The Lamar register., 1891-03-21
TERRIBLE LOSS Or LIFE.
Nearly 500 Italian Emigrants Drowned
at Gibralter.

at Gibralter.
A dispatch from Gibralter says that
the British steamship Utopia, from italian
ports, bound to New York with 100 Italian
emigrants, collided Tuesday with the
British ironclad Rodney, anchored IN
Gibraltar bay, and sank soon afterward'
A southwest gale was blowing at the time
OF the collision. Many women end chill
dren were drowned. A large number
clinging to the rigging We're rescued BY
boats from the channel squadron.
On entering the bay the Utopia, before
colliding with the Rodney, ran into the
British ironclad Arson. The Utopia sank
In few minutes. Boats were lowered
from the British irUuclad and from the
Swedish man of-war F'reyia. These boat
received $50 persons, who are now on
board the various vessels. Many others
who were rescued are lodged in the govern
ment buildings on the shore. II is reported
that the crew of the Utopia were saved
but that over 2oo passengers perished.
The victims were nearly all Italians, who
were on their way to various points In
America. When the collision occurred
there we, u -y7Iru rush FOR the boats, and
women and children were ruthlessly
trampled down by the men, who fought
like demons.
The Utopia was bound from Trieste to
New York, and was an iron screw steamer
of a,7Sl tens gross register. She was
built at the port of Glasgow in 1874, aud
was owned in that city.
Early Tuesday evening the Utopia
was seen steamiuG into the bay of Gibral-
ter in the drsction of the anchorage.
When abreast OF the ironclnd Anson the
Utopia staggered US though unable 10
make headway against the terrible cur
;ent Suddenly the strong gale, combined
with the current, swept the i'll fated
vessel across the bows OF the Anson, and
u a moment her hull was pierced and cut
oy the ram Of the ironclad. The Utopia,
After pulling clear of the ironciad, drifted
>ut before the wind and sea.
The rapid thrush OF water through the
lole in her side caused her 10 settle down
live minutes from the time of the first
impact. Tue Anson's boats were lowered
Immediately, as were also boats from the
lthor vessels OF tae British channei
squadron, the Swedish mau-of-war Freya
and the cable ship Amber, and the iron
lads turned their powerful electric search
lights on the scene OF the disaster to assist
he resc uers.
Petersen, Swedish quartermaster,who
aad been steering the Utopia short time
before the collision, says that while on
board the Utopia after the collision he was
surrounded by a terrible mass OF human
beings fighting their way desperately and
savagely, regardless OF sex, or age, toward
the boats. Men, women and children
tunlbied and climbed over each other in
that T ibie fight for chance to escape
T., IL drowning. Cne poor woman, who
WAS rescued by the Anson's blue jackets
went raging mad when convinced that her
children were drowned. There were sim
ilarly distressing incidents by the score.
the most awful of ali occurring when the
Utopia with a final desperate lurch sank
with her human freight c!iuging about
her and drew hundreds OF live persons
down with her. Many of athose who had
sprung into the ocean as they saw that the
steamship could not iioat many moments
longer. were then also drawn down into
the whirlpool caused by the Utopia's dis
appearance. Some came to the surface
again for few moments before sinking
finally into their watery tomb
Others, more lucky, were able to cling to
pieces of wreckage, floating spars, oars.
gratings, hatchways, boats, life belts, etc,
and thus kept themselves above water
until rescued by the war ships boats.
report occurred in the forecastle, killing
many, and throwing many in the sea.
Luckily the masts held and remained
some yards above water, and as the yes
sci touched the bottom, from forty TO hfty
,.ersous were rescued from the masts.