AN EMIGRANT SHIP SINKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8204, 7 August 1906, Page 5

AN EMIGRANT SHIP SINKS.

A TERRIBLE PANIO. EMIGRANTS FIGHT WITH REVOLVERS AND KNIVES. August 6, 10.8 p.m. LONDON- August 6. The Italian steamer Sir«o, from Genoa,'with eight hundred emigrants aboard for Buenos Ayres, struok the Harmigas Shoals, eighteen miles from Cartagena, and sank stern first within half an hour. There wbb a fearful panic. Many of the passengers jumped into the sea. ' The Italian emigrants completely lost Pelf-control, and fought with knives and revolvers for lifebelts and boats, add completely overcame the officers and crew who were trying to save the women and ohildien.

FISHING BOATS OVERLOADED. RESCUERS DROWNED. CAPTAIN SHOOTS HIMSELF. THREE HUNDRUNPEOPLE PERISH. Received LONDON, August 6. The cea was quite calm. Fishing boats put out to resoue tbe passengers. Several were overloaded with emigrants and sank, drowning the would-be rescuers. The captain «ihot himself. The officers then abandoned the shin. It is feared that fully three hundred were drowned, inoluding the Archbishop of San Pedro (Brazil), who was swept away while blessing the drowning people. Another bishop was saved. It is alleged that tbe wreck was due to the oaptain's imprudence in going too close to the shoals in order to save time. A steamer picked up a baby floating alive in the water. When some of the steamer's boats were safely launched numbers of drowning persons tried to cling to the gunwales,. but tbe oocupants beat them off with hatchets.