The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-06
Men With Knives BrutaIIy
Fight Women for Places
in the Boats
CAPTAIN is REPORTED TO
HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE
Many Women see Children Sink
Below Waves.-More Killed
During Panic Than by
the Sea.

Cartagena, Spain. August 5.-A terrible
marine disaster occurred last evening off
Cape Palos The Italian steamship sirio
from Genoa for Barcelona, Cadiz, Monte
viedo and Buneos Ayres, with about 500
persons on board, was wrecked off Hormi-
gas Island
Three hundred immigrants, most of
them Italians and Spaniards, were
drowned
The captain of the steamer committed
suicide
The bishop of Sac Pedro. Brazil. also
lost, and it is 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 boats
sent to them from the shore.
number of fishermen who made al
tempts at rescue were drowned. Those
rescued from the vessel are now at Cape
Palos in a ptiable condition, being with
out food or clothing.
Struck Rocky Reef.
The sirlo struck rocky reef known as
stern first Hormigas Island lies about
two and q half miles to the eastward
of Cape Palos.
The sirio was owned by the Navigasone
Itaiiana of Genoa.
Before he committed suicide the cap
tain declared the steamer had s45 pas
sengers on board and that her crew num-
bered 127 men.
The Sirio had $40 passengers when leav-
ing Genoa but additional Spanish pas
sengers were taken on board at Barco-
/ Iona.a where the vessel touched few
Nh > h1aAefare fl1e ,disa ster.
disaster occurred at s o'clock yes
terA afternoon. The steamer was
threhHling difficult passage through the
Hot 9ligas group where the Bajos Hor-
msgas reef is a continual menace to nav
igation. The vessel began to settle rap
idly, Immediately she had struck. and a
terrible scene of confusion and panic en-
sued on board. The fishermen 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 are
among the saved.
Survivors go Into Camp
The survivors have gone into camp on
the main square of the town at Cape Pa
los. Here narrowing scenes are enacted
as the stricken families anxously seek
beloved members among the rescued.
mother who lost her three children
went insane.
The doctor of the Sirio 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
united was most affecting. One of the
boats sent out by the fishermen brought
In twenty-four passengers.
The condition of the survivors is most
deplorabe. They have lost everything and
are without money food or clothing. The
maritime authorities of Cartagena have
dispatched tug to the scene carrying re-
lief supplies. The buildings of circus and
the poor house are being used as ter3-
porary quarters for the survivors.
One Rescue Boat Overturns.
The latest reports from the cape say
that three boats have just brought in a
number of rescued. An additional sad
ness is added to the catastrophe owing to
the fact that a number of fishermen who
were conducting rescuing operations were
drowned In consequence of the overturn-
ing of boat.
The captain of the sirio. Just before
he killed himself. attributed the wreck
to his own imprudence.
The Sirio left Genoa August Z
Ships Books Are Lost.
All the ships books were lost 1t is
impossible at present to ascertain the
full list OF the dead. Nine-tenths of the
passengers were Italians and the re-
mainder Spaniards All the survivors have
been landed at Cape Palos.
The inhabitants provided them with
clothing and nourishment. Thirty were
landed at Homgas Island, about one
mile from the scene of the tragedy.
From the broken narratives of the ter
ror-stricken survivors 1t would appear
that 1t was the intention of the Sirio after
leaving Barcelona to call at Cadiz be-
fore proceeding to Brazil. 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 run
ming at full speed, the Sirio crashed
upon the rocks with terrific force.
Sank Beneath Waves.
few minutes later the vessel sank be-
meath the waves. The passengers were
In a state of horror and panic. Crowds
rushed forward pushing each other and
fighting for places in the bow of the
u.
death Dozens of men and women threw
themselves into the sea. young mother
who was carrying her baby was advised
to abandon the child and try to save her.
self. This she refused to do. declaring
she preferred that they die together.
Both eventually were picked up alive
from the water.
In the midst of this panic the captain
and officers of the Sirio endeavored in
vain to restrain the people, restore or
der, and organize system of life saw
ing. This was not accomplished for the
vessel suddenly either broke in half or
glided off the rocks and foundered in
deep water.
The archbishop of Sac Pedro went down
with the vessel while blessing the drown
ing passengers. The other bishop at first
supposed to have been drowned has
since been reported safe. He is at Car
tagona.
The government has issued instructions