Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-09-21
MAD BULLS ON
LINER IN STORM.
Passengers, Terrified by Gale, Trampled
on by Enraged Animals
Many Hurt.

NEW YORK, Sept. discharged by
terror-mad bulls in the midst of a hur-
ricane that threatened at any moment
to send the ship to the bottom, passen-
gers on the Italian steamer Massllla
had a frightful experience during their
voyage ended yesterday. More than
thirty were injured, some of them Sc
riOuSly. -,
Capt. Murli of the Massilia reported
that terrific gale on September Ii
swept the decks of the liner and every
thing that had not been fastened down
was washed over the side. OF the oZ3
passengers more than 200 were women.
All the passengers were sent below as
nothing was safe on the decks.
When the storm broke at its height
six large Italian bulls broke their fast
enings. There are alleyways running
under the hurricane deck, connecting the
fore and after decks. Through these the
bulls ran and dashed over the whole
deck.
The crew had started to round up the
bulls when the electric light wires broke
beneath, in the steerage compartments,
and there was a binding flash like an
explosion.
Passengers Expect Death.
The noise, coupled with the bowling of
he hurricane, the pounding of the heavy
Seas and the tramp of the bulls on the
decks, terrified the passengers, who now
thought they were going to be burned
at sea.
They smashed matches, brushed away
the sailors gathered at the openings to
drive them back and came pouring up on
deck carrying crucifXes and other EN-
blems of worship. They demanded
money of the officers that they might
make offerings to the Madonna for the
Il, 20 .
their fright they fought among them
selves like madmen.
Red Headdress' Effect.
The crew had managed to get the bulls
into a far corner of the ship and III a
few moments more would have had them
tied fast, when all of a sudden woman
with a flaring headdress became con-
sspicuOus. Attracted by the bright color,
the bulls charged the crowd.
Those directly in the path of the ami
mails sank upon their knees and uttered
prayers for safety, as the bulls, below
ing as loudly as the hurricane, swept
over them Back and forth through the
battered and bruised mass OF human be-
ings the mad beasts ran, trampling I'M
der foot men, women and children, till
scores of insensible forms were lying
about in heaps.
Animals Are Manned.
An unusually large wave hit the deck
where the animals were. They caught
the full force of the impact. Two We're
dashed across the port rail, where their
legs were broken, and they fell to the
deck, adding their cries of pain to the
other noises. The other four were hurled
forward and sent crashing against the
forecastle peak. They lay stunned and
before they could get up the members of
the crew that had not lost their wits
ran to them and with ropes got them
under control.
A crate containing twenty-four chick
ems was smashed by the water and the
fowls. released, flew, cackling and
frightened, among the passengers, add
ing to the confusion.
In the midst of the cries of the pas
sengers lying helpless or crawling about
the decks, Capt. Michaelo Carturano
royal Italian commissioner, got together
twenty-six of the crew, whom he ordered
to procure revolvers. Thus armed, he
placed himself at their head and drove
the passengers slowly back till he got
them below deck.