The Detroit times., 1908-11-26

VALE n, lSlanu OF MALTA, NOV. 20.
An estimate made today. based upon
an investigation OF the crew and pas
senger lists OF the British steamer
Sardinia, of the Ellerman line, which
caught fire in the Mediterranean. near
here, yesterday, places the number o.
dead at over 100 The steamer was
bound from Liverpool TO Alexandria.
Ii had crew of "A Englishmen, IL
frst-class English passengers and
nearly 200 Arab pilgrims.
Over fifty bodies of the victims have
been recovered. or the total number
on the ship seventy persons were res
cued. The exact number OF those who
lost their lives cannot be given at this
writing.
During the pandemonium that
reipned after the flames burst forth
the crew of the doomed ship acted
with much gallantry Life preseryers
were given the terrorstricken passen-
gers and the pumps were set at work
TO their full capacity. The list OF miss
ing includes First officer Frank Wa.
son. three engineers-Seagraves His
lop and Neil. eighteen OF the ships
company and two frst-class passen-
gers.
Assistance Arrives.
Safety lay only in the sea for no
one could save himself except by
jumping overheard and taking chances
Of being picked up. Assistance was
hurried 10 the burning vessel from all
the warships in the harbor and from
the shore, but the work of rescue was
greatly impeded by the strong tide
that was running. Even the naval
launches, which came as fast as they
could be driven. were unable To go
alongside. Among the Arabs there
was panic that could not be con-
trolled. Many of them were too ter
rified to jump and they were burned
TO death. Others, casting themselves
into the waves, were drowned.
After the vessel refused to obey
her helm, she drifted around three
times and finally was beached broad
side on the rocks at the mouth OF the
harbor. She is total loss.
The British vice-admiral, Sir Asshe-
ton Curzon-Howe. and Admiral Fisher
directed the rescuing boats. which did
gallant work in saving those who We're
yet alive and bringing the bodies OF
the dead ashore. Capt. I.ittler's body.
which was terribly mutiated. was
landed in the presence OF great
crowds, who stood uncovered. The
other bodies were also mutilated and
burned. Fifty-six of the injured are
being cared for In hospitals. One
of the rescued passengers gave a
graphic account of the disaster
Wrapped in Flames.
"The Sardinia" he said. left Valet
IN at 9:45 In the morning. We were
Just outside the harbor and the crew
were securing the anchor when the
cry OF Fire was heard. Flames could
be seen issuing from a ventilator on
the port side. hose was promptly
brought up and stream poured down
the ventilator, but this did no good
I'm less than ten minutes flames were
streaming out OF the other vertilators.
The whole vessel amidships was wrap
ped In flames. The Arab passengers
were told to leave the hatch to which
they chung desperately, but they re-
fused TO move. All who remained for
ward persisted, except some of those
who leaped into the water.
'In the meantime, naval pinnancej
hurried to the scene. They could not
approach closely on account of the
high seas and falling spars. The Eu-
ropean passengers, being aft. were III
comparative safety, and the great
majority OF these eventually succeed
ed In reaching shore.
The Arabs. among whom were
many women and children, We're a
terrible spectacle. They chung to-
gether, shrieking and but few OF them
would jump overheard. although
urged TO do so by the boats waiting
10 pick them up.
"The ships boats were rendered
useless by the flames, and no at
tempt was made To get them over
the sides. Soon the matches were
blown off with loud explosions throw
ing the Arabs into the air and killing
and injuring many Of chem. Amazing
~ good order prevailed among the
crew. considering the lightning rap
idity of the terrible AFFAIR. After 4
few minutes had been spent In trying
to put ont the fire. nothing remained
but to lump overheard"
Many OF the Arab women behaved
with greater caImness than the men
who we're utterly panic-stricken.
The cause OF the fire Is not known.
hut denial has been made that there
were explosives aboard. Unquestion-
ably; however. explosions occurred.
and Il, was first believed that the
rapid Spread Of the flames was due
largely 10 the flowing naphtha.