The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-22
DROWN WHILEASLEEP
Nearly 200 People Go Down in
the Gulf of Genoa.
Two Steamers Crash Into Each
Other in the Night.
SANK LIKE A STONE.
One Vessel Goes to the Bottom
in Three Minutes.

GENOA, July 22-The Italian steam.
ers Ortegia and Maria P. collided off
Isela del Plato at the entrance to the
Gulf of Genoa yesterday. The latter
sank and 14s people were drowned.
The Maria P. was bound from Ma
pies to La Plata. There was crew of
seventeen and the passengers num-
bered 173. She was coaling here, en-
route to her destination. She was en-
tering the Gulf of Genoa at 1870 o'clock
yeterday morning when she met the Or
tegia, out bound They noticed each
other only when collision was inevi-
table. The bow of the Ortegia
crashed into the starboard side of the
Maria P, penetrating six yards and
ripping up the Maria P. like match
wood. The water rushed in through
the hole and the Maria P. sank in
three minutes.
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 Ortegia remained on
the spot until o'clock in order to pick
up the survivors. She rescued four
teen of the crew and twenty-eight of
the passengers of the Maria P Other
steamers have been dispatched to the
scene of the disaster and are now
searching for further survivors.
The Ortegia'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 disas-
ter that the Ortegia once collided on
the same spot with the French steamer
Oncle Joseph.
At the conclusion of the sitting of
the chamber at Rome the minister of
marine announced the news of the
disaster in the midst of profound
sensation, adding that an officer, a sea-
man, stol1er and la passengers of the
Maria P. had persisted.
The Ortegia had twenty-five pas
sengers on board. The Maria P s
captain was named Ferrara. The
chamber has ordered an inquiry into
the disaster.
The sky was overcast at the time of
the accident and there was little sea.
Both captains were asleep, and Third
Officer Rev lilo was on watch on the
Ortegia andSecond Officer d'Angelo was
on watch on the Maria P. The Ortegia
was going at the rate of eleven 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 eSta bllShed by whom,
which brought the Maria P. broadside
toward the Ortegla. Third Officer
Revelio of the Ortegia saw the danger
and ordered the engines reversed but
the order came too late. The Ortegia
struck the Maria P, making an enor-
nous gap in her side.
All the boats of the Ortegia were low
cred 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 a single detail of the
disaster.
Captain Ferrara, who was saved, said
lie was sleeping in his cabin when he
was awakened by cries and a great
noise. He rushed upon deck and saw
the Ortegia backing off, while his own
ship was sinking. Seeing that all was
lost he jumped into the sea, where he
was picked up by by the Ortgeia's boats.
They lost everything.
Second Officer d'Angelo of the Maria
P, who was on watch on that ship
when she was struck by the Ortiga,
was drowned Among the saved is a
child years old, who is the only sur
vivor of a family of seven who went
down in the Inflated ship. An inquiry
into the catastrophe has been opened