The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-06
Went Down In FOunderi1g
Of Italian Ship
WHICH STRUCK A REEF
The Sirio Carried About 900 Passengers
anc Crew--Captain Took Respon-
Gbiiity and Then Committed
Suicide.

Cartagena, Spain, Aug. 6,-A terrible
maritime disaster occurred Saturday
evening off Cape Palos, when the Italian
steamer Sirio, from Genoa for Barcelona,
Cadiz, Montevideo and Bnenos Ayres,
with about 500 persons on boards, was
wrecked off Hormigas island and 300
emigrarits, most Of them Italians and
Spaniards. were drowned. The captain
Of the steamer committed suicide.
The remainder of the passengers and
the officers and the crew got away int
the ships boats or were rescued BY
means Of boats sent to them from the
shore.
A number Of fishermen who made at
temps at rescue were drowped Those
rescued from the vessel are now at Cape
Palos in d pitiahle condition, being with.
out food OF clothing.
The Sirio strucky a rocky reef known
as Bajos Hormigas and sank soon after,
stern first. Hormigas island lies about
two and half miles to the eastward
Of Cape Palos. The Sirio was owned BY
the Nayigasiene Italiana Of Genoa.
The steamer was threading diff
cult passage through the Horinigas group
where the Baios Hormigas reef Is a
continual menace to navigation. The
vessel began to settle rapidly immedi-
ately after she had struck and terrible
scene Of confusion and panic ensued
on board. The fishermen along the
coast sought to render every assistance
In their power, and sent out boats which
brought many survivors ashore. Most
of the officers aud crew of the Sirio are
among the saved.
The survivors have gone into camp
on the main square of the town of Cape
Palos. Here narrowing scenes are en-
acted as the stricken families anxious
ly seek beloved members among the
rescued "A mother who lost three chill
dren went insane. The doctor OF the
Siri0 gave up his wife and child as lost,
but they we're finally brought in by
one of the rescuing boats, and the scene
as this family was reunited was most
affecting. One Of the boats sent out BIZ
the fishermen brought in twenty four
passengers.
The condition of the survivors Is most
depIorable They have lost everything
and are without money, food or cloth-
ing. The maritime authorities Of Car
tagena have despatched a tug to the
scene. carrying relief supplies. The
buildings of circus and the poorhouse are
being used as temporary quarters for
survivors. The latest reports from the
cape say that three boats have just
brought in number Of rescued. An
additional sadness is added TO the ca
tastrophe owing to the fact that many
fishermen who were conducting rescuing
operations were drowned in consequence
OF the oyerturning of a boat.
The captain Of the Sirio before he
killed himself, attributed the wreck to
his own imprudence.
Without any warning and while rum
ming at full speed the Sirio crashed
upon the rock with terrible force. a
few minutes later the stern OF the ves-
sell sank beneath the waves. The pas
sengers were in state of terrified pam
ic. Crowds rushed forward, pushing
each other and fighting for places iii
the bow Of the boat. Many fell and
were trampled to death. Dozens Of
men and women threw themselves into
the sea. A young mother who was
carrying her baby was advised to aban-
don the child and try to save herself
alone. This she refused to do, declar-
ing she preferred that they die togeth.
er. Both were eventually picked up
alive in the water.
In the midst Of this panic the captain
and officers Of the Sirio endeavored
coolly, but in vain, to restrain the poo
pie. restore sembla1ee OF order and
organize system Of life saving. This
was not accomplished, for The vessel
either suddenly broke in half or glided
of the rocks and foundered III deep
water. The captain purposely sank
with his ship.
The bishop Of San Pedro went down
with the vessel while blessing the
drowning passengers. The archbishop Of
San Pedro, who was at first supposed
: to have been drowned, has since been
reported safe. He Is at Cartagena.