Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-07-25
PASSENGERS DROWN.
RESULT OF A COLLISION.
The Gulf of Gsnoa tn, Scene of Terri
BILE Estality-Ono Hunired aud Forty
eight Lives Thought to Have Been
Lost,

Genoa, July 21.-The Italian steamers
Ortigia and Maria p. collided of Isela
del Pint, at the entrance to the gulf c1
Genoa, to-day. The latter sank, and
14S people We're drowned.
The Maria P. was bound from Naples
to La Plata. There was a crew of seven.
teen and the passengers numbered 172.
She was calling here en- route to her
destination. She was entering the
Gulf Of Genoa at 30 o'clock this moru-
ing. when she met the Ortigia, out
bound. They only noticed each other
when collision was inevitable.
The bow of the Ortigia crashed Into
the starboard side of the Maria P, pen
etrating six yards and ripping up the
Maria p. like matchwood. The water
rushed In through the hole and the
Maria P. sank In three minutes. The
majority of the passengers We're 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 remained on the spot un-
til six o'clock in order to pick up the
survivors. She rescued fourteen of the
crew, and twenty-eight of the passen-
gers of the Maria p. Other steamers
have been dispatched to the scene of
the disaster and are now searching for
further survivors.
The Ortigia's bow was smashed for a
space of twelve feet along the water
line. There Is some comment upon the
fact, brought to mind by the disaster.
that the Ortigia once collided on the
same spot with the French steamer
Oncle Josepie.
At the conclusion of the sitting of the
chamber to-day at Rome the minister Of
marine announced the news of the
disaster in the midst of profound
sensation, adding that an officer, sea-
man, stoker and la passenger Of the
Maria P. had perished.
The Chamber has ordered an inquiry
into the disaster
The Ortigia had twenty-five passengers
on board. The Maria P.'s captain was
named Ferrara.
The sky was overcast at the time of
the accident, and there was little sea.
Both captains were asleep, and Third
Officer Revelle was on watch on the
Ortigia, and Second Officer Angelo was
on watch on the Maria P.
The Ortigia was going at the rate of
eleven miles an hour, and the Maria P.
at the rate Of eight miles. Both vessels
tinued on their proper roads till the mis-
take was made, it is not easily estab-
llshed by whom. which brought the
Maria P. broadside towards the Ortiga.
Third Officer Revelle of the Ortigia saw
the danger and ordered the engines re-
versed. 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,
remained in such a state Of terror since
the rescue that they are unable to give
a single detail Of the disaster. The sur
vivors lost everything.
Second Officer Angelo of the Maria P,
who was on watch on that ship when
she was struck by the Ortigla, was
drowned. Among the saved is a child
of eight years, who is the only survivor
of family Of seven, who went down
with the Inflated ship.
An inquiry into the catastrophe has
been opened,