Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-22
SCORES or LIVES LOST.
A Passenger Steamer Sunk In COL
lision OFF Italy's Coast.
Many Of the Victims We're
Asleep In Their Beds.
Ai1aIr to Be Thoroughly Investigated by The
italian Government.

GENOA, july @.-The ltallan steamers
Ortigia and Maria p collided of Isla Del
Pinto, at the entrance of the Gulf of
Spezzia, yesterday. The latter sank and
14S passengers were drowned.
The Maria p was bound from Naples to
La Plate. There was a crew OF IL, and
the passengers numbered 173. She was
calling here en- route to her destination.
She was entering the Gulf Of Genoa when
she met the Ortigia, outward bound.
They only noticed each other when col
iision was inevitable.
The bow of the Ortigia crashed into the
starboard side Of the Maria p The water
rushed in through the hole, and the
Maria p sank In three minutes.
The majority Of the passengers were
asleep at the time Of the accident, and had
no time to escape after the alarm was
given. They were engulfed with the
vessel. The Ortigia rescued IA OF the crew
and 2s of the passengers of the Maria r.
Other steamers have been dispatched to
the scene of the disaster, and are now
searching for further survivors.
At the conclusion of the sitting OF the
chamber yesterday at Rome the minister
of marine announced the news OF the dis
aster in the midst of q profound sensa-
a stoker, and 144 passengers of the Maria p.
had perished. The Ortigia had 20 passen-
gers on board.
The sky was overcast at the time OF the
accident, and there was little sea. Both
captains were asleep, and Third Officer
Reyello was on watch on the Ortigia and
Second Officer D'Angelo was on watch on
H. Ortt t1.ia Sat
the rate of IL miles an hour, and the Maria
p at the rate of eight miles. Both vessels
saw the lights of the other and continued
on their proper roads till the mistake was
made, 1t is not established by whom,
which brought the Maria p broadside to-
ward the Ortigia. Third Officer Revello Of
the Ortigia saw the danger and ordered
the engines reversed. But the order came
too late. The Ortigia struck the Maria P,
making an enormous gap in her side.
All the boats of the Ortigia were
lowered, and the crews rescued all they
could of the survivors. The latter for the
most part, remain in such state Of terror
since the rescue that they are unable to
give single detail of the disaster Cap
tain Ferrara, who was saved, said that he
was sleeping in his cabin when he was
awakened by cries and shouts and great
noise. He rushed upon deck and saw the
Ortigia backing off, while his own ship
was sinking. Seeing that all was lost, he
Jumped into the sea- where he was picked
mp by the Ortigia's boats.
A Passengers Account of the Disaster.
A passenger named Balena, jeweler,
was on board with his wife and three
young children. He said that he had not
turned in when the collision occurred.
He seized two of the children and his wife
caught up the third and they ran upon
deck and jumped into the sea. The chill
dren weighed him down and he sank after
hard struggle. When he came to the
surface his children had disappeared.
His wife had managed to cling to q piece
of wreckage till the Ortigia's boat saved
her. They lost everything. Second Off
Ger D'Angelo of the Maria p, who was on
watch on that ship when she was struck
by the Ortigia was drowned.
Among the saved is child, 8years old,
who is the only survivor Of q family Of
seven who went down with the ill-fated
ship Two of the Maria P's seamen were
injured. An inquiry into the catastrophe
hao boop opapad