The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-03-21
Further Particulars of the Sinking
of the British Steamer Utopia
at Gibraltar.
It is Estimated Now That Over
Four Hundred Persons We're
Drowned.
Boats We're Lowered From Other Ves-
sells, But Dared Not Approach
the Sinking Ship.
Terrible Scenes on Board.

here with the British irOnclad Rodney,
as much larger than at first estimated.
It is calculated that of the 700 italian
emigrants and the crew on board of the
steamer 400 persons were drowned.
GIBRALTAR, March 18, S p. m.-Not
until now has it been possible to give a
full and authentic account of appalling
catastrophe, the failing light making it
difficult last night to see from shore what
was going on at the scene Of the dis
aster, and the terrible gale making it
almost impossible to communicate with
the vessel until a late hour to-day. Early
last evening the Utopia was seen steam
ing into the bay in the direction of the
Anchorage. When abreast of the ironclad
A nson the Utopia staggered as though
unable to make Roadway against the cur
rent. Suddenly a strong gale, combined
with the current swept the Inflated yes
eel 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 pulling clear Of the
ironclad, drifted about before the wind
and sea. The rapid in-rush of the water
through the rent in her side caused her
to settle down in five minutes from the
time of the first impact. The Anson's
boats were lowered INN ediately, as were
also the boats from the other vessels of
the British channel squadron. The
Swedish man-of-war Freya and the
cable ship Amber, and the ironclads
turned their powerful electric search
lights on the scene of the disaster to
assist the rescuers. On the shore the
news of the disaster spread quickly.
An enormous crowd soon gathered on
the parade, and great excitement pre-
vailed. Little could be seen, however,
save the looming hulls of the men-of-war
and the white search lights falling upon
the f~oam-hecked crests of the waves and
Illuminating the driving spindrift.
The shrieks of the Utopia's passengers
and of the 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 ap-
proach the wreck, SO that they were
compelled to lie to the leeward, where
they picked up the people as they were
swept from the decks. As the Utopia's
bows settled a terrific scene was wit
messed from the boat. Those still Oh
board of the sinking steamer made a
sudden rush @ masse to the fore
rigging, struggling for their lives, and
vainly seeking places of refuge.
Twenty minutes later the forecastle was
submerged and q large number of per-
sons gathered there, who had not dared
to leap overheard with the hope of being
rescued by the boats and who had failed
IN their efforts to ascend the rigging,
we're carried away by the raves The
~rescuers, blinded by the wind and rain,
saw nothing but a confused struggling
wreckages. A steam pinnace rescued all
those who had taken refuge in the main
rigging, but the last ones were not taken
off until IL o'clock at night. They were
SO exhausted that they could do nothing
for themselves, so it was necessary to
haul them into the boats by the brave
%bluejackets in the rigging, who clam
bered into the shrouds and passed the
helpless people to the rescuers in the
boats. Both the British and Swedish
sailors did plucky and vigorous work.
While the steam pinnace belonging to
the British ironclad Immoralite was en-
gagged in the work of rescue her screw
fouled and she became helpless and
drifted OF the rocks. In trying to save
themselves two of the sailors aboard the
pinnace we're drowned. The remainder
were sescued. The total number of lives
lost is now placed at SIG. Divers are at
work recovering the bodies from the
wreck.
THE UTOPIA's CARGO.
NEW YORK, March 18.-The agents Of
the Anchor Line Steamship company to-
day received the following report of the
Utopia disaster: "The list of the saved
emb races :two cabin passengers, 29O
steerage passengers and As of the crew.
Fifteen of the crew and 475 passengers
were lost. The ship was not insured.
The cargo intended for Mediterranean
ports was valued at 100000 and the
steamship at 100000. The passengers
saved will be brought over on the steam
ship Assyria of the INT line which was
at the Genoa at the time of the accident
and has been ordered to Gibraltar"
THE DIVERS REPORT.
GIBRALTAR, March 18.-The divers
who have made examination of the wreck
of the Utopia report hundreds of bodies
in the Storage and between the decks.
During the course of the day the bodies
of % men and one woman were recovered
here, while at various other points along
the coast the bodies of six men, 10
women, seven boys and one girl were
washed ashore. One of the women, when
her body was taken from the water, was
found to have her arms firmly locked
around the corpse of her child. The re-
naming unfortunate people were taken
to the cemetery in the Spanish lines,
where an inquest was held. The author
tiles here have provided ambulances,
bedding and clothing for the
and the inhabitants are assist
to their utmost in the work of miti-
the distress. of the poor people.
A private fund has also been started to
provide for the immediate needs of the
shipwrecked passengers. Two other So
loon passengers beside Signor Colbron
were saved. Pockets are stationed along
the breakwater to recover any other bod
les that may wash ashore.