Off Ilheos

She was blowing a gale last week off Brazil's coast. Rain speared down in steel-grey phalanxes. Big, angry combers blew their tops. Battling pluckily through the maelstrom panted the little (248-ton, 36-meter) coastal steamer Itacare. She was out of Sao Salvador on her regular haul to Ilheos, Bahia. She carried 47 passengers, a crew of 19, was heavily cargoed. Skilfully had young, but seasoned Captain Carlos Oliveira skippered her to within hailing distance of Ilheos. Another 300 yards would find her in safe harbor.

On the wharf friends and kin of the Itacare's passengers braved the ugly weather to greet them. They watched the steamer strain closer, her prow dishing up small seas at every step. Suddenly a huge wave whammed her, sideslipped her into a deep sea-trough. Next instant she dived prow-first. Down she sank, spewing out 36 of her passengers & crew, drowning the rest. It was one of the worst sea disasters of recent years.

Next day most local maritime experts blamed the Itacare's, death on insecurely stowed cargo.

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