Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-19
FIGHTING FOR LlFB.
Naarly Six Hundred Selb Silk
Beneath Yava.
! calfassd. Struggling, D!iis Ilu 4
Hlnal Bangs
rirst Authentic Account OF Appallinn
Catastrophe to the "Utopsa.s

GmxAlrAs. March Is, p. MI has
not been possible till no = TO give fall and
authentic account Of last nights appalling
catastrophe. Early last evening the Utopis
was seen s!esming into the bay In the
direction Of her anchorage. When abrease
Of the ironclad Anson. the Utopia staR-
gered ~ though unable to make headway
against the terrible current. Suddenly .
| strong gale, combined With the current,
| swept the i'll fAsed vessel across the bows
| OF she Anson, and in = moment her hull
was pierced ard cut by the ram Of the IRON
clad.
Utopia, after pulling clear Of the iron.
| clad, driftei about before the wind and sec,
The rapid iafush of water through the
| rent in her side caused her to settle down
in five minutes from the time OF the tlrst
impact. The Anson's boats were lowered
immediately as we're also the hoatA from the
| other vessels Of the British channsls
squadron. the Swcdi,h man-of.wsr Frsya
and the cable ship Amber. The ironclsd
,urnsd ito powerful slett .ic search lights on
the scene OF the disaster 10 Assiss the
rescuers. Ga shore the news Of the die.
aster spread quickly, An enormous crowd
ston gathered on the parade, aud great ex-
element prevailed.
lAtlle could be seen save the looming hulls
of the men-ot-sar and tho white rsys Of the
search lights failing upon the foamingIcrssts
OF waves and illuminating the spinddsift.
The shrieks Of the utopia's passensers and
crew could be plainly heard above the roar
OF the gale. The sea was 30 heavy that
boats Of the vescuers could not with safety
approach the wrecks 40 they we're CON-
PEELED to lie to the les~Ard where they
picked up the peopls a, they were event
from the decks.
As the Utopis's bows settled a terrible
scene was witnessed from the bost,. Tn, :.
stll on board the sinking steamer made a
sudden rush en- mss,e 10 The fore ,isvins.
struggling for their lives, and vainly seek
ing places Of refuge. Twenty minutes
, ,sse' uie io'ecssNe was suomerseu ana
"so "."'o.r VI persons sstneieu tne!es
sno ne" no, aareu 70 reap ov'rooard wtn
.ope VI ue'hR rescued py poats ana VINO
'aneo III tneit e"or's 70 ascend the rigging,
NeIe carried away oy ,he waves. Ths
~ .e.surs, oh'aeu "y ths WIND ana ram, sAw
no.h'as pu' eoniused' sHuggnns mass or
"umA" ,.. oeings en'Susiea win Tue wreckese.
Inc seAm P'hnsee rescued All VINO nsd
wac" 'ei"Re )" "'e h,sh iixGins tue iass
ones were NOT Mken on uh'ii IL 81 night.
Aney were 20 eahaus~d ,hey could DO
ao."'"s 'o' ,hsmseScs, 20 inc pfsve oiue.
Jscse's ehmoed INTO 'he riga'ns AND passed
,ns nsipiess people 10 tne rescuefe IN the
n oo,"' no'l ,ne nn"sh ana SWsdisn
,,.o n,.o's ulu piucAy ana vigorous wotk.
u wnns 'ne s'tsp' .ihhsce oeiohs'ns 70 tne
n'.us" No"cisn' i"n'or.Ahie' was engaged
N ~ "e ~oIA ., ,escae' nst screw iouied'
sns. sne o''rm' heip.e'' Ana uIiWeu On sne
49, 49, "uy,"k W sAve .nem'e,ves W."
sa,io's al Aoosla 'ne p'nhace we're crowned:
me lems,nuer were rescued Inc totsi
'umoer Oh nves los' 10 nov placed o. o!s.
- s'o !" s"'A recovering 'pe ooaes
i'o'' "ie "'ecA'
Offtcsr PettTson Tells OF the Terrible
Scene.
Petersen, the Swedish ou.rt.rmsster.
had been steering the Utopia A abort time
before the collision and says that iust
before the vessels came together he vent
below. While there he felt the shock of
the collision aud rushed from below. but
before he reached the main deck the
Utopia hsd gone brosdsidc on upou the
spur Of tine Anson's ram. The commander
OF the Utopia, Capt. McKeasue, according
to Petersen. was on the steamships bridge
until the la.t moment.
Peterson adds, as the Utopia vas crushed
by Anson's ram he clsmbsred up the davits
Of or OF the steamers boats and Gu, the ropes
ho,diagit They had no time to lower the
boat away, ~ the bows OF the Utopia had
passed beneath the wsrship, and il was evi-
dent ihs, the passenger steamer was rapidly
sinkiog. Soon after. the boats Of the Anson
baviug been promptly lowered, one Of the
man Of wars cutters ran alongside the
| Utopia aud Petersen managed 10 lump into
her. lie says while on board the Utopis
after the collision, he was surrounded BY Q
terrible mass of human beings fabtipg their
way d. .persteiy and ssvsgely, regardless Of
sex or sgs, towards the boats.
Men, women snd children tumbied and
| climbed over each other In their horrible
fight for q chance to escape from drov uips,
One poor woman, rescued BY the Anson' 4
blue jackets, went raving mad when con.
vinccd that her children were drowned.
Similar distressing incidents by the score
were occurring when the Utopia, with =
dnsl desperate lurch. sank with her human
freight cli9gibg about her, and drew hun
dreds OF living persons down with her in