The record-union., 1895-07-22
A Terrible Accident Occurs Near
Spiezzia Gulf.
STEAMSHIPS COLLIDE, ONE GOING
TO THE BOTTOM.
One Hundred and Forty-eight Lives
Lost as a Result of a Disaster
Which Occurred in the Early Hours
of the Morning, Most of the Pas
sengers Being Asleep when the Ac-
cident Took Place.

LA SPIEzzIA Italy, July 2l.-A ter
rible accident resulting in the loss OF 14S
lives, occurred near the mouth of the
Gulf of Spiezzia to-day. At 1:30 \. NJ. the
steamships Ortiga and Maria z. ran into
each other. and the latter vessel was so
badly damaged that she sank in very
short time. The Maria P. had on board,
in addition to her crew. lis passengers
bound from Naples for the River Platte,
by far the larger part of whom were emi-
grants. The night was pitch dark when
the collision occurred, and the scene on
board the sinking steamship almost de-
fies description. Most of the passengers
were asleep III their bunks at the time.
and were awakened by the crashing OF
the steamers plates, deck beams and
deck plates. They were panic stricken,
and rushed pell-mell on deck, where
they ran hither and thither, calling upon
the saints to save them.
From the report OF the disaster received
here, it is impossible to determine
whether any attempt was made by the
Maria 2. to clear away and launch her
small boats IN an attempt to rescue the
passengers. Judging from the accounts
given by the excited survivors, 1t is sur
missed that the steamship went down too
quickly to allow Of this being done,
though one boat got away.
The blackness of the night added to the
terror of those aboard, and it Is under
stood that some of the passengers, craZed
with fear, jumped overheard.
The force of the collision was fearful.
The Ortiga struck the Maria p. full amid
ships. When she backed out great vol
ume of water poured through the orifice,
and the vessel began almost immediately
TO settle.
Whether the Ortiga was damaged or not
is not known. The survivors are in such
mental condition that it is impossible to
get any connected story, but it appears
that the disaster was caused by the Or
tjga
The crew of the Maria P. numbered
seventeen. OF this number fourteen were
saved in the boat that got clear OF the
ship. This boat also saved the thirty
passengers who escaped drowning.
The Ortiga on her previous voyage coll
lided in this same spot with French
steamer, and this fact adds strength to
the belief that she was responsible for
this last disaster.
Admiral MOrin. Minister Of Marine, has
ordered an inquiry to be made into the
affair, TO place the responsibility.
The Maria Z. was a schooner-rigged
iron screw steamship of 722 gross tons.
She was built in Sunderland in 1856, and
was 11o feet long, p feet | inch beam,
and - feet inches depth of hold She
had five compartments. Her engines
were OF the compound type. She was
owned by Marini Brichette, and her sail
ing port was Genoa
The collision occurred off Isola Del
Tine.
The Ortiga left Genoa at o'clock last
night. The Maria p. was bound for
Genoa, where the emigrants on board
were to have been trans-shipped to the
steamer Sud America, which was to con-
vey them to the River Platte.
1t was learned this afternoon that the
lookout man OH the Ortiga saw nothing
OF the other steamer until it was too late
to avert collision.
The officers of the Ortiga say that no
boats were lowered by the Maria p, and
that their vessel saved all the survivors.
The Ortiga remained at the scene OF the
accident for several hours hoping that
she might be able to save others.
Admiral NORM, Minister of Marine.
announced the disaster to the Chamber of
Deputies this afternoon, and the news
created deep impression. Many of the
Deputies expressed sympathy with the
families OF the victims.
Captain ferrara was the master of the
Maria I.
Later information is to the effect that
all the passengers were Immigrants.
Third officer ReveIlo was on watch on
the Ortiga, and Second Officer D'Angelo
was on watch on the Maria +. The Or
tiga was going at the rate OF eleven knots
az hour. and the Maria p. at the rate of
eight knots. Each vessel saw the others
light, and continued on the proper roads
until the mistake was made on one OF the
vessels which brought the Maria T.
broadside OF the Ortiga The Captains of
both vessels were asleep at the time of
the collision. The Third Officer saw the
danger and ordered the engines reversed,
but the order came too late
The Captain of the Maria p. was awsk-
enod by the crash, and saved himself. He
rushed upon deck and saw the Ortiga
backing Otf while his own ship was sink
ing. Seeing that all was lost he jumped
into the sea and was picked up by the
Ortiga's boat.