The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-31
THE WRECKED R0UMANIA
First Reports Of the Terrible Ma
rine Disaster Confirmed.
NAKED BODIES WASHED ASHORE

Showing That Many Passengers
Were in Their Berths when the
Vessel Struck-The Nine Saved
Were All Men.
LONDON, Oct 3l.-As soon as the in
jtelligence reached here that the Anchor
jline steamer Roumania had been wrecked
the government ordered the gunboat
Zaire to proceed to the scene to render
assistance, The place where the RouF
mania was lost is little to the northeast
of Cape Carvoeiro, almost the extreme
westerly point of Portugal. Instead Of
being well OFT shore, as it was supposed,
the vessel was off her course and headed
directly for the coast, which at Cape
Carvoeiromake sharp curve to the west
ward and out into the Atlantic.
So tar every indication points out that
the steamer struck after the passengers
had retired. It is believed that many Of
them, awakened by the shock, rushed
from their state rooms to the upper
deck, where they were caught up by the
seas breaking over the vessel, carried
overheard ard drowned.
A heavy fog prevailed at the time she
struck A heavy sea is still running
about the wreck. Many bodies, in a nearly
nude condition, have been washed
ashore, and the fact that they were un-
clothed is taken to indicate that many
of the people on board were in their
berths when she struck. The bodies of
several children have been recovered.
Prize Hunters Drowned.
AS soon as the news of the wreck
spread great crowds of people, many of
them from places a considerable dis
tance inland. gathered along the shore
and seized upon the wreckage as it came
to the land. Two men saw something
floating in the water that they thought
would prove valuable prize. They
rushed into the surf to seize it. Just as
they were aoout to grasp it they were
picked up by receding wave and car
ried out into the deep water, where they
were drowned in the sight of hundreds
of onlookers.
When the first news of the wreck
reached Peniche party of seafaring men
started for the scene of the disaster.
They had to make their way over long
range of sand hills in the face of a blind
ing rain and wind that was blowing
with terrific fury, The brave hearted
toilers of the sea surmoupted all difficult
ties and finally reached Gronho.
There on the bleak shore they found
Captain Hamilton, who Is an officer in
the British Indian army, with six Las
cars, part Of the Roumania's crew. These
men were all perfectly naked. They had
been completely exhausted by their
struggles TO reach the shore and had
fallen on the beach, where the incoming
waves threw the water around them.
First Reports Confirmed.
1t has been learned that of total OF
1872 persons, passengers and crew or
board, only nine were saved. Captain
Hamilton, Lieutenant Roche and sever
Lascars were those saved.
Among the Roumania's passengers
were Captain J. E. Barry, Captain B. H
Randolph and Captain George Hamilton
and wife, Lieutenant B. B. s. Cook and
| Lieutenant c. d. Sanford and wife, Lady
johnson and child, Rev. J. S. MalkiI
and several English ladies. who were re
turning to India with their children an6
ayahi (lndian nurses). Among the deaC
| are Mrs. Beatty, an Irish missionary
who was returning to her husband in In
/ dia, Miss McGeorge, medical mission
/ ary of the Irish Presbyterian church
and a daughter of Canon Burbridge, o
Liverpool, who was going to Bombay Il
4 visit her sister.
| A squadron of cavalry is patrollint
| the shore for several miles each side O
| the wreck to prevent the wholesale rob
berry to the dead and of the cargo tina
have been washed ashore.
Lieutenant Roche and Lascar ar
/ rived at Peniche and were taken to tn
hospital, where every attention wa
4 - n
i [ her survivors are also at the hospital
Though they are regaining strength the,
are all in a serious condition, They stat
that for twelve hours they battled witt
the wind and waves before they sue
ceeded in reaching land.