The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-07
SUNK SHIP WAS
in ILLEGAL. TRADE
Mediterranean Catastrophe Said
to Be Due to Olandestine
Emigrant Traffic.

Madrid, Aug. THE Espa1a Nueva
this morning publishes a dispatch from
Barcelona containing 81 the startling
statement that the italian steamer
was engaged In the sclandestine en-
barkation of Spanish semigrants along
the coast, and that large sums OF money
were paid for this work. Z
This is said to explain why the YES
sci followed course never taken by
ships Of equal draft.
Continuing, the Espana Nueva says
the conduct Of the captain and the
crew of the Sirio when the catastrophe
occurred left much to be deslred, and
Justifies the belief in the reports that
illicit TRAFFIC was going on.
Captain Not a Suicide. ~.
ca s;sgs Aug; 7.-.Ths captain Of Of
fuses to, say anything about the dis
aster except that the, rock on which
the vessel struck is not eharted. The
captain was rescued in spite of his re-
fusal to. leave the ship, - ~.
Popular rage continues to. be. cen
tered on, his alleged scowardice after
the steamer struck. The : accident is
ascribed to his overconfdence in his
knowledge Of the coast. ~ r..
1 ~ 10 oiASAoll,f hAdG oEo
Italians, 40 Spaniards, II Arabs, 10
! Austrians, 6 orientals, citizens of
:Argentina, A Brazilians. a. Montenegrins
and 10 Of unknown nationality were
saved. More than 200 of the dead have
been brought here. -, - 80
1t is stated that there were three
Americans among the drowned. Their
names are not known. They were going
to South America. =, , 49,.
I A. vivid description Of the terrible
panic on board the Sir a.is given by
g godson of Queen Margherita Of Italy
He says: .~..>,7 &~*>
Gan enormous crowd of women
rushed forward and struggled desper
ately to obtain possession Of the life
belts: Frantic men approached ant
felled the women with repeated blows
They then seized the lifebe1ts, leaving
| the women senseless on deck, where
they were drowned: On the other hant
one man refused to be saved until thu
women had been rescued. His refusa
cost him his life, for he went down
with the ship. '' 49,, 49, =.
- The confusion i and fighting o:
those few moments almost beggars de
scrlption. The passengers dashed hithe
and thither. uttering shrieks Of despai
and even destroying this lifebelts ii
their frenZy.~ a. r. H.. 1@~@ -.
At Passing Vessels Paid No Heed:
A number Of the survivors asser
| that passing vessels paid no attentio,
! whatever to the sirio . signals Of dis
tress. '. y: = q sa8'%sf.S >
"A survivor of the. wreck was a,
rested in the country near. Aicant
t yesterday, by gendarmes. He; was carry
, ing a valise. full Of Jewels and had
) large sum Of money. He, declared tina
. another survivor had ,confded the wallis
E. t. his charge, promising him to Civ
him half the contents If he succeede
! in escaping with it.. IL ss,l, ~.,t Il:
Captains cowardice. p :
! Madrid, Aug Il s.--Aecordings TO jth
) statements Of. somedof tbs ngsbrvi,
/ ors Of the lost Italian steamer Sirio;th
:. Captain of the. VESSEL came Fl o mi Il!
i cabin Immediately following othe i fri
y shock, hesitated whether to 90 to; til
. bow or stern or mount, the bridge, an
. then! turned and jumped into a lifeboa
! crying: ".Everyonel s for hinself
: Thereupon began a terrible scene
. confusion =: ~i,.:<.. if.=,.-e .~. - ~
n The crew with knives between the
e teeth and officers with revolvers in the
% hands, saved themselves. = :, ga o.