New-York tribune., 1908-11-26
OVER A HUNDRED DEAD
ALL TALETT4 SEES LOSS
OF THE SARDINIA.
English officers Die at Posts-Panic
Among Arob Passengers
Bravery of the Cre1C.

Valetta. Island of Malta, Nov. 25.--A disaster
in which more than hundred persons lost their
lives occurred at the entrance to this port this
morning, within sight of all the inhabitants OF
the city, who were powerless to give af6. The
British steamer Sardinia, OF the Ellerman Line
hailing from Liverpool and bound for Alexan-
dria. with a of forty-four Englishmen,
eleven first and six second cabin English pas
sengers and nearly two hundred Arab pilgrims
on board. caught fire. and within a few minutes
was roaring furnace surrounded by clouds or
black smoke, through which flames burst up
ward to a height of two hundred feet from
frequent explosions in the hold
So rapidly did the fire spread that the frantic
efforts of the crew to operate the fire apparatus
proved useless, for 1t seemed only moment be-
fore the upper works and masts crashed down
on the deck while the ships boats were either
crushed by the falling wreckage or set on fire
and quickly burned.
Safety lay only in the sea, for one could
save himself except by jumping overheard and
taking chances of being picked up. Assistance
hurried to 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 Even the naval launches, which
came as fast as they could be driven, were un-
oDAo 10 30 diouSSlue- +ailOHB llio <hAo"S
panic which could not be controlled. Many
of them were too terrified to jump and were
burned to death. Others cast themselves into
the waves and were drowned
The crew behaved with admirable courage,
serving out life preservers to the last and work
ing the pumps. When the pumps became use
less. Captain Charles Littler, commander of the
Sardinia, took the helm and directed his ship
toward the shore long she could be navi-
gated. He perished at his post. Frank Watson,
first officer; all three engineers, SeagraVes. his
lop and Neeil; eighteen of the ships company
and two first class passengers, one Of them
boy named Grant, missing Fifty or more
bodies have been recovered and seventy persons
were rescued. 1t is impossible at present TO say
just how many were drowned or burned to
death because the list of Arab pilgrims is in
complete but the number will doubtless far ex-
ceed hundred.
After the vessel refused to obey her helm she
drlfted around three times, and finally was
beached broadside the rocks at the mouth OF
the harbor. She was still burning this after
noon and will be a total loss.
The British Vice-Admiral Sir Assheton Gore
Curzon- Howe, K. c. B., and Rear Admiral
Frederick William Fisher, directed the resculng
boats, which did gallant work in saving those
who were vet alive and bringing the bodies of
the dead GSnOTe. captain hiLlicA DONI' "A''~-A
was mutilated was landed this afternoon in the
presence of great crowds, who stood uncovered
The other bodies were also mutlated and
burned Fifty-six injured persons are being
cared for in the hospitals.
One of the rescued passengers gave the foI-
lowing account of the disaster;
The Sardinia left Valetta at 9:45 this morn
ing We were Just outside the harbor and the
crew were making fast the anchor when the cry
aT0pC q
from a ventilator on the port SIDE A nose
was promptly brought up and a stream poured
down khe ventilator, but this did no good In
less than ten minutes flames were streaming
out OF the other ventilators. The whole Vessel
amidships was wrapped in flames. The Arap
were told TO leave the hatch 10
v,hicb they clung desperately, but they refused
to move. All who remained forward perlshed'
except some of those who leaped into the water
In the mean time, naval pinnaces hufrled 10
tho scene They could not approach closely on
account Of the high seas and falling spars Inc
European passengers being aft. were IN com
narrative safety and the great majority OF theSe
eventually succeeded in reaching shore The
Arabs among whom were many women ana
children were terrible spectacle. They clung
together shrieking, and few of them would jump
overheard, although urged to do SC by the boats
waiting to pick them up.
The ship's boats were rendered useless by the
flames and no attempt was made to get them
over the sides. Soon the matches were blown
off with loud explosions. throwing the Arabs
into the air and killing and injuring many or
them Amazingly good order prevailed among
the crew considering the lightning rapidity OF
the terrible affair. After few minutes had been
spent in trying to put out the fire, nothing re-
mained except to jump overheard
Manv of the Arab women behaved with
greater calmness than the men, who were at
terly panicstricken. The cause OF the fire Is not
known but denial has been made that there
were explosives on board. Unquestionaly, how
ever explosions occurred and it was first be-
lieveGtnat the rapid spread of the flames was
due largely to the flowing naphtha-
The Sardinia left Liverpool on November II.
She stopped at Valetta landing a few passen-
gers and taking the pilgrims Captain Lit
tier. who was for many years In the service OF
the line lived at Birkenhead. He leaves wife
and child.
The Sardinia was formerly the Paolo V, and be-
fore that she was named the Cuff of CorcoVado.