Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-19
To LEARN THE FACTS.
A Naval Court Of Inquiry ~ 60 the Utopia
Disaster.

Disaster.
To ascertain the cause Of the fatal collision
with the Utopia . naval court Of inquiry will
be convened on the British flagship n. NJ. 8.
Arson, ten guns. 600 tons and n $50 horse
power. flying the flag Of Rear Admiral LOTUS
+. Jones and commanded by Capt Bouverie p.
Clark.
The Rodney, the other British war ship mixed
mp IN some-up 20 the present not definitely
eNplained-mnnner with the sinking Of the
Utopia, mounts ten guns. is Of IL. 800 tons and
ll.5O horse power. She is commanded by
Capt John B. Warren. Both war ships belong
to the channel squadron. of which Admiral
Jones is the second in command
An .rPsIIINs SCENE.
A dispatch from Gibraltar. dated midnight
gives the following account told by an eve
witness OF the disaster from the forts The
scene was appalling. being heightened bv the
weird search-ight effects The terrorized EN-
igrants hnddled IN a swaying mass 80 thicklv
they hid the bows from sight. Agonized rushs,s
for a more secure foothold. struggles Co save
themselves and 20 reach their families showed
an awful fight for life proceeding Their
shrioks borne ashore filled the spectators with
intense horror and despair at their powerless-
ness 20 help As they caught momentary
glimpses of rescuing boats the crest. q
~aNtN ioT lohk u was earnestly uolttu
the bulk would be saved.
Among the acts OF valor az the height Of the
gale was that Of British MILDLY. who put OF
alone IN a dinghy for the purpose of rendering
assistance to the half-drowned persons who
were clinglng 10 the wreckage Of the Inflated
vessel. Another hero WAS seaman ON the
iron-clad Rodney. lie boldly plunged into the
sea and after desperate struggle with the
waves succeeded in saving one Of the women
who we're floating in the water.
A .ly.ara
to the doomed vessel wac quickly got in readi-
ness on the shore. but TO the intense disappoint-
ment OF those who thus hoped 10 save the un-
fortunate people ON the sinking steamer the
machine was found 10 be useless. owing 20 the
vessel being AZ too great distance FOR the line
10 reach IL.
Scarcely any of the women on hoard the
Utopia were saved. OF the crew twenty-four
were saved altogether. The gale is reported To
be moderating
public meeting IN the government house To-
morrow FOR the purpose If considering what
action shall be taken for tine relief of the ship
wrecked people.
WHAT A UTOPIA OFFICER SANS.
An officer OF the Utopia says: I'VE were slow
ing our engines preparing to anchor when, he
fore We realized our danger, We found our
selves broadside on the bows VI the Arson.
There was a shout from both vessels which
-. - "a ~. ~ ~ ~ '"'' " ~
~ ~, ~, ' -. We were ABOUT quarter
j.; I'M, ,'ls ore al .he ti.. Inc oheets
never forget tba .c.,s r., saIia...s - -
hsion.
oox,pn,y p.~,c
The Italians were thrown into a state OF com
plete and corardlv manic H., H., g
calI,a,,,l So, - a., r.
i'"s W ie"0n uie i"reoss"e-
few OF the married men dragged their wives
, wan theni, Dut the bnlk OF the single men were
heeulesS OF the plteons appeals of the women
anu 0ilreh, Inc iorecastle ana rigging were
soon crowded anu the vessel began to settle
uoNh'
fresently an explosion. with a deafening
port, occurred an the forecastle. killing many
ana Throwing Others into the sea. Luckily the
masts held and remained some Yards above the
water as the vessel touched bottom. From forty
10 MY persons were rescued from the mssts
me Only INSTANCES OF manllness occurred among
the people IN the rigging. Many men and nearly
every woman clasped children to their breasts
put they were gradually overcome by sheer ex-
haustion and cold. and were compelled 20 drop
,Il,-. - - nu 'i'cn ioio" themseiNes
10 the fnl force 81 ,he 80
before the first of the Anson's boats wss sble 10
reach them.
+, some OF tne men had tied TO themselves each
nis Nne u chid, hoping TO Toe able TO fioat until
ene. We esaNed; several bodies so tied together
r.oI. ""eneu ashore dead The majority al the
., In, however, pehaNed more Ike beasts
'A"i iAhe reasohihS men-
ONE WOMAN BECOMES MAD.
One poor woman, who was rescued NV thu