Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-11
STEAMER WRECKED.
300 DROWNED
Italian Vessel Struck Reef or the
Coast Of Spain.
DUE TO CAPTAINS NEGLIGENCE

Cartagena. Spain. August "a ter
rible marine disaster occurred of
Cape Palos. The Italian steamship
Siro. from Genoa for Barcelona. Cadlz.
MonteVideo and Buenos Ayres. with
about 500 persons on board, was
wrecked OF Hormigas Island.
Three hundred enigrants. most OF
them Italians and Spaniards. we're
drowned
The bishop Of Sac Pedro. Brazil
also was lost and IL 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 OF were rescued BY
means Of boats sent 70 them from the
shore. A number OF fishermen who
made attempts at rescue were drown
cd. Those rescued from the vessel are
now az Cape PslOs IN a pitiable con-
dition. being without food or cloth
ing.
The Siro struck a rocky reef known
as BRjossHcrnigas. and sank soon az
ter. stern first Hormigas Island lies
about two and a half miles 20 the
eastward Of Cape Pslos.
Before he committed suicide the
captain declared the steamer had 645
passengers on board. and that her
crew numbered 127 men. The Sirio
had $50 passengers when leaving
Genoa. but additional Spanish passen-
gers were taken on board at BARGE
Iona. where the vessel touched a few
hours before the disaster.
The steamer was threading q din
cult passage through the Hormlgas
group. where the Bajos Hormigas reef
Il a continual menace 20 navigation.
The vessel began 20 settle rapidly i'm
mediately she had struck. and terri
BILE scene OF confusion and panic en-
sued on board. The fishermen along
the coast sought 70 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.
From the broken narratives Of the
terror-stricken survivors Il would APP
pear that IL was the intention OF the
captain OF the Sirio. after leaving Bar
telona. 70 call az Cadiz before proceed
Ing TO Brazil The captain. In order
20 shorten the route and gain time.
purposed % pass as close as possible
TO the dangerous rocky lodges sur
rounding the Hormiges Islands. with
out any warning and while running az
full speed. the sirio crashed upon the
rocks with terrific force a few min
utes later the stern OF the vessel sank
beneath the waves The passengers
were In a state OF horror and panic
Crowds rushed forward. pushing each
other and lighting for places in the
bow OF the boat. Many fell and were
trampled 10 death. Dozens Of men and
women threw themselves into The SEA.
4 young mother who was carrying her
baby was advised 10 abandon the child
and Try 20 save herself alone This she
refused 20 do. declaring she preferred
that they die together. Both even
tually we're picked up alive from the
water
The Italian emigrants. with knives
IN their hands and without regard FOR
the women or children. fought wiz the
greatest brutality for the possession OF
life buoys and boats. Many were killed
or wounded. including several mem
bers Of the crew, who were attacked
by emigrants.
Eye witnesses give awful pictures Of
the brutal panic on board. For half
an hour the emlgrants were masters
OF the situation One report even
states. the correspondent continues.
that group Of emigrants approached
one OF the ships boats which already
was full and which was about 70 De
launched, and dislodEed the people,
killing several with their knives Just
as they we're about 70 occupy the boat
themselves, another body of armed en-
igrants came up and fierce fight for
the possession OF the rfeboat followed.
An additional sadness Is added 20
the catastrophe owing 70 the fact that
a number of fishermen who were
conducting rescuing operations were
drowned in consequence OF the over.
turning Of a boat
The captain OF the Sirio Just before
he killed himself attributed the wreck
TO his own imprudence.