The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-08-07
500 PERSONS DROWNED
Italian Steamer Wrecked ca the
Coast of France.
CAPTAIN Committed SUICIDE

Terrible Panic Ensucd When Vessel
Struck Reef and Began to Co Down.
Survivors Arc In a Terrible condi-
ton.
Cartaecna, Spain August ca ter
,ible marine disaster occurred on
Fame Palos The italian steamship
eiro from Genoa for barcelona. CALI.
Montcvidco and Bucnos Ayrcs, with
nbout 500 persons on board. was
wrecked OF IIormigas Island.
Three hundred cmigranis. most ol
them Italians and Spaniards. were
drowned
The captain of the steamer com
mittcd suicide.
The bishop of Sac Pedro, Brazil
also WAS 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 attempts at rescue were drown
cd. Those rescued from the vessel are
now at Cape palos IN a pitiahlc con
difion. being without food or cloth
ing
Tho Siro struck rocky reef known
os Haios Unrmigas ana sank soon af
fer. stern first llormigas Island lies
about two and a half miles 10 the
castwarl of Cape Palos.
Before he committed suicide the
rantam declared the steamer had Go
pass,ngers ON board and that her
crow numbered ~ men. The Sirio
had $40 passengers when leaving
Genoa. but additional Spanish passen-
gers were taken ON board at BARGE
Iona. where the vessel touched L."
hours before the disaster
The steamer was threading a din
cult passage through the llormieas
group whore the liaios iIormieas reel
/. n continual menace to navigation
The vessel began to settle rapidly inn
mcdiafclv she had struck and terri
bic scene of confusion and panic en-
susd ON board The fishermen along
tho coast sought to render every as
sisianco in their power and sent ont
hoats which brought many survivors
ashore. Most of the officers and crew
off the Sirio are among the saved.
From the broken narratives of the
rorror-stri,ken survivors IL would APP
pear that it was the intention OF the
.apfain of the Slrio. after leaving Bar
eolona. 20 cal m Cadiz before proceed
inc to Brazil The captain. In order
fo shorten the route and gain time
1nrposcd 10 pass rs close as possible
fo the dangerous rocky lodges sur
rounding the Hormiees Islands. With
ont any warming and while running at
fun speed the sirio crashed upon the
rocks with terrific force \ few min
utcs later The stern of the vessel sank
benonth the waves. The passengers
wore I'm a state 0i horror and panic
Crowds rushed forward pushing each
other and fighting for places in the
bow OF the boat Many fell and We're
tramplcd 10 death. Dozens Of mon and
women throw themselves into the sea.
\ young mother who was carrying her
baby was advised TO abandon the child
and try 10 save herself alone. This she
refused 10 do. declaring she preferred
that thcy die together. Both even
tually were picked mp alive from Oh"
water
The Italian cmicrants. with knives
I'm their hands and without regard for
the women or children. fought with the
greatest brutality for the possession Of
life buoys and boats. Many were killed
or wounded. including several mem
bcrs OF the crew. who were attacked
by emigrants.
When the captain saw the vessel was
lost and that the cmigrants had cap
mred the boat. he committed suicide
hy shooting with a revolver The other
officers lost their heads and there was
nobody to direct the work Of rescue.
Eye witnesses give awful pictures IF
the brutal panic on board. For half
an hour the emigrants were masters
Of the situation One report even
states. the correspondent continues.
that 4 group Of emigrants approached
one ~ the ships boats which already
vas full and which was about to be
launched. and dislohged the people
killing several with their knives. Just
as they were about to occupy the boat
Themselves. another body OF armed en-