Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-06
TERRIBLE DISASTER
MANY VICTIMS OF A WRECKED
IMMIGRANT STEAMER.

about eight hundred persons on BOARD, was
wrecked OF Hormigas Island. Three hun
dred emigrants. most of them Italians and
Spaniards. were drowned. The captain OF
the steamer committed suicide. The bishop
of Sac Pedro. Brazil. was lost, and 1t IL
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
ropes thrown to them from the shore A
number of fishermen who made attempts at
rescue were drowned. Those rescued from
the vessel are now at Cape Palos. In pitt
able condition, being without food or cloth
ing.
The Srio struck a rocky reef known as
Bajos Hormigas and sank soon after. stern
first. Hormigas Island lies about two and
a half miles to the eastward of Cape Palos.
The Sirio was owned by the Nayigasions
Italiana of Genoa.
Captain Killed Himself.
Before he committed suicide the captain
declared the steamer had 645 passengers on
board and that her crew numbered 127 men.
The Sfrio had $40 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 wreck occurred at 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The steamer was threading
difficult passage through the Hormigas
group, where the Bajos Hormigas reef is
continual menace to navigation. The vessel
began to settle rapidly Immediately she
had struck and a. terrible scene of confu-
sion and panic ensued on board. The fish
ermen along the coast sought to render
every assistance in their power and sent
out boats. which brought many survivors
ashore. Most of the officers and crew Of
the Sirio among the saved.
The survivors have gone into camp on
fha m "a In GRO, 81 hn four Of VI ynnp Dol
Here narrowing scenes are enacted as the
stricken families anxiously seek beloved
members among the rescued. mother
who lost her three children went insane.
The doctor of the SirO gave up his wife
and child as lost. but they were finally
brought In by one of the rescuing boats,
and the scene as this family was reunited
was most affecting. One of the boats sent
out by the fishermen brought in twenty
four passengers.
Pitiable Condition of Survivors.
The condition of the survivors is most de-
plorable. They have lost everything. and
are without money. food or clothing The
maritime authorities of Cartagena have dis
patched a tug to the scene carrying relief
supplies. The buildings of circus and the
poorhouse are being used as temporary
quarters.
Later reports from the cape say that
three boats have Just brought in a number
of rescued.
Additional sadness is added to the catas-
trophe owing to the fact that a number of
fishermen. who were conducting rescuing
operations, were drowned in consequence
of the overturning of boat.
The captain of the Sirio, before he killed
himself, attributed the wreck TO his own Inn
prudence
All the ships books were lost 1t Is inn
possible at present to ascertain the full ex-
tent of the disaster Nine-tenths of the
passengers were Italians and the remainder
Spaniards. All the survivors have been
landed at Cape Palos. The Inhabitants at
once provided them with clothing and nour-
ishment Thirty were landed at Hormigas
Island, about one mile from the scene Of the
tragedy.
Fishermen brought in the first news of
the laundering of the Sirio, and 1t created
CONSERVATION here. Boatloads of the ship
wrecked passengers and crew began to
reach shore shortly after the news became
known.
Passengers confirm the fearful nature of
the calamity.
Cause of the Disaster.
From the broken narratives of the ter
or-stricken survivors 1t would appear that
It was the intention of the captain OF the
Sirio. after leaving Barcelona, to call at
Cadlz before proceeding to Brazil. The
captain. in order to shorten the route and
gain time. purposed to pass as close pos
SlOie TO the dangerous rocky leQSeS sur
rounding the Hormlgas Islands.
Without any warning and while running
at full speed, the Sirio 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 and panic. Crowds rushed for
ward, 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.
Men Fought With Knives.
The Madrid correspondent of the London
Daily Telegraph describes the Sirio disas-
ter as one of the worst on record The
Italian emigrants. with knives In their
hands. and without regard for the women
or children. fought with the greatest bru-
tally for the possession of life buoys and
boats. Many were killed or wounded, in
Guiding 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 suicide by shooting
with revolver The other officers then
lost their heads, and there was nobody to
direct the work of rescue.
Eye witnesses give awful pictures of the
the emigrants were masters of the situa-
ton. They completely overcame the crew
by sheer force Of numbers, and this in
spite of the efforts of the officers, who
One report even states. the correspond
ent continues. that q group of emigrants
approached one of the ships boats. which
already was full and which was about to
be launched. and disIodged the people, kill
ing several with their knives. Just they
were about to occupy the boat themselves
another body of armed emigrants came up,
and fierce fight for the possession OF the
lfeboat followed.
Many of the survivors brought ashore
were seriously wounded. and number sus-
tanned fractured limbs. Some OF the in
jured subsequently died.
1t Is reported that the Spanish singer
Lola Milanes was among the drowned.
cablegram from Alicante. Spain, last
night says: The captain of the French
steamer Marie Louise, which has arrived
here from Cartagena. relates having wit
messed the laundering of the Sirto from a
point close to that vessel. He says he was
remarking to his mate upon the dangerous
course the Sirio was taking, when the
Italian steamer. going ahead at full speed. 4
suddenly stopped and her bow was seen to
lift The Marie Louise changed her course
and went toward the Sirio. At this mo-
ment there was heard a loud explosion. as
the boilers of the Sirio burst. Shortly after
this dead bodies began to float by the
French steamer. and those on board could
hear the shrieiSs of the drowning people.