Arizona republican., 1906-08-06

Cartagena, Spain, Aug. 5.-A terrible marine disaster occurred last evening off Cape Palos. The Italian steamship, Sirio. from Genoa for Barcelona, Ca diz Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, with about 500 persons on board, was wrecked off Hormigas Island 300 em- igrants, most of them Italians and Spaniards were drowned. The captain of the steamer committed suicide. The bishop of San Pedro. Brazil, also was lost and it is reported that another bishop is among the missing.
 The remainder of the passengers and the officers and crew got away in the ships boats or were rescued by means of boats sent to them from the shore. A number of fisherman who made at tempts at rescue were drowned. Those rescued from the vessel are now at Cape Palos, in a pitiable condition, being without food or shelter.
 The Sirio struck a rocky reef known as Bajos Horimgas and sank soon af- ter stern first. Hormigas Island lies about two and a half miles to the eastward of Cape Palos The Sirio was owned by the Navigazione Italia of Genoa. Before he committed sui eide. the captain declared that the steamer had GAO passengers on board and that her crew numbered 127 men. The Sirio had 57O passengers when leaving Genoa, but additional Spanish passengers were taken on board at Barcelona where the vessel touched a few hours before the disaster
 The disaster occurred at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The steamer was threading a difficult passage through the Hormigas group. where the Bajos Hormigas reef is a continual menace to navigation. The vessel be- gan to settle rapidly Immediately at- ter she had been struck, and Q terri bIe scene of confusion and panic en- sued on board. The fishermen along the coast sought to render every as sistance ,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 camp on the main square of the town at Cape Palos. Here narrowing scenes are enacted as stricken families anx- iously seek beloved members among the rescued. A mother who lost her three children went insane.
 The doctor of the S:rio gave up his wife and child as lost but they were finally brought in by one of the res cuing boats, and the scene as this family was reunited was most affect ing. One of the boats sent out by fish ermen brought in twenty-four passen- gers.
 The condition of the survivors i: most deplorable. They have lost every thing and are without money, food ol clothing. The maritime authorities o Cartagena have dispatched a tug tC the scene of the wreck carrying sup plies. The latest reports from tn, cape say that three tug boats have just brought in a number of rescued.
 An additional sadness is added to tn, catastrophe, owing to the fact that number of fishermen who were con, ducting rescue operations were drown ed in consequence of the overturnml of a boat. The captain of the Siri' just before he killed himself, attrib uted the wreck to his own imprudence
 The archbishop of Sac Pedro wen down with the vessel while blessing the drowning passengers. The othe bishop who was at first supposed t have been drowned, has since been re ported safe. He is at Cartagena.