New-York tribune., 1906-08-06
THREE HUNDRED LOST.
ITALI4N STEAMER SUNK.
The Sirio E2recEfed Near Cape PaIos
Captain Commits Suicide.

Cartagena. Aug. 5.-Three hundred emigrants
were drowned last evening off Cape Palos. The
italian steamship sirio. from Genoa for Cadiz.
Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. with about eight
hundred persons ON board. was wrecked OFF Hor-
misas Island. Most Of those lost were italians and
spaniards. The captain of the steamer conn
mitted suicide. He attributed the wreck TO his
own imprudence. The Bishop Of Sac Pablo
Brazil. drowned while blessing the passen-
gers Of the sirio. The Archbishop Of sac Pedro
was saved.
The remainder of the passengers and the Of
hcers and crew got away In the ships boats. or
were rescued by means OF boats from shore. A
ter of t7sfermen Nho made attempts az res
cue were drowned by the overturning Of a boat.
Those rescued from the vessel are now at Cape
Palos in pitable condition being without food
or clothing
The siriO. which was owned by the Naviga-
zione Italia. of Genoa. struck a rocky reef
known as Bajos Hornigas and sank soon after,
stern first. Hormigas Island lies about two and
a half miles to the eastward OF Cape Palos.
Before he committed suicide the captain said
the steamer had 645 passengers on board and
that her crew numbered 127 men. The Sirio had
$50 passengers when she left Genoa. but addi>
tional Spanish passengers we're taken on board
at Barcelona. where the vessel touched a few
hours before she struck.
The disaster occurred at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The steamer was threading a diff
cult passage through the Hormigas group. where
the Bajos Hormlgas Reef is a continual menace
TO navigation. The vessel began to settle rap
idly as soon as she struck. and a terrible scene
of confusion and panic followed. The fishermen
along the coast sought to render every assist
ance 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 survivors camping in the main square
of the town at Cape Palos Here there are har-
rowing scenes as the stricken families anxiousIy
seek 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. One of the boats sent out
by the fishermen brought in twenty-fo pas
sengers
The condition of the survivors is depIorabIe.
They have lost everything and are without
money. food or clothing. The maritime authori-
ties of Cartagena have sent tug to the scene
carrying relief supplies. The buildings OF |
circus and the poorhOuse are being used as
temporary quarters.
The latest reports from the cape say that three 7
boats have just brought in number OF rescued
From the broken narratives OF the survivors
il would appear that it was the inteltion OF
the captain Of the siro. after leaving barcelona.
to call at Cadiz before proceeding to Brazil The
captain. in order 10 shorten the route decided 70
pass as close as possible to the rocky lelees
surrounding the Hormigas Islands. While rua-
ming at full speed the sirio crashed upon the
rocks. few minutes later the vessel BEGAN 10
sink by the stern. The passengers rushed for
wara, fighting for places IN the bow OF the boa,
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 This she refused to do. Both
were afterward rescued.
The captain and officers Of the sirio endeav-
ored in vain to restore a semblance of order and
Continued on second pase.