The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-10-31
The Anelier Line Steamer Roumania
Wrecked OF the Coast or
Portugal.
One Hundred and Twenty-Five Persons
on Board, of Whom Only Nine
Escape.
The Captain Refuses to Leave His Ship
and LIS Drowned with the
Rest. ~

0eOuhlSAip 1NthLidGlh WSut denokC CuhAy
Thursday morning ait the mouth of the
Arnoya near Penche, and 113 of the 12S
persons on board were lost. The Rou-l
mania left Liverpool last Sunday for
Bombay. She carried So passengers,
crew of 81 men and full cargo of val
uable merchandise. She experienced
heavy weather early on Monday morn
ing. On Tuesday she run into a furious
storm. All her passengers were ordered
below and were not allowed on deck
again until Wednesday noon. After
few hours of clear sailing the Roumania
ran into thick fog in about 40 degrees
north latitude. She proceeded at half
speed and was supposed well out from
the coast but another storm came on
after several hours in the fog. When
the storm struck her the Roumania was
but few miles from shore. The ship
made but little progress and the captain
was unable to keep her bow to the
wind. She went ON the rocks almost
without warning for mp to the last few
minutes the ships officers did not realize
their peril. Heavy seas broke over the
decks and many of the passengers who
ran on deck in panic were
Swept Overheard and Drowned.
A lifeboat was cut away and an at
tempt WIS made to lower, but the boat
was swamped by the waves. For two
hours further attempts were abandoned.
The storm abated and another boat was
lowered. This boat was loaded with
passengers. A hundred yards from the
ship it capsized and all were drowned.
Two boats were started out from the
shore, but put back. as the men were
convinced that they could not live IN:
such heavy sea- Another boat was
lowered from the Roumania, but when
half lowered was dashed against the
ship sides and capsixed. Thirteen per-
sons who had descended to her were
drowned. Meantime wave after wave
had broken over the Roumania, smash
ing her decks and carrying away her
smokestacks and masts and sweeping
away many of the passengers and sea-
men. Those still left decided to wait
until the storm abated further before
attempting to get ashore. After an
hour of suspense the seven men and two
women who had remained on board
lowered the last boat. The storm had
subsided, and although obliged to ride
through heavy surf they reached
shore in safety. The two women were
the only passengers saved. Captain
Young is reported to be among the
lost.
Bodies Being Washed Ashore.
The bodies Of the victims Of the Rou-
mania wreck are being washed ashore
at Carvieiro. Most Of the bodies are in
night attire, showing that the unfortu-
mates were aroused from sleep only to
encounter death in the terrible storm.
The sea Is still running heavily and it is
impossible to approach the wreck, which
lies in most dangerous situation and
shows signs OF rapidly going to pieces.
The cargo and other wreckage from the
vessel is floating about in the vicinity.
Much Of it has been washed ashore and
seized by the ,'iabitants Of that region,
some of wLoEi are little better than
pirates ana HOOK upon the wreck OF q
vessel on their coast as q Godsend for
their special benefit. The wrecks are
not uncommon at Cape Carvieiro, which
projects into the Atlantic as q sort Of
trap for any vessel that is driven in
shore while making for Lisbon or Glib
ralter. The treatment Of unfortunates
who happen to be wrecked there is bet
ter now than 1t used to be, but the cargo
b generally regarded as q prize for the
man who gets it first, and instances
have been known OF ransom being de-
manded for the surrender of bodies.
The Portuguese government, in the
case Of the Roumania, has taken fairly
prompt action, and the authorities have
ordered force to the scene to protect
the wreckage and prevent the despoil-
ment OF the dead.
Two daring wreckers, who, notwith- |
standing the prevalence of fog and
storm, ventured ont into the angry
waters TO obtain some Of the floating
cargo were drowned in the hearing ~ ]