The herald., 1895-07-22
4 HORROR FROM THE SEA
Two Italian Steamers Collide
Near Genoa
ONE SINKS IMMEDIATELY
One Hundred and Forty-Six People Are
Drowned
The Passengers of the Haria p. Were Asleep
at the Time and Had No Chance
to Escape
ONE SINKS IMMEDIATELY
Associated Press special Wire.


GENOA, July 21.--The Italian steamer
Ortigia and Maria P. collided off Isalia
point. at the entrance to the gulf of &C.
noa, today. Tho latter sank and LAG per-
sons were drowned.
The Maria P. was bound from Naples to
La Plata. There was crew of II, and
the passengers numbered l73. She was
! entering the gulf of Genoa at 80 this
morning, when she met the Ortigia, out
bound. They did not notice each other
until Il collision was inevitable. The bow
of the Ortigia crashed into the starboard
side of the Maria p, penetrating six yards
and ripping 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 were
asleep at the time of the accident, and
had no time to escape after the alarm was
given. They were engulfed with the yes
sci. The Ortigia remained on the spot
until 6 O'Clock in order to pick up the
survivors. She rescued fourteen OF the
crew and twenty eight passengers. Other
steamers have been dispatched to the
scene of the disaster and are now search
ing for further survivors.
The Ortgia's bow was smashed for
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 Joseph.
At the conclusion of the sitting OF the
cham ber today at Rome, the minister of
marine announced the news OF the disas.
ter. in the midst of a profound sensation,
adding that an officer, seaman and LA
passengers of the Maria z. had perisheu.
The Ortigia had twenty-five passengers
on board. The Maria p s CAPTAIN WAS
named Ferrera.
The chamber has ordered an inquiry
into the disaster.
The sky was overcast ct the time of the
accident and there was little sea. Both
captains were asleep and Third Officer Re-
velle was on watch on the Ortigia and Sec
ond Officer Angelo was on watch on tho
MarialP. The Ortig1a was going at the rate
of eleven miles an hour and the Maria p.
at the ate of eight miles. Beth vessels
saw the lights or the other and continued
on their proper roads until their mistake
was made. it is not established by whom,
that broughG the Maria P. broadside to-
ward the Ortigia. Third Officer Revelle
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 crew rescued all they could of
the survivors. The latter for the most part
remain in such a state of terror since the
rescue that they are unable to give sin
gle detail of the disaster. Captain Ter
rara, who was saved. says he was sleeping
in his cabin, when he was awakened by
cries and q 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 up by the Ortigia's
boat. The survivors lost everything. Sec
ond Officer Angelo of the Maria p, who
was on watch on that ship when she was
struck by the Ortigia. was drown ed.
Among the saved is IA child 8 years years
old. who is the only survivor of family
of seven who went down with the ill-fated
ship. An inquiry into the catastrophe
has been ordered.
LONDON, July o. The Standards
Rome correspondent SAYS: The wife.
brother and son of Captain Ferrara of
the Maria P. were drowned.