The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-18
CUBA'S WRECKEDSTEAMER
THE TRITON NEATLY LADEN AND
VERf DEEP IN THE WATER.
Her Engines stopped In the storm. Her Cargo
shifted, and Waves Made n Clean Breach
over Her-Terribie Panic on Heard-Oniy
Two Persons Out or 700 known to ne saved.

MGR HhGihes stopped In the storm, Her cargo
shifted, and Waves Made n Clean breach
Over Her-Terribie Panic en Board-Oniy
TWoPorsons Out OF 700 Known to ne saved.
Special Cable Despatch to THE sun.
MADRID, Oct. ia despatch to tho Impair
cfdt from Havana gives some further details
OF the loss Of the coasting steamer Triton,
which was wrecked yesterday on tho north
coast or Pinar del Rio while bound from
Havana for Bahia Honda.
Tho Triton sailed from Havana on Friday
night, having on board, in addition to 100
civilian passengers, several military officers and
seventy soldiers. She carried as cargo q large
quantity OF arms and ammunition for tho
troops in Pinar del Rio. and she also had on
board 100000 in csah.
1t is thought that tho disaster was duo to the
steamer being overloaded, or to her cargo
shifting. which caused her to caspize, for al
though the weather was stormy, 1t was not
bad enough to wreck such o fine vessel as tho
Triton. Prior to starting on tho voyage the
weather was threatening, and the Captain Of
the steamer visited tho Jesuit observatory,
whore no was assured that he would run no
risk In leaving port in face of the approaching
storm.
OF all those on board tho steamer, passengers
and crew, only two are known to have escaped.
These are Julian Alfonso, the purser, and Dan.
lei Martinez, q merchant, but II Ia hoped that
the gunbost Maria Christina and the nfeboats
which were sent to the vicinity Of tho wreck
have found some survivors.
HAVANA, Oct. lit Is now supposed horo
that the loss OF tho steamer Triton was pri.
marily due to a breakdown of her engines.
The vessel was very heavily laden when she
left Havana; in fact. she was SO deep that her
main deck was only a few feet above tho water.
She had a number OF mules on board which
were for the use Of the army, and to these ami
mails The capsizing Of the steamer Is attributed,
II she did capsize.
As reported in last nights despatch to The
sun the weather was bad when tho Triton left
port and it gradually grew worse until tho
Captain OF tho steamer decided that, as
his vessel was laboring heavily and max.
ing bad weather Of it, 1t would be tho safest
plan TO run for shelter until the storm
ahated. Whom he arrived at this decision it
was 4 o'clock in the morning. and the steamer
was between Mariel and Point Dominica. Or.
ders were given to the Quartermaster to put tho
helm up, the intention being to put about and
make for Mariel. which has q sheltered harbor.
The vessel had just began to turn, when sud-
denly, from some unknown cause, the engines
stopped. The steamer was thus rendered
helpless. A heavy sea was running and
she swung into the trough OF the sea,
where abe rolled badly, sometimes dipping
her rails under. While thus wallowing help.
lessly, she was caught in u current, which swept
strongly in shore. and was drawn landward.
Her anchors were thrown out, but they would
not hold, and she continued TO drift. Suddenly
she struck q rock, and the shock awakened the
passengers. who rushed to the deck in a panic.
In the meantime the mules all huddled on tho
lee side OF the steamer. which caused her TO
carcen so much that her cargo shifted. giving
her a heavy list to stArboard. which rendered
footing on the deck insecure.
Many times the seas made a clean breach over
the haplcss vessel. carrying away everything
movable on the upper deck. and sweeping down
the companionways into the saloon, engine
room, and foreCastle.
| The situation was such that the Captain saw
II was hopeless to expect to save the steamer.
SO orders were given 10 clear away and launch
the lifeboats. Then there was a general rush to
secure places In tn M, the passengers struggling
to thus get a chance to save their lives.
While attempting to lower several of the boats
they were struck by the sea. dashed against tho
sides OF the steamer, and smashed to pieces,
their OCCUPANTS being precipitated into the sea
and drowned.
Numbers OF tho passengers were unable to
reach the few boats which succeeded in getting
clear OF the steamer. and some OF them in their
desperation jumped overheard.
The sea WAS running so high that there Is
little hope that tho boats that got away could
live in IL.