Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-06
SURVIVORS IN P|T|ABLE CONDITION,
Craft Had About 800 on Board---Captain Admits
His Fault and Commits Suicide--Was Thread
ing Difficult Island Passage.

posed to pass as close as possible to til.
dangerous rocky lodges surrounding the
HermiSas Islands.
Without any warning and while run
ming at full speed. the Sirio crashed upon
the rocks with terrific force A few min
utes later the stern OF the vessel sank
beneath the waves.
The passengers were in state of tor
ritied panic. Crowds rushed forward
pushing each other aid fighting for
places in tie bow of the boat. Many fell
and were trampled to death Dozens of
mon and women threw themselves into
the sea
a young mother who was carrying her
baby was advised to abandon tie child
and try to save herself alone. This she
refused to do, declaring she preferred 10
die together. Both were eventually pick
Cd up alive in the water.
IN the midst OF this panic the captain
and officers of the Sirio endcavored cool
~, but in vain, to restrain the people,
restore a semblance of order and organ
iZc a system of life saving. This was nor
accomplished, for the vessel suddenly
either broke in half or gldcd off the
GftkS am lOuHutltu III uttP Nhttl. L Nv
captain purposely sank with his ship.
The archbishop of Sac Pedro went
down with the vessel while blessing the
drowning passengers. The other bishop
who was at first supposed to have been
drowned has since been reported safe.
He is at Cartagcna. A steamer engaged
in rescue work has reached port. Sh"
has on board the bodies of several in
faots. Another boat picked up a child
who was on the Point of drowning.
The Austrian consul 1T Rio De Janeiro
was saved, but lost a large amount OF
money when the vessel went down.
The government has issued instructions
that every possible measure for the relief
of the stricken people shall be taken.
A feet of trawlcrS proyi1cntially hap
pened to be- only about 100 yards away
when the Sirio struck Notwithstand-
in the great danger, the shippers OF
these boats came at once to the rScuc.
The survivors OF the Sirio united in
praising the conduct of the captains;
of the trawlers, Johan Miguel and Vi
centa LIicano. The former steamed
close to the side of the sinking ship and
took off 500 passengers. The c.. oi
this traWler endcaNOreu u Sfis OH
airing that their boat would sunk
whereupon the captain drew his re-
volver. levcllcd it upon his men and
shouted:
"As long as it il impossible to take
off another passenger. we will not
move"
The deck of the Johan Miguel be-
came so crowded with the terror-strick-
en- survivors of the Sirio. that the
skipper was obliged. in order to proven
this boat from capsizing to force them
down into the hold at the point of his
revolver.
The Iicenta Llicenta saved 200 per-
sons. and an old fisherman sailing d
dingy saved II. Rollcall taken on
shore shows that 1856 persons from the
Sirio are missing but it is believed that
n few were taken on board French and
German steamers. which continued
their voyage after the SiriO sank.
1t is said that IL large number OF the
first and second cabin passengers were
drowned. their cabins being the first
to go under water.