The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-02
THE ROUMANIA'S WRECK
4 TRUE STORY OF THE DISASTER
A Told by Two survivors-CompIaint ~
to the Conduct Of the 0ficers OF the
ship In Not Warming Passengers.

LONDON. Nov. IA Lisbon CORES
pondent of the Times who has been 70
the scene of the wreck Of the steamship
Roumanla near Cape Fozzalagod mas
succeeded In obtaining a long interview
with Lieutenant Rookie and captain
Hamilton, the British army officers VINO
were saved. Both Of these officers, says
the correspondent, complain bitterly OF
the state OF repair OF the lost steamship
Roumania. They also complained OF the
failure of the ships officers to inform
them that the vessel had stranded ana
of the omission OF the crew TO aid them
in lowering the boats when they knew
the steamer was lost.
THE WRECK.
The Roumania. according TO Lieutenant
Rookie and Captain Hamilton. was steam
ing at the rate OF five knots an hour
when she stranded She struck In the
sand sixty yards from the shore. Tne
shock was so slight that the passengers
had no idea OF what had happened, nor
were they Informed that a disaster had
occurred. At o'clock the ship broke
suddenly. An hour and a half later
great noise IN the ships hold from the
shifting of iron bars, together with the
noise of the surf and of heavy rain
sduall, aroused Lieutenant Rookie, VINO
saws he left his cabin to inquire on deck
what the trouble was and was about TO
assist in lowering boat when the Vessel
collapsed.
He was washed ashore with mass OF
wreckage. Captain Hamilton says that
he was aiding his wife to pass through
skylIght when he was washed away. He
was unconscious till he found himself on
shore and he supposed that he had been
stunned. Lieutenant Rookie adds that ne
moved about naked on the sands TIL day.
break. when he saw seven Lascars In
cluster, all badly injured, and near Dy
another injured Lascar, who soon died.
He sent one LascAr northward, While ne
himself went southwark, in search or
house.
About 1 o'clock In the afternoon he met
a fiscal guard, who returned with him TO
the scene Of the wreck. The Lieutenant
was afterwards left alone in niche in
the cliff, while the guard went to Obdios
to inform his superiors. The guard did
not return till the following day
In the meantime Lieutenant Rookie, who
had been strolling about entirely naked,
met Captain Hamilton, who was in the
greatest grief.
Lieutenant Rookie eventually left MIN.
going in another direction.
Captain Hamilton soon met somebody
from Peniche, who took him TO hospi-
tai.
RESCUED.
A cart drawn by oxen appeared at the
scene of the wreck on Saturday and con-
veyed Lieutenant Rookie and the injured
Lascars TO Peniche, after two days and
nights spent in the open air, during
which time bands Of savages piilaged
the steamers cargo and carried tons up
the hills.
The foregoing particulars we're obtained
in the conversation that took place be-
tween the correspondent and Lieutenant
Rookie during a journey to the scene OF
the wreck with a number Of Government
officials.
Captain Hamilton tried to accompany
the party, but tainted, and was left be-
hind. The correspondent continues: "As
we traversed the sands OF Barruncho
the administrator OF the district seized
several men with sacks OF stolen prop
erty. We arrived at the wreck after a
ride OF four hours.
The bow and stern portions OF the
wreck we're separated by a distance Of
100 yards. The wreck is only sixty yards
from the shore. Lieutenant Rookie re-
marked that any plucky man might have
swan ashore with a rope and saved
all on board.
"He believes that the vessel was
stranded through the neglect Of two OFF,
GERS who were on duty, charged to keep
good look out, but they sought protec-
tion from the rain, shutting themselves
t,.fI %
not see the captain on deck when the
steamer stranded.
ROUMANIA OUT OF HER COURSE.
'It Is generally admitted that the Rou-
mania was from sixteen TO twenty miles
out OF her course and after passing Cape
FozzaIagoa she must have been steered
straight inland then parallel with the
coast in the direction OF Cape Carvoeiro
lighthouse until she stranded five miles
from the former and south OF the latter.
The cape was inside a bay, and had she
continued she could scarcely have missed
running on the rocks around Carvoiero.
From the scene of wreck for distance
Of three miles north the beach is covered
with thousands Of bales OF cotton and
wooden goods, barrels OF beer and sewing
machines. Hundreds OF tons have al
ready been pillaged. Twenty-Five guards
and troops for ten miles Of coast are quite
insufficient TO prevent piliaging
Lieutenant Rookie examined each BODY
without displaying the slightest emotion.
and identified two. When We returned 10
Peniche at 7 o'clock at night he was so
exhausted that he had to be carried to
bed.
Most Of the plunderers live In the VII
Iage Of Ferret. The inhabitants OF Pc
niche are indignant at the savage plumber
and the Government has beAh asked to
encircIe Ferret with troops, and compel
the restoration OF the stolen property.
UNLESS the wreckage is quickly re-
moved, 1t will soon be hidden In the sand.
at is announced tonight that sixteen
more bodies have been washed ashore
some distance north Of the wreck"