The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-10

warning and while running at full
speed the Sire crashed upon the
with terrific force.
MANY TRAMPLED TO DEATH
A few later the stern OF
the vessel sank beneath n waves
The passengers were in a state or nor
TOR and panic. Crowds rushed orNir
pushing each other and fighting 1or
places in the bow Of the boat Many
fell and were trampled 10 death Doz-
ems Of men and women threw tnem-
selves into the sea. 4 young mother
who was carrying her baby, was al
vised TO abandon the child n try 10
saw herself alone. This she refused
to do. declaring she preferred that taev
die together. Both eventually were
picked up alive from the water.
In the midst of this panic b captain
and officers of the Sirio endeavored in
vain TO restrain the people. restore a
semblance OF order. and organize a
system of life~saving. This was not &C
complished, for the vessel either broke
in half or glided of the rocks and
~foundered in deep water. The captain
purposely sank with his ship.
DIED BLESSING THE DYING.
The Archbishop Of Sac Pedro went
| down with the vessel while blessing the
| drowning passengers. Another bishop.
| who was at first supposed to have been
| drowned, has since been reported safe
He is at Cartagena.
4 steamer engaged in rescue worf
| has reached port. She has On board
| the bodies of several infants.
The Austrian consul at Rio de janet
| 70 was saved, but lost a large amour;
| Of money when the vessel went down
The government has issued fnstruc-
tons that every possible measure fnl
the relief of the stricken people shah
be taken.
A fleet Of trawlers providentially
| happened to be only about 100 yards
away when the Sirio struck. NOthwith-
standing great danger, the shippers OF
| these boats came at once to the res
! cue. The survivors of the Sirio unite
in praising the conduct Of the cap
tains of the trawlers Joven Miguel ana
| Vicenta Llicano. The former steamed
| close to the side of the sinking sh!I
and took off 800 persons.
CAPTAIN AWES lis "EEE
The crew Of this tr4.-e, .,'' Cd
| to sheer eff, earring 'hat '". t"f1
| would be sunk, whereuis01 ne . p nin
| drew his revolver, levAltl, /: tt g. men,
and shouted
LAS long as it is possible 10 take Of
| another passenger we will not nA,c'
! The deck of the Joven Miguel becan.c
50 crowded with the terrOr-striCktr
survivors of the SiriO that the skipper
was obliged, in order to prevent mis-
boat from capsizing, to force thcG,
to the hold at the point of his revOlv-
er.
The Vincea ILicanO saved 200 per
| sons, and an old fisherman, sailing a
dingy alone saved twelve. A roll cal
| taken on the shore shows that 385 per
| sons from the Sirio are missing. but ii
! is believed that a few were taken On
board French and German steamers
| which continued their voyage after the
SiriO sank.
1t is said that a large number OF the
first and second cabin passengers Were
drowned, their cabins being the frs;
to go under water.
The Austrian consul at Rio de janet
| 70 jumped into the sea, wearing d life
DS1L. ne llICu uOIISCu q WOhiuh III
child neal him on the point of going
down. He gave up his belt to them
| and tried to swim ashore. He was
almost exhausted when rescued by q
fishing vessel.
MEN FOUGHT WITH KNIVES.
London, Aug. 6.-The Madrid cores
pondent of the Daily Telegraph les.
| cribes the SiriO disaster as one Of The
| worst or record. The Italian emigran;s
| with knives in their hands, and with
out regard for the women or children
fought with the greatest brutality fol
the possession of life buoys and boats
Many were killed or wounded, inclld-
| ing several members of the crew. who
were attacked by emigrants.
When the captain saw the vessel
was lost and that the %emigrants had
captured the boat he committed sui
eide by shooting with a revolver. Tie
other officers then lost their heads, and
there was nobody to direct the work OF