The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-08-06
800 ARE
DROWNED
Italian Steamship Wrecked
on Spanish Coast.
PASSENGERS IN PANIC
Commander Of SiriO, Trying 10
Save Time, Runs on Baios
hormisas Reef.
PASSENGERS IN PANIC

F CARrAGENA. spain. Aug "a
terrible marine disaster has occur
red on Cape rulos The Italian steam
ship SrIo. from Genoa for Barcelona,
tudlz Montcyideo aud liuenOs Ayres,
with Gl5 persons on board was wreck
cd on llormigas Island Three hum
drrd cmgauts. most OF them Ital-
iau- uud Spauurds were drowned.
The SlrIo WAS wrecked OF Hormlgas
island. which lies about two and
half miles TO the eastward OF Cape
rulos.
The captain. in order 90 shorten the
route and gain time, purposed to pass
as close as possible 10 the dangerous
rocky lcdgrs surrounding the llormigas
islunds 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 thee vessel sank beneath the waves.
Tile passengers were in state Of
horror and terrified panic Crowds
rushed forward pushing each other and
lighting for places ia the bow of the
boat Many fell and were trampled
10 death Dozens of men and women
threw themselves into the sea A
Young mother who was carrying her
baby WAS advised 10 abandon the child
aud try to save herself alone This
Size refused Ia do. declaring she pre-.
fcfrcl thar they die together Both
wore eventually picked up alive from
the water
In The midst OF this panic the captain
and officers of the SirIo endeavored
coolly hut iu vain 20 restrain the PEG.
Pile from rHnic.
The ship broke in half glided on the
rocks and foundcred IN deep water.
The captain purposely sank with his
ship.
The archbishop OF sac Pedro went
down with the vessel while blessing
the drowning passengers. Another
bishop who wins nj first supposed to
have been drowned has since been re
ported safe lie is at Cartagena.
A steamer engaged in rescue work
has reached port She has on board
the bodies of several Infants Anoth
er boat picked mp child who was on
the point Of drowning.
The Austrian consul at Rio de ia
metro was saved. but lost large
amount of money when the vessel
went down.
Tho captain of the steamer, over
come by the disaster, committed sui
eide.
The archbishop of Sac Pedro Brazil.
is among the lost
The remainder Of the passengers
and the officers and crew OF the Sirio
got away in the ships boats or were
rescued by mems of ropes thrown to
them from the shore.
A number OF fishermen who made at
tcmpts at rescue were drowned.
Those rescued from the vessel are
now at Cape Palos in pitiable condi-
ton. being without food or clothing
The SirlO struck rocky reef known
as Baios Hormlgas and sank soon
after, stern first.
The Sirlo was owned by the Nayiga
liouc ltaliana Of Genoa.
Before he committed suicide the cap
tain declared the steamer had 645 pas
scugers Oh board and that her crew
numbered 127 men. The Slrlo had
so passengers when leaving Genoa
but additional Spanish passengers
were taken on board at Barcelona,
whore the vessel touched few hours
before the disaster.
The steamer was threading diff
cult passage through the Hormigas
group. where the Bajos lIormigas reef
is continual menace to navigation,
when she struck The vessel began to
settle rapidly Immediately, and ter
rlble scene of confusion and panic
ensued ON board. The fishermen along
the coast sought to render every AS
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 survivors have gone into camp
on the main square of the town at
are enacted as the stricken families
anXiOusly seek beloved members
among the rescued. a 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 rescu-
/ ing boats, and the scene as this fami-
/ ly was reunited was most affecting.
one of the boats sent out by the fish
ermen brought in twenty-four passen-
gers.
The condition of the survivors Is
most deplorable. They have lost ev-
erythmg and are without money, food
or clothing. The maritime authorities
of Cartagena have dispatched tug
TO the scene carrying relief supplies.
The buildings of circus and the
poorhouse are being used as temporary
/ quarters for the survivors,
The latest reports from the cape say
that three boats have just brought in
number OF rescued.
The captain of the Srlo before he
killed himself attributed the wreck to
his own imprudence The Sirlo left
4 at.r .