The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-07
PILOT TELLSOF
CORUNNA WRECK
Panic-Stricken Crew and Passen>
gers Tore at Each 9th
er to Reach Boats. -.
EVEN OFFICERS DESERTED
Captain Alone Stood Firm After
Falling Mast Had Killed =.
Many. :.
fRy AssoeIated Press.l

CORUNNA, Spain, Jan. 6-The first
comprehensive narrative OF the wreck OF
the Spanish steamer Santa Isabel in
which more than 200 persons perished,
was given today to the Associated Press
by Pedro Fal. pilot. living at Buenos
Aires. who was passenger aboard the
vessel with his wife and the latter's
brother. Luis Malde. They were return
ing TO Argentina.
1--WE were asleep when the accident
happened" said Fal THE shock awoke
the passengers who immediately threw
clothing around themselves and rushed
10 the decks. We found people dashing
hither and thither and the waves sweep
ing over the decks.
THE captain tried TO calm the pas
sengers. but without success. Boats were
torn from their davits. and soon the
electric lights failed, owing 20 the flood
ing OF the raeGhine room. when the
engineer opened the valves to avoid an
explosion. The wf~eiess operator thus
was unable 10 reply u inquiries relative
10 the position II il>~ steamer.
'The obscur'tv fog increased the
panic. The can't y ordered the launch
ing OF 0oats te Island OF Salvora was
only 300 ards away. At that moment
the main mast broke, killing many.
white others threw themselves into the
sea.
boats The crew made rush for them
and succeeded I'm getting one away In
which only the first officer, the doctor.
the chaplain, the super-cargo and one or
the crew embarked The moment IL
touched the water IL was smashed on
the rocks, and all In IL we're drowned.
~ few minutes later the passengers
launched two boats. the members of
the crew having scattered and giving no
heed 10 the captains orders. These boats
were overturned Then the remaining
boat got away after a terrible struggle
for a place In II. 1t carried 40 OF the
passengers. but soon capsized. A num-
Der OF the occupants, however, succeed
cd in reaching Salvora.
II. with my wife and Malde. re-
NAMED with the captain and 80 others
on the forward deck. which was still out
or water The cold was intense and the
cries OF the drowning were heard all
around We remained thus until six
o'clock Sunday morning, when we saw
the steamer Cabo Triana passing nearby.
we made signals by burning paper with
gasoline lighters, but apparently we were
not seen.
some moments later an enormous
wave washed everybody overheard, sep
arating me from my wife. whom, how
ever foundIi In the water. am pow
erful swimmer and secured a floating
arms We remained in the water for
several hburs. Jwhen fishing boat con-
tanning three rowers picked us up. A
few hours later boats began arriving
from Riberca. and we were taken aboard,
bruised from head 10 foot.
II lost all the money / had with me
and also 1850 pesetas and $500 gold
pesos which | had left with the super
cargo. The captain OF the vessel was
An extremely sl<illful seaman. He took
every precaution when the fog started
and streamed dead slow. II was the
mountainous seas that drove the vessel
towards the cliffs
Among the rescued was a Chilean
priest. Antonio Garcia Deese. The cap
tain OF the Cabo Triana has been placed
under arrest for not going TO the as
sstance OF the Santa Isabel He admits
that he saw the signals but instead OF
reporting this on his arrival in port, he.
went TO bed and said nothing about the
matter until the next morning.