Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-26
MORE THAN 100
LOSE LIVES IN
SEA DISASTER
TRAGEDY OCCURS IN SIGHT OF
CITY
BRITISH STEAMER BURNS NEAR
HARBOR
Frantic Passengers Seek Safety in
Jumping Overheard in the Vain
Hope of Being Picked
Up by Boats
tBy Associated Press

L ALLETTA (Sland of Malta), Nov
Y Pa terrible disaster, in which
more than 100 persons lost their
lives, occurred at the entrance to this
port this morning within sight of the
whole city, which was powerless to give
aid. The British steamer Sardinia of
the Ellerman line, hailing from Liver
pool and bound for Alexandria with
a crew of forty-four Englishmen, eleven
first and six second cabin English pas
sengers, and nearly 200 Arab pilgrims
aboard, caught fire and within few
minutes was a roaring furnace, sur
rounded by clouds of smoke, through
which flames burst upward to height
of 200 feet from each side of the hold
So rapidly did the fire spread that the
efforts of the crew to operate the fire
apparatus proved useless, and it seemed
but a moment before the upper works
must crush down upon the deck, while
the ships boats were crushed by the
falling debris.
Jump Overheard
Safety lay only in jumping over
board and taking the chance of being
picked up. Assistance was hurried to
the burning vessel from all the war
ships in the harbor and from the shore.
but the work of rescue was greatly inn
peded by the strong tide that was run
ming. 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 controlled. Many of them,
too terrified to jump, were burned to
death. Others, throwing themselves IN
to the waves, were drowned.
The crew behaved with admirable
courage, serving out life preservers to
the last and working the pumps. When
these became useless, Capt. Charles
Littler, commander of the ship, took
the helm and directed his ship toward
tho shore as long as it could be navi-
gated. He perished at his post.
Ships Crew Missing
Fl t officer Frank Watson, all
three graves, Hislop and
NeiI-eighteen of the ships company,
and two first class passengers. one of
them a boy named Grant, are missing.
Fifty or more bodies have been recov-
cred and seventy persons rescued. 1t
is impossible at present to say just
how many were drowned or burned to
death, because the list of Arab pilgrims
is Incomplete; but the number Will
doubtless far exceed 100.
After the vessel refused to obey her
helm she drifted around three times,
and finally was beached broadside on
tie docks at the mouth of the harbor.
She is still burning and will be total
loss.
The British vice admiral, Sir Ashton
C. Howe, and Admiral Fisher directed
the rescuing boats. Captain Littler's S
body. terri-lv mutilated, was landed in
the presence OF large crowds this after
noon which stood uncovered. The other
bodies also were mutilated and burned.
One of the rescued passengers gave a
graphic account of the disaster.
1.-THE Sardinia" he said, left Valetta
at 9:45 o'clock this morning. We were
just outsiC, the harbor. and the crew
were securing the anchor, when the
cry, of fire was heard.
"Flames could be seen issuing from
the port side. A hose was promptly
brought up and a stream poured down
the ventilator from which the flames
were issuing, but this did no good. In
less than ten minutes the flames were
streaming out of the other Ventilators.
The whole vessel amidships was
wrapped in flames. The Arab paSSen-
gers were told to leave the hatch to
which they clung desperately, but they
refused to move. All who remained
forward perished except those who
leaped into the water.
Tells of Disaster
"In the meantime naval pinnacles
hurried to the scene. They could not
approach close ON account of the high
seas and falling spars. The European
passengers, being aft. were in COM
parative safety and the great majority
of these eventually succeeded in reach
ing shore. The Arabs, among whom
We're many women and children, clung
together shrieking, and but few of them
would jump overheard, although urged
to do so by the men manning the boats
awaiting to pick them up.
'The ships boats were rendered use
less by the flames and no attempt was
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