Mexico Missouri message., 1906-08-09
Bishop Of Sac Pedro, Brazil, Among
the Lost, and Another Bishop
Reported Among the
Missing.
CAPTAIN KILLED HIMSELF
STRUCK ON THE ROCKS or HER.
MIeos ISLAND.
The Vessel Began to Settle Rapidly,
and Terrible Scene Of cOnfu-
sion and Panic Ensued.

Cartagena, Spain. - A terri
BILE marine disaster occurred Saturday
evening of Cape Palos. The Italian
Steamship Sirio, from Genoa for Bar
celona, Cadiz, Montevideo and Buenos
Ayres, with about 800 persons on
board, was wrecked of Hermigas ISL
and.
Three hundred and eighty-hve, most
of them Italians and Spaniards, were
drowned.
The captain of the steamer COM
mitted 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.
A number of fishermen who made
attempts at rescue were drowned.
Those rescued from the vessel are
now at Cape Palos in a pitiable condi-
ton, being without food or clothing.
Struck a Rocky Reef.
The Sirio struck rocky reef known
as Bajos Hormigas, and sank soon
after, stern first. Hormigas island lies
about 21s miles to the eastward of
Cape Palos.
The Sirio was owned by the Navi-
gazon Italiana of Genoa.
Before he committed suicide the
| captain declared the steamer had GAS
| passengers on board, and that her
crew numbered 127 men. The Sirio
had $40 passengers when leaving Ge-
noa, but additional Spanish passengers
were taken on board at Barcelona,
where the vessel touched a few hours
before the disaster.
The disaster occurred at five o'clock
Saturday afternoon. The steamer was
threading a difficult passage through
the Hormigas group, where the Bajos
! Hormigas reef is a continual menace
to navigation. The vessel began to
settle rapidly Immediately after she
had struck, and a terrible scene OF
confusion and panic ensued 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 Sire
are among the saved.
Narrowing Scenes Enacted.
The survivors have gone into camI
on the main square of the town al
Cape Palos. Here narrowing scenes
are enacted. as the stricken families
anxiously seek beloved member
among the rescued. A mother whS
lost her three children went insane.
The doctor of the Sirio gave up hiI
wife and child as lost, but they werl
finally brought In by one of the res
cuing boats, and the scene as thi
family was reunited was most affect
ing.
One Of the boats sent out by tn
fishermen brought In "a passengers.
The condition of the survivors
most deplorable. They have los
everything, and are without money
food or clothing. The maratime al
thorities Of Cartagena have dispatche
tug to the scene, carrying relief SUI
plies. The buildings of a circus an
the poorhouse are being used as ten
porary quarters for the survivors.
; The latest reports from the cape sa
that three boats have Just brought /
} number OF rescued.
An additional sadness is added I
the catastrophe owing to the fact thi
. a number OF fishermen who were col
{ Quoting resening operations wer
( drowned in consequence of the owe
t turning OF boat.
? The captain of the sirio, Just b
! fore he killed himself. attributed Ii
! wreck to his own imprudence.
? It Is said that a large number Of II
first and second cabin passengers wei
drowned.