The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-08
FIVE HUNDRED DROWNED.
A Ship Load of Emigrants Finds.
Watery Grave.
Awful Scenes Aboard the Sinking
Utopia in Gibraltar Bay.

The British steamship Utopia, from italian
ports bound to New York, with 700 Italian
emigrants aboard, collided with the British
iron-clad Rodney, anchored in Gbralter
Bay few days ago, and sank soon after
ward off Ragged Staff.
On entering the bay the Utopia, before
colliding with the Rodney, ran into the
British iron-clad Anson. The Utopia sunk
within few minutes. Boats were imme-
Freya.
OF the $50 persons passen gers and crew,
on the steamship Utopia 81 have been saved,
leaving $50 as drowned or missing. In ad.
dition to this, two Of the rescuing party were
drowned, making the probable loss Of life by
the eaccident 571. -, 3ssls!
The Utopia, after pulling Gear of the IRON
cla1, 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.
On shore the news Of the disaster spread
quickly. A large crowd soon gathered on
the Parade, and great excitement prevailed.
Little could be seen, however, save the loom
ing hulls Of the men-of-war and the white
rays Of the search-lights falling upon the
crests Of the waves. The shrieks Of the
Utopia's passengers and crew could be plain
ly heard above the roaring Of the gale.
The seq was SO heavy that the boats Of the
rescuers could not with safety approach
the wreck; SO they were compelled to lie TO,
leeward, where they picked up the people 90
they were swept from the decks. As the
Utopia's bows settled, terrible scene was
witnessed from the boats. Those still on
board the sinking steamer made sudden
Cling for their lives and vainly seeking places
Of refuge. Twenty minutes later the fore
castle was submerged, and q large number
of persons gathered there, who had not dared
to leap overheard with the hope Of being res.
eued by the boats and who had failed I'm
their efforts to ascend the rigging, were car
ried away by the waves. -.
The rescuers, blinded by the wind and
rain, saw nothing but confused, struggling
mass OF human beings entangled with wreck
age. A steam pinnace rescued all those who
had taken refuge in the main rigging, but
the last ones we're not taken of until eleven
o'clock. They were 50 exhausted that they
could do nothing for themselves so 1t was
necessary to haul them into the boats
by the brave bluejackets in the rigging,
who clambered into the shrouds and
passed the helpless people to the rescuers In
the boats. Both the British and Swedish
sailors did piucky and vigorous work. While
a steam pinnace belonging to the British
iron-clad Immortalite was engaged In the
work of rescue, her crew fouled and she be-
came helpless and drifted on the rocks. In
trying to save themselves two Of the sailors
aboard the pinnace were drowned. The re-
mainder were rescued. .-s sftr.4sa5
Peterson, Swedish quartermaster, who
had been steering the Utopia short time
of the Utopia, Captain McKeague, was on
the steamships bridge until the last
moment. Peterson adds that as the Utopia
was crushed by the Anson's ram he
clambered up the davits Of one Of the steam
ships boats and cut the ropes holding 1t.
He had no time, however. to lower the boat
away, as the bows Of the Utopia had passed
beneath the war ship, and it was evident
that the passenger steamer was rapidly sink
ing. Soon after, the boats Of the Anson
having been promptly lowered, one OF the
map-of-war's cutters ran alongside the
Utopia and Petersen managed to jump into
her. -
He says that while on board the Utopia
after the collision he was surrounded BY q
terrible mass of human being IS fighting their
way desperately and savagely, regardless OF
sex or age, towards the boats. Men,
women and children tumbled and
climbed over each other in the hor-7
rible fight for a chance Of escape from
drowning. One poor woman who was res
cued by the Anson's bluejackets went raving
mad when she was convinced that her chill
dren were drowned.
An officer Of the Utopia says: "We were
slowing our engines, .prelaring to anchor,
when, before we realized our danger, we
found ourselves broadside on the bows OF the
Anson There was q shout from both ve6-
sells, which was instantly followed by the
Anson's ram tearing into the Utopia. We
were about quarter of mile from shore at
the time"
The officers say they will never forget the
scene that followed the collision. The Italians
were thrown into state of complete and
cowardly panic. They yelled franctically
and fought madly to reach the forecastle.
A few of the married men dragged their
wives with them, but the bulk of the single
men were needless Of the piteous appeals OF
the women and children. The fore
castle and rigging were soon crowded
aud the vessel began to settle down. Pres
emily an explosion, with ceafening report,
; throwing others into the sea. Luckily the
masts held and remained some yards above
the water as the vessel touched bottom.
From forty to fifty persons were rescued
from the masts.
The only instances of manliuess occurred
among the people in the rigging. Many men
and nearlr every woman cias2sd children
to their b.easts, but they were gradually
overcome by sheer exhaustion and cold
and were compelled to drop their bur-
dens and often follow themselves.
Those on the lower rigging woo were e1-
posed to ths full force Of the waves
were swept away before thu first OF the
Anson's boats was able to reach them. Some
of the men had tied to themselves lis wife or
child, hoping to be able to float until they
were saved. Several bodies so tied together
were washed ashore dead. The majority OF
Italians, however, behaved more like beasts
than reasoning men. -
Divers who made an examination OF the
wreck Of the Utopia report that there are
hundreds of bodies in the stee-age an be-
tween decks. :.
During the course Of thu day the bo lies OF
twenty-eight men and one woman we're re- z
covered at Gibraltar, while at various other
points along the coast thu bolios o. SIX
men, eighteen women, savea boys and
one girl were washed ashore. Ole of the
women, when her body was taken from the
water, was found to have her arms firmly
locked around the corpse of her child. The
remains of the unfortulate people were
taksn to cemetery i'll the Spanish lines,
where an inquest was held.
The authorities of Gibraltar arc furnish
ing the rescued people with lodgings, food
and clothing.
BIG LAND SALE. :.