New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-19
THE UTOPIA DISASTER.
FIVE HUNDRED AND sEvENTY-SIX PERSONS
DROWNED IN GIBRALTAR BAY.

u,r,,r. SCENES OF PANIC AND DESPAIR on THE
srxKING sTEAMER-GALLANT RESCUE WORK
nv SAILORS FROM THE wARsHIPs IN
THE HARBoR-HARDLY a WOMAN
sAvED-ACCoUNTs OF EYE.
WITNESSES.
Gibraltar. March Sit is now believed that the
l.ss Of life by the sinking of the Anchor Line
steamer Utopia, which was in collision yesterday
IN entering the bay here with me BRUSH IRON
,ads Arson and Rodney, was much larger 'han
,t first estimated. The total number of lives iosU
is now placed at 576 The official report shows that
when the Utopia left Naples she had $50 persons
on board, including passengers ana crew
Several bodies of those who lost 'helr
lives in the disaster have been washed ashore Oh
the Spanish coast
Not until this evening has il been possible 10
rive full and authentic account OF the appalins
catastrophe, the failing light making IL dliicui'
last night to see from the shore what was SoihS
on at the scene of the disaster. and the lerri-
BILE gale making it almost Impossible 10 coi-
municate with the vessels until late hour TO-
day. Early last night the Utopia was seen steam
ing into the bay in the direction of the anchor
age When abreast of the ironclad Anson the
Utopia staggered as though unable to make head
way against the terrible current. Suddenly the
strong gale combined with the current swept
the ill-fated vessel across the bows of the Anson,
spd in a moment her hull was pierced and cut by
the ram of the ironcad. The Utopia, after pull
inc clear of the ironclad drifted about before
wind and sea- The rapid thrush of 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 Immediately,
as were also boats from the other vessels OF the
British Channel Squadron, the Swedish man-of-
war Frcva. and the cable ship Amber, and the
ironclads turned their powerful electric search
lights on the scene of the disaster TO assist the
rescucrs On shore the news of the disaster spread
quickly. An enormous crowd soon gathered on
the Parade. and great excitement prevailed.
Little could be SEEN however, save the looming
hus of the mcn-ot-war and the white rays OF
The search-ligbts falling upon the crcsts of the
waves and Illuminating the driving splndrift The
shricks of the Utopias passengers and crew could
be plainly heard above the roaring of the gale.
The sea was so heavy that the boats of the
tescucrs could not with safety approach the wreck,
so they were compelled TO lie to leeward, where
they picked up the people as they were swept
from the decks. As the Utopia's bows settled
n terrible scene was witnessed from the boats.
Those still on board the sinking steamer made a
sudden rush to the foreriggnc, struggling for their
lives and vainly seeking places of refuge. twenty
minutes later the forccastle was submerged, ana
n large number of persons gathered there, VINO
had not dared TO leap overheard with the nope
of being rescued by the boats and who had ialie0
in Il cir efforts TO ascend the rigging were carried
away by the waves.
The rescuers. blinded by the wind and rain, sa"
nothing but a confused, struggling mass OF human
beings entangled with wreckage. a steam pm
mace rescued all those yNo had taken refuge III
the main rigging, but the last ones were not taken
off until IL o'clock at night. They were so en-
h.usted that they could do nothing for them
selves: so the brave blue-jackcts clambered into
the shrouds and passed the helpless people TO the
,oscpcrs in the boats. Both the British and
Swedish sailors did pucky and vigorous work.
While a steam pinnace belonging 70 the British
ironclad Immortalitc was engaged in the work OF
rescue, her screw foulcd, and she became help
less and drifted on the rocks. In trying 10 save
themselves two of the sailors aboard the plnhdce
were drowned. The rest were rescued.
An officer Of the Utopia says: We were slow
Ing our engines preparing TO anchor when, ne
fore we realized our danger, we found ourselves
broadside on the bows Of the Anson. There was
q shout from both vessels, which was instantly
followed By the AnsOn's ram tearing lnto Tic
Utopia. We were about quarter of mile from
shore at tbc time The officers, IN talking
about the catastrophe, say they Will never
forget the scene that followed the COLLISION
The Italians were thrown into a state OF com
plete and cowardy panic They yelled irahticaiN
and fought mady to reach the forccaste' y le"
of the married men dragged their wives with theh'
but the bulk of the single men were hcedleS> Vi
the piteous appeals of the women ana chiuI'l.
The forecaste and rigging were soon crowded. ana
the vessel began 10 settle down. presently al
EXPLOSION with a deafening report occurred in the
forecaste, killing many ana throwing o'hoi' i''
,be sea. Luckily the masts held, and remained
some wards above the water as the vessel tOucheu
bottom. From forty TO fifty persons were rescued
from the masts.
"Tbe only instances of manliness occurred among
the people in the rigging. Many men, ana nearly
every woman, clasped children to ther DIeds''
but they were gradually overcome by exhaustion
and cold and were compelled to drop thelr "ui
Gens and often follow themselves 1hoSe III '"o
lower rigging who were exposed 10 the Iuii ioi =
of the waves. were swept away before the iii''
Of the Ansons boats was able 10 ieach ,"'n
Some Of the men he'd tied to themselves eacn his
wife or a child, hoping to be abie 10 ho"' u,i'i'
they were saved. Several bodies SO tlcu 'oSc'nei
were washed ashore dead. The majority OF 'ic
Italians. however, behaved more Ike beasts 'h"n
Like reasoning men.
Petersen Swedish quartermastfr' WHO hao
been steering the Utopia short time oe,oie '"o
collision. says that Just before the Vessels ou'','
together he went below. While 'here III i,''
the shock of the collision and rusheo from w
low, but before lie reached the mann o'oN III.
Utopia had gone broadsde on upon 'n' 1P'i
The ,nsop,s ram Tie commander of the Utopia
Captain McKcague. according 10 PeterSeh' was Oh
the steamships bridge until the last moment
Petersen adds that as the Utopia was crusneu
By the Ap5on's ram lie clambered up the oa'I'S
Of one of the steamships boats and cut the ropes
holdinr il lie had 10 time, however, TO lower
the boat away. as the bows Of the Utopia h'u
passed beneath the warship, and 1t was cVlueh'
that the passenger steamer was rapidly sinh'"H
Soon after. the boats of the Anson haNlhs 'o'"