Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-06
SEATAKESHUNDREDS
Italian Steamship Wrecked
 on Spanish Coast.
BISHOP OF $40 PABLO LOST.

BlSHOP 0F SAO PABLO LOST. Commander of sirio, Trying to Save
 Time, Runs on Bajos Hormigas
 Reef, Near Cape Palos-Three
 Hundred Are Drowned.
 CARTAGENA, Spain. Aug. GA terrible marine disaster has occur red of Cape Palos. The Italian steam ship Sirio, from Genoa for Barcelona, Cadiz, Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, with 800 persons on board. was wreck cd on Hormigas island. Three hum dred emigrants, most of them Ital- fans and Spaniards, were drowned.
 The captain, in order to shorten the route and gain time, purposed to pass as close as possible to the dangerous rocky lodges surrounding the Hormigas 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 state of horror and terrified panic. Crowds rushed forward 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. A young mother who was carrying her baby was advised to abandon the child and try to save herself alone. This he refused to do, declaring she pre- lsrred that they die together. Both were eventually picked up alive from he water.
 In the midst of this panic the captain md officers of the Sirio endeavored Deolly, but in vain, to restrain the peo- Dle from panic.
 Among the lost are a dozen young Komen, members of distinguished hmilies in Brazil, who were return hs to their homes after finishing their lducation. Others drowned were wealthy planters from Brazil and the Argentina and several merchants from khe West Indies. One of the most ragic features is that out of fifteen bDanish girls. all in fashionable Dchool in Barcelona and going on vacation to their homes in Cadiz, only pne was saved Fourteen fishermen Here drowned in the work of rescuing women and children.
 All the cabin passengers, numbering l25, were on the promenade deck when the crash came. Most of them were women, but they all assembled quietly on the command of the cap- lain. The ship was thrown into con fusion by the steerage passengers. At 6rst they were inclined to obey the orders of the officers, but when they Jaw the stern sinking below the waves hey were lost to all reason. Gather Ing in body. the Italians charged the grew with their knives and in few minutes had gained possession of the ship.
 Forty women and children had been placed in lifeboat ready for launch Ing. The emigrants caught them and. dragging them out. threw them on the deck. Those of the crew of the life boat who resisted were stabbed to the heart. The sinking of the ship at the stern threw all forward, and in the crowding in the narrow quarters the Italians did awful execution with their knives. A woman brought to shore in a fsherman's boat was al- most disemboweled. Many were slashed in the arms and heads, and the crew was subdued by sheer force of numbers.
 When the captain committed suicide by shooting with revolver on the bridge the other officers lost their heads. and there was nobody to direct the work of rescue.
 The ship broke in half, glided on the rocks and foundered in deep water. The captain purposely sank with his ship.
 The bishop of Sac Pablo went down with the vessel while blessing the erowning passengers. The archbishop of 6ao Pedro, who was at first sup posed to have been drowned. has since been reported safe.
 The Austrian consul at Rio de Ja- neiro was saved, but lost a large amount of money when the vessel went down.
 Before he committed suicide the cap- tain declared the steamer had 645 pas sengers on board and that her crew numbered 127 men. The Sirio had 570 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 steamer was threading q difi- cult passage through the Hormisas group. where the Bajos Hormigas reef is . continual menace to navigation. when she struck. The vessel began to settle rapidly immediately. and a ter rible scene of confusion and panic ensued on board The fahermen along the coast sought to render every ss- 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 condition of the survivors is most deplorsble. They have lost ev- erything and are without money. food