Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-08-06
Fishermen Lose Lives in At
tempt to Save Passengers
From Watery Grave. Survi-
VOrS in DepIorabIe Condition
WILD PANIC PRECEDES
FOUNDERING OF VESSEL
EmigrantS Crazed With Fear
Fight Crew and TrampIeI
Women and Children in
Struggle to Gain Life Boats

Cartagena. Spain. Aug. 5.-A terri
BILE marine disaster occurred last ev-
enlng at Cape Palos, The Italian
steamship Sirio from Genoa for Bar
celona, Cadiz, Monte Video and Bu-
enos Ayres, with about 500 persons on
board was wrecked off Hormigas ISL
and. Three hundred immigrants,
most of them Italians and Spaniards,
We're drowned.
The captain Of the steamer commit
ted suicide
The bishop of Soa Pedro, Brazil, al
SO was lost and ii Is reported that an
other bishop is among the missing.
The remainder of the passengers
and the officers and crew got away In
the ships boats or were rescued 1y
means of boats sent to them from the
shore.
A number of fishermen who made
attempts at rescue were drowned.
Those rescued from the vessel are
now at Cape Palos in pitiable condi-
ton, being without food or clothing.
The Sirio struck a "ockv reef known
as Bajos Hormlgas and sank soon af-
ter stern first. Hormigas Island lies
about two and one-ha0 miles to the
eastward of Cape Palos.
The Sirio was owned by the Naviga-
zione Itallana of Genoa.
Before he committed suicide, the
captain declared the steamer had GAS
passengers on board and that her
crew numbered 127 men. The Slriq
had $40 passengers when leaving Ge-
noa, but additional Spanish passen-
gers were taken on board at BARGE
Iona, where the vessel touched a few
hours before the disaster occurred 1t
o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
steamer was threading a difficult pas
sage through the Hormigas group
where the Bajos Hormigas reef is 3
continual menace to navigation. The
vessel began to settle rapidly immedi-
ateIy after she had struck and ter
rlble scene of confusion and panic en-
sued on board The fishermen along
the coast sought to render every as
slstance in their power and sent out
boats which brought many survivors
ashore. Most of the officers and crew
of the Sirio are among the saved.
The survivors have gone into camT
on the main square of the town al
Cape Palos Here narrowing scenes
are enacted as stricken families anx-
lously seek beloved members among
the rescued. A mother who lost heI
three children went Insane. The doc
tor of the Sirio gave up his wife and
child as lost, but they were finally
brought In by one of the rescuint
boats and the scene as this family wa'
reunited was most affecting. One Of
the boats sent out by fishermen
brought In ~ passengers.
The condition Of the survivors Il
most deplorable. They have los
everything and are without money
food or clothing. The maritime au
thorities Of Cartagena have dispatch
ed a tug to the scene carrying relie
supplies,
The latest reports from the Cap
say that three boats have just brough
in number of the rescued.
An additional sadness Is added 4
the catastrophe owing to the fact tina
a number Of fishermen who were con
ductlng rescue operations wer'
drowned In consequence of the over
turning Of one of the boats.
The captain of the Slrlo Just beforl
he killed himself, attributed the wrecl
to his own imprudence.
The archbishop of San Pedro wen
down with the vessel while blessing
the drowning passengers. The othe
bishop who was first supposed to hav'