The morning call., 1892-10-30
Details Of The Awful Disaster on the
Coast Of Portugal.
WRECKED ON A DES0LATE SHORE
hlEe Lives Out Of Total Of One Hundred and Twenty
TIVE SaYed-The LilebOatS We're
SWamped.
Special 20 THE MORNING CALL

LISBON, Oct. 29-Additonal particulars
OF the awful disaster that befell the British
s'eamer Roumania Thursday night are
ssewiy coming in. OF the 122 passengers
ana sailors aboard only seven were saved.
a newspaper correspondent who reached
the scene OF the wreck teiegraDhs that the
steamer struck about an hour before mid
elght on the rocks that line the shore in
'front.' OF che little seacoast village OF Geanho,
- ing a little to the northeast OF Cape Car
vanalFs and between the towns of Peniche
and Fox Darello. Peniche is fortified
Town OF Portugal, on the Atlantic Ocean.
ana about fifty miles north of the Tagus.
When the Roumania struck the night was
dark and the sea was running high. She
had had bad weather from Monday. and on
tuesday the wind blew hurricane, increas-
Ing IN fury through the night, and maintain
.ng It's vigor during Wednesday. In the
afternoon OF this day the steamer ran into
heavy bank of fog, which hung like a pail
around the doomed ship. The captain lost
his bearings, and IL is supposed that on ac-
count OF the severe westerly gales the
steamer ma 10 more leeway than the captain
lnesd on, bringing the vessel nearer the
shore than was supposed.
Suddenly she went on the rocks without
warning Up TO the last few minutes before
she struck the vessels officers did not re-
Ize their peril. Heavy seas broke over the
decks, and many passengers who ran on the
deck In panic were swept overheard and
drowned.
n llfeboat was launched, and an attempt
made to rescue the passengers, but the boat
swamped and for two hours all further at.
tempts were abandoned. The storm abated
and another boat was lowered and loaded
with passengers. One hundred yards from
t1e ship 1t capsized and all were drowned.
Two boats started out from shore,
hut put back, as those In them
were convinced the boats could not live In
such heavy sea. Another boat was low
cred from the Roumanis, but when half
loaded was dashed against the ships side.
Fifteen persons who descended TO her were
drowned. Wave after wave broke over the
ROumania, smashing her deck-houses and
yentliators, carrying away her smokestack
and masts and sweeping many passengers
and seamen overheard. Those still left de-
elded to walt until the storm abaied to get
ashore. After hours of suspense seven men
and two women who remained on board
lowered the last boat. The storm had sub
sided. and although obliged TO ride through
the heavy surf, they reached the shore in
safety.
The scene of the wreck is desolation itself
Beyond few huts. occupied by miserably
poor fishermen, there is not sign Of human
life in the vicinity. The coast line is bar
rem stretch Of sand backed by high cliffs,
and no worse place for human assistance to
reach the wreck could be found. party
nf seafaring men, however, from Peaiehe
succeeded in reaching the scene. On the
bleak shore they found the survivors,
among whom were Captain Hamilton, an
flicer In the British Indian army, with six
Iascars, part Of the R0umania's crew. All
wee perfectly naked. and completely eX-
SsteG by their struggles 10 reeeh the shore
I'D had failef. 81 the beach, "hcre !aeom-
ing waves threw the water around them.
Had they remained long in this position
they would have died from exposure or
been drowned. They were cared for and
revived.
Confusion exists regarding Lieutenant
Roche, or Rookie, and another man, sup
posed to be Lascar. They are reported
safe. and, it is said, have been taken to
Peniche. They have not vet arrived, how
ever, and there is mystery regarding their
whereabouts,
The steamer Is breaking up and the cargo
is coming ashore, the beach from Obidos to
San Msrtinho being strewn with wreckRge
and merchandise. Seven bodies also have
been cast I'd by the sea.
The authorities of Peniehe are doing their
utmost to establish the identity of the dead
before they are buried. The task however,
Is accompanied with great difficulty, as in
very many cases there is not a single article
OF clothing or jewelfy by which the dead
might be recognized.
Cavalry are patrolling the shore TO pre-
vent the wholesale robbery OF bodies and
cargo.
Among the Roumania's passengers were q
number OF English officers and several Eng
llsh ladies' who were returning to England
with their children and nurses.