Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-23
HORROR OFF GENOA.
Two Italian Steamships Collide al Dead
Of Night.
SCORES OF PEOPLE DROWNED.
Passengers We're All AsIeep-sO
Were the Commanding Officers Of
the Two yessels-A Thrilling
Story of Escape.

The Italian steamers Ortegia and Ma
ria r. collided OFF the Isla del Pinto. at the
entrance OF the Gulf OF Genoa, Sunday.
The latter sank and las passengers were
drowned.
The Maria p. was bound from Naples
to La Plata. There was a crew OF seven
teen and the passengers numbered li3.
She was calling at Genoa en- route to her
destination. She was entering the Gulf
OF Genoa at 1:3D O'Clock in the morning
when she met the Ortegia outward bound.
They only had barely time to notice each
other when it was seen that collision
was inevitable.
The bow Of the Ortegia crashed into
the starboard side OF the Maria r.. pene-
trating six yards and ripping up the Maria
Z. like matchwood. The water rushed IN
through the hole and the Maria r. sank
in three minutes. The Ortegia's bow was
smashed for a space of Y feet along the
water line
PASSENGERS WERE ASLEEP.
The majority OF the passengers were
asleep at the time Of the accident, and
had no time 20 escape after the alarm
was given. They were engulfed with the
vessel. The Ortegia remained on the spot
until s o'clock In order to pick up the
survivors. She rescued fourteen OF the
crew and twenty-eight Of the passengers
OF the Maria p.
There is some comment upon the fact
brought to mind by the disaster that the
Ortegia once collded on the same spot
with the French steamer Oncle Joseph.
Al the conclusion OF the sitting OF the
Chamber at Rome the Minister of Ma
rine announced the news of the disaster
in the midst of "A profound sensation.
adding that an officer, a seaman. a
.stoker, and l5i passengers of the steam
er Maria p. had persisted.
The Ortegia had twenty-five passen-
gers on board.
The Maria P.'s captain was named Fer
rari.
The Chamber has ordered an inquiry
into the disaster.
BOTH CAPTAINS ASLEEP.
The sky was overcast at the time OF
the accident, and there was little sea.
Both captains were asleep, and Third
officer RevellO was on watch on the
Orteta, and Second-Oficer d'Angelo
was on watch on the Maria i. The Or
tegia was going at the rate OF eleven
miles an hour, and the Maria Il. at the
rate Of eight miles. Each vessel saw
the lights OF the other and both con-
tlnued on their proper roads Till the mis-
take was made dt is not established by
whom which brought the Maria +.
broadslde toward the Ortega, Third
officer Revello, Of the Ortegia, saw the
danger, and ordered the engines reversed.
But the order came too late. The Or
tegia struck the Maria r., making an
enormous 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 I'm such state
OF terror since the rescue that they are
unable to give single detail OF the
disaster.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
SPEZZIA, July Traditional details
Of the collision between the Italian steam
ships Ortegia and Maria T.. and the sink
ing OF the latter in the Gulf of Genoa,
include the testimony of the lookouts on
both vessels that they sighted each other
too late to avert collision. Each also
charges that the captain and mate or the
other vessel were asleep in their hunks,
when they should have been on deck.
Senior Balena. a Brazilian merchant. on
his way home with his wife and three
boys. one OF them a babe In arms, Is
among the survivors. He says he and his
family were asleep in their bertns when
they were awakened by the shock OF the
collision. lie Immediately ran to the
deck with two Of his children. while his
aife carried the baby In her arms Reach
ing the deck. they mounted the bridge,
when they saw that the ship was sink
Ing. Re called 10 his wife to jump into
The sea. which she did, and he followed her
with two boys. The two older boys were
drowned, but Balena swan by the side
~ his wife, and succeeded in holding her
and the baby above water until they were
al picked w.
FERRARTS STATEMENT.
GENOA, July 2-Captain Ferrari, who
commanded the sunken ship Maria T..
has made statement. in which he says
ne was asleep in his berth when the col
lson occurred. tie was awakened by a
terrific crash. followed by cries of distress.
and rushed on deck. When he reached
The deck be found that the engines Of
the Ortegia had been reversed. and that
the Maria T. was sinking. lie threw him
self into the sea. and kept himself afoat
until he was picked up.
An inquiry into the disaster has been
opened here.