A TERRIBLE COLLISION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 585, 21 March 1891, Page 3

A TERRIBLE COLLISION.

AN ATLANTIC LINER RUNS INTO TWO BRIIISH IBONCLADS. APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE. London, March 19. There was a terrible sensation in London on receipt of the alarming news that the well-known Atlantic liner Utopia had run into the British ironclads Anson (to guns, 10,600 tons) and Rodney (10 guns, 10.300 tons). From the particulars to hand it appears that the Utopia (of the Anchor line, 4715 tons) was bound from Genoa to New York, and it was at Gibraltar, late at night, the terrible affair occurred. The ironclads were then lying at anchor, and a terrific collision took place, the Utopia sinking within ten minntes. She had nearly 900 passengers on board, chitfly poor Italian immigrants bound for America. Six hundred of those on board lost their lives. The sailors on the men-of-war were at their posts with great expedition and coolness, and thus a great many lives were saved. The electric light was made of good use in saving lives.

A large steam launch belonging to the Immortalite was sunk through the collision, and many Englishmen were drowned.

The Utopia was swept by the strong current against the bows of the Anson. The night was very dark and a fierce gale was raging at the time, and the piercing shrieks of the injured and drowning, heard above the tempest, had a terrible effect. There was great confusion on board the sinking vessel, as the hundreds of human beings were fighting for any chance there seemed to be for dear life. The ordinary life-saving appliances served only the few, the life-boats launched were rushed, and sank beneath the teeming crowd. The British sailors acted with great credit to themselves and to their country, and the bravery shown in rescuing some of those who were perishing, was the one grand feature of the awful disaster.

It is not yet known what is the extent of the damage to the ironclads, but it is not thought to be great. The boats of the Anchor line are all splendid vessels, thoroughly equipped, and are engaged in regular trade with the States. The Utopia was one of the largest and best appointed of the Company’s fleet.