Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1906-08-06
CaTeIesSnesS Said to be Cause
of the Great Disaster OFF
Spanish Coast.
STEAMSHIP ON A ROCK.
Italian Vessel Bound for South
America Goes DOWn--PaniC On
Board Killed Many.
BISHOP OF SAS PABLO LOST.
Captain of the Vessel Shot Himself
When He Realized the Extent
of CastrOphe.

CARTAGENA, Spain, Aug. GA
terrible marine disaster has occur
red off Cape Palos. The Italian steam
ship Sirio, from Genoa for Barcelona,
Cadiz, Montevdeo and Buenos Ayres,
with 800 persons ON board, was wreck
ed off Hormigas island. Three hun
dred emigrants. most of them Ital-
ians and Spaniards. We're drowned
The captain. i'm 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 We're 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
she refused to do. declaring she pre-
ferred' that they die together. Both
were eventually picked up alive from
the water
In the midst of this panic the captain
and officers of the Sirio endeavored
coolly. but in vain, to restrain the peo-
pie from panic.
Among the lost are a dozen young
women, members of distinguished
families in Brazil, who were return
ing to their homes after finishing their
education. Others drowned were
wealthy planters from Brazil and the
Argentina and several merchants from
the West Indies. One of the most
tragic features is that out of fifteen
Spanish girls, all in Il fashionable
school in Barcelona and going on a
vacation to their homes in Cadiz only
one was saved Fourteen fishermen
were drowned in the work of rescuipg
women and children.
All the cabin passengers, numbering
125, We're on the promenade deck
when the crash came Most of them
were women, but they all assembled
quietly on the command of the cap
tain. The ship was thrown into con-
| fusion by the steerage passengers AT
first they were inclined to obey the
! orders of the officers. but when they
saw the stern sinking below the waves
they were lost to all reason. Gather
ing in body, the Italians charged the
crew with their knives and In few
minutes had gained possession of tie
ship.
Forty women and children had been
placed in lifeboat ready for launch
ing. The emigrants caught them ana.
| dragging them out, threw them ON the
deck. Those of the crew OF the ire
boat who resisted were stabbed TO
the heart. The sinking of the ship at
the stern threw all forward, ana In
| the cfowding in the narrow quarters
the Italians did awful execution with
their knives A woman brought TO
shore in fisherman's boat was al
most disemboweled. Many We're
| 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 off the
rocks and foundered in deep water.
The captain purposely sank with bis
ship.
The bishop of Sac Pablo went down
with the vessel while blessing the
drowning passengers. The archbishop
/ of Sac Pedro, who was at first sup
posed to have been drowned, has since
been reported safe.
su'he Austrian consul at Rio de Ja-
Metro was saved, but lost a large
anl0tlnt of money when the vessel
went down.
Before he committed suicide the cap