Evening journal., 1906-08-06
300 SOULS
LOST AT SEA
Captain Admits His Response
biIity and Then Commits
Suicide
MURDER FOLLOWS TRAGEDY

BY Our own Wire. Publishers Press.
CARTAGENA, Spain, Aug. 6.-Driv-
ing at full speed on the rocks off Cape
Palos, the Italian steamship Sirio yes
terday afternoon became a total wreck
and sank in half an hour, carrying down
300 out of the 500 on board. The Bishop
70 San Pedro. Brazil. went down with
the ship. his hands upraised and bless
ing the drowning passengers. The first
news of the diseaster was received here
this morning.
Among the lost are a dozen young
women, members of distinguished FAM
lilies in Brazil who were returning to
their homes after finishing their educa-
tion in Europe. Others drowned were
wealthy planters from Brazil and the
argentine. and several merchants from
the West Indies. One Of the most tras-
ic features is that out of fifteen Spanish
girls. all in a fashionable school in Bar
celona. and going on a vacation to their
homes in Cadiz, only one was saved.
Fourteen fishermen were drowned "
the work of rescuing women and chill
dren.
The disaster was due, it is said TO the
recklessness of the captain who TO save
time steered out Of the chartered cham
mel When the horror Of his error burst
on him the captain shot himself in the
breast and then jumped into the sea.
A shocking sequel TO the disaster was
the brutality OF several hundred Ita-
ian emigrants. In their efforts 10
escape they killed twenty Of the crew
stabbed women and children and then
fought with themselves for possession
of the lifeboats. Some Of those wounl-
ed by the emigrants died after being
drought to the shore.
Ran Close to Shore.
The Sirio was from Genoa for Bar
cc!ona, Cadiz. Montevideo and Bueros
Ayres. She was of 4.141 tons and was
owned by the Navigazione Italiana of
Genoa. Early yesterday she left Bar
celona several hours behind her sched-
lule time. The captain drove the ship in
close 20 the dangerous rocky lodges sur
rounding the Hormigas Islands.
The weather was clear and the sea
Twas like glass. Suddenly the ship was
caught on a submerged rock. and it is
ibelieved that her bottom was rent for
lhalf its length. In a few minutes the
stern of the liner was under water and
the vessel hung on the rock as on a peg.
There We're in all 645 passengers and
127 men f. the crew. After the crash
the capita. tried 10 maintain order.
but he was unable TO check the rising
tumult. Survivors say that for min
lutte or two the passengers seemed dazed
and that then the extent of the disaster
flashed on them all in an instant.
All the cabin passengers. numbering
lbs. were on the promenade deck Most
of them were women. but they all as
sembled quietly on the command Of
tine captain. Among them were two
bishops and the Austrian Consul Cen
eral in Buenos Ayres. The ship was
thrown into confusion by the steerage
passengers. At first they We're in-
Iclined to obey the orders Of the Off
GERS. but when they saw the stern sink
ling below the waves they were lost TO
all reason. Gathering in a body the
Italians charged the crew. and in a
few minutes had gained possession of
the snip.
Started in to Murder.
Forty women and children had been
lplaced in a lifeboat ready for launching.
The emigrants caught them ana drag
lying them out threw them on the deck.
lThose of the crew of the lifeboat who
resisted were stabbed to the heart. The
lsinking Of the ship at the stern threw
all forward. and in the crowding in
Continued on Page Two.