN the
history of maritime disaster. On one side
was the sinking passenger steamship,
crowded with about seven hundred emil
grants, who filed the air with wild, horrl-
BILE appeals for help and shrieks OF terror.
Overhead clouds rushed furlously. driven
along by the strong southwest gale, when
had been one of the causes OF the calamity,
THE TERRIBLE POSITION OF THE EMIGRANTs.
Right and left of the sinking vessel were
the two monster battle-ships Rodney and
Anson. pouring the light of their powerful
electric rehectors upon the disabled
steamer and the agony of her passengers,
and showing all too clearly the terrible
position in which they were placed. Here
and there were the war-ships' small boats,
manned by sturdy blue-iackets, who
strained every nerve striving to reach the
drowning passengers.
THE RESCUED.
The rescued, estimated TO be about $50,
were most kindly cared for on board the
war ships or were taken ashore and housed
in different Government buildings.
THE LOSS oFLIPE.
Ats o'clock the loss of life Is placed at
400 or under.
A naval court of inquiry will be con-
vened on board the Anson.
THE sURyIyoks TO DE FORWARDED WHERE NOT
TOO SCARED.
II is expected that the Anchor Line peo-
pie will shortly take steps TO forward the
Utopia's survivors TO their destinations IN
the United States by another steamship OF
their line. Some of the Italians, however.
are 50 badly scared by their experiences OF
last night that thev announce Their mten.
ton of never again Drawing the dangers of
an ocean voyage.
TESTIMONY OF OFFICFRS.
An officer of the Utopia says We were
slowing our engines preparing to anchor
when, before we realized our danger, we
found ourselves broadside on the bows or
the Anson. There was q shout from both
vessels. which was instantly followed by
the ram tearing into the Utopia. We were
about quarter of mile from shore at the
time"
The officers. in talking about the catas-
trophe 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 mar
ried men dragged their wives with them,
but the bulk of the single men were heed
less of the piteOus appeals OF the women
and children. The forecasue and rigging
we're soon crowded and the vessel began to
settle down. Presently
AN EXPLOSION
with a deafening report occurred in the
forecastle, killing many and throwing
others into the sea. Luckily the mast
heads remained some yards above the
water as the vessel touched bottom. From
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 sheer exhaustion
and cold and were compelled to drop their
burdens and often follow themselves.
Those in the lower rigging, who were ex-
posed to the full force Of the waves, were
swept away before the first of the Anson's
boats was able TO reach them.
TIED TOGETHER.
Some of the men had tied to themselves
each his wife or child. hoping TO be able to
float until they were saved. Several
bodies so tied together were washed ashore
dead. The majority of the Italians. how
ever. behaved more like beasts than like
reasoning men.