Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-19
4OOLIVES LOST AT SEA
By the Sinking Of the English
Steamer Utopia.
RUN DOWN BY A BRITISH BOAT
The Dark and Storm Retards
the Rescue.
THE STEAMER SANK IN FIVE MINUTES

Associated PrnaA pi1nau,n ny spe,taI Hire4.
GIBRALTAR, March 19.-It is now be.
: lieved that the loss of life by the sinking
OF the Anchor Line steamer Utopia
which collided yesterday on entering
the bay here with the British iron clad
Rodney, was much larger than at first
estimated. 1t is calculated that of the
700 Italians, emigrants and the crew on
board the steamer $40 persons were
drowned. Several bodies of those who
lost their lives in the disaster have been
washed ashore on the Spanish coast.
Another account of the disaster at
tributes it to the fact that the British
war ship Anson was drifting before the
gale and that in so doing she rammed
the Utopia abaft the funnel. After
ramming the Utopia the Anson is said
to have reversed her engines, which
caused her to back away from the
Utopia which vessel was practically i'm
paled on the spur of the Anson's ram.
and the Utopia almost Immediately af-
forwards sank beneath The waves.
Everything possible was done by the
officers and seamen of the British war
ship in their efforts to save the lives of
the unfortunate people on board the
Utopia, so much so that four seamen
were washed overheard and drowned
from one of the war ships steam
launches while taking part in the work
! of rescue.
Among the Utopia's officers and petty
officers who were saved by the boats Of
the war ship were Captain McKeague,
the ships doctor, boatswain, chief stew
ard and carpenter.
The scene after the collision has nrob.
ably never before been witnessed in the
history of maritime disasters. On one
SIDE was the sinking passenger steam
snip crowded with about ZOO emigrants.
VINO filled the air with wild, horrible
appeals for help and shrieks of ter
ror as they saw death awaiting
them in the dark angry waters of
the Bay OF the Gibraltar. Overhead the |
clouds rushed furiously, driven along
BY the strong southwest gale which had |
been one of the causes of the calamity /
Right and left of the sinking vessel
were the two monster battle ships, the
Rodney and the Arson, huge specimens
OF Briton's most powerful fighting ships.
pouring the light of their powerful cleo
trlc rehectors upon the disabled steam
ship, lighting up the agony of her
passengers, and showing clearly, too
clearly, the terrible position in which
they We're placed. Here and there
were the war ships small boats, manned
by sturdy blue jackets who strained
every nerve as they bent to their oars in
that heavy sea while striving CALAMITY
to be first to reach the drowning passen-
gers of the Utopio. The rescued pas
sengers are estimated to number about
200 possibly more souls were most
kindly cared for on board the war ships
Or were taken ashore and housed in the
iiifercnt government buildings.
Even at this hour e p. mr. the exact !
humber of lives lost is not accurately :
Known. A naval court of inquiry will t
'e convened on board the British flag '
hip II. M. S. Arson, 10 guns, 10000
ons and 1850 horse power, flying the ]
lag of Rear Admiral Lotus Il. Jones !
nd commanded by Captain Bouyericz +
:. Clark. The Rodney, the other !
British war ship mixed up in some, up I
the present not definitely explained a
lanner, with the sinking of the Utopia, a
lounts 10 guns, is of 10000 tons and y
l 500 horse power. She is commanded a
y Captain John B. Warren. Both q
yar ships belong to the channel Y
luadron, Of which Admiral Jones is In
lie second in command. al
Later-At this hour $3.50 D. M, the n
lumber of persons saved from the Y
topia disaster is said to be 331, and the b.
ss of life is placed at about 400, posi-. 60 g.
y less. Already 80 bodies have been In
covered. Nj
The authorities of Gibraltar are fur co
shing the rescued people with lodg- =
gs, food and clothing 1t is expected
at the Anchor Line steamer will
ortly take steps to forward the OF
topia's survivors to their destinations
the United States by another steam
Up OF their line. Some of the Italians,
weyor, are SO badly scared by their 4
perlences of last night that they an s vi
ulice tleir lntentlon or never again saI
hYlng the dangers of an ocean voyape me
Divers from tba ,voy sb;,,s, n ~, :, cy6 e yes
M Ss., ny "ai slii's tllc now Ut TO
in oNcr anu ABOUT tne spot where the the
Opia sank. If possible efforts will ba GU
de ia raisa nor TIM ,,r;,,a;,,,l ,.1 Gun
~ J:... ~. ihc piilGiPal Work cur
tile ulVers tnlS afternoon has been the ant
,DVery of dead bodies fees
hea