The Democratic advocate., 1906-08-10
800 Souls Are Lost.

CARTAGENA, SPAIN, August 5.-The Italian
steamship Sirio, from Genoa to South Amer
lea, with 800 passengers on board, was
wrecked Saturday evening off HOrmigas Is
hand, which lies about two and "A half miles TO
the eastward of Cape Palcs
Three hundred ot the emigrants. most of
them Italians and Spaniards, were drowned
The Bishop of Sac Pablo, Brazil, was
drowned while blessing the passengers of the
Sirio. The Archbishop of Sac Pedrowas.
who was also on board, was saved.
1t is said that large number of the first
and second cabin passengers were drowned,
their cabins being the first to go under water.
The remainder of the passengers and the
officers aud crew of the Sirio got away in the
ships boats or were rescued by means of
ropes thrown 10 them from the shore.
number OF fishermen who made attempts
at rescue were drowned.
The captain of the steamship, after admit
ting that the catastrophe was due to his own
imprndence, committed suicide.
The SIrlO was an iron vessel. of 4 I4l tons
aud SOP horsepower. She was built at
Glasgow in 1883 was owned BY the Navigazi-
one Itailiaua of Genoa.
The steamer had 645 passengers on board
ami her crew numbered l27 men, The Sirio
bad go passengers when leaving Genoa. but
additional Spanish passengers were taken on
board at Bareelons, where the vessel touched
few hours before the disaster
The disaster occurred at O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. The Sirio was threading d
dItficul passage through the Hormigas group.
where the Bajos Hormigas reef is continual
menace 10 navigation. The vessel began 10
settle rapidly Immediately she had struck, and
terrible scene of confusion and panic en-.
sued on board
The fishermen along the coast sought to
render every assistance in their power, and
seat out boats, which brought many survivors
ashore. Most of the officers and crew of the
Sirio are among the saved.
Passengers confirm the fearful nature of the
calamity. From the broken narratives of the
terror-stricken survivors it would appear that
it was the intention of the captain of the
Sirio, after leaving Barcelona, to call at Cadz
before proceeding TO Brazil. The captain, in
order 10 shorten the route aud gain time, pur
posed to pass as close as possible to the dan
gerous rocky lodges surrounding the Hormigas
Islands. Without any warning and while
running at full speed the Srio crashed upon
the rocks with terrific force. A few minutes
later the stern of the vessel sank beneath the
waves.
The passengers were in a state of horror
aud panic. Crowds rushed forward, pushing
each other and fighting for places in the bow
of The boat. Many fell and were trampled to
death. Dozens of men and women threw
themselves into the sea. young mother
who was carrying her baby was advised TO
abandon the child and try to save herself
alone. This she refused to do, declaring she
preferred that they die together. Both event
ually picked up alive from the water
lu the midst of this panic the captain aud
officers of the Sirio endeayored in vain to re.
strain the people, restore semblanee of order
and organize system of life saving. This
was not accomplished, for the vessel suddenly
either broke in half or glided off the rocks
and foundered in deep water. The captain
purpOsely sank with his ship.