The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

Last evening an accident, attended with an appalling sa-
crifice of human life, occurred at Blackfriars-bridge, by the
giving way of the temporary pier used for the accommoda-
tion of steam-boat passengers. The following particulars
relative to the melancholy accident, collected from authentic
sources, may be relied upon for their accuracy, although,
owing to the excitement that prevailed, the greatest diffi-
culty was experienced in obtaining them :
The time the occurrence took place was as near eight as
possible, at which hour the " dumb lighter," and the steps
covering the barges leading to it, were crowded by people
assembled there for the purpose, principally, of viewing the
Bankside regatta. The great majority of these, however,
were children and young girls. Upon the " dumb lighter"
about 50 persons, nearly all females, had taken their station
for the purpose of going aboard the iron steam-boats, as the
men on duty at the pier suppose, but which some of those
rescued state was to have a better view of the boat-race. •At
the time stated above the last heat was being rowed, the
river was covered with boats, and the lower side of
the bridge lined with people—all at once those who were
gazing at the men racing had their attention drawn
to the City side of the bridge by hearing a loud crash,
as of timbers breaking, followed by shrieks of a most
heart-rending nature. All eyes were turned to the spot,
and a most appalling spectacle was presented to the
people. The steps uniting the steps of the bridge with the
dumb lighter, were found to have given way, and nearly the
whole of those who a moment before were all joy and glad-
ness, were seen struggling in the water. The shock was so
violent, that many on the dumb lighter forming the pier
were shook off, and being high water, and principally fe-
males, they clung to each others dresses and shrieked for
aid. To describe the consternation and terror which pre-
vailed is impossible, and for a minute those who could render
assistance were so panic-struck that they were not able to do
so. The first intimation of assistance was the boats which
had followed those racing, crossing the river to the scene,
and several were rescued by them. The drags were imme-
diately put in use, and several persons were recovered by
those means, and were removed to the Glaziers' Arms, in
Water-lane, where Mr. Hutchinson, of Farringdon-street,
the surgeon to the police force, was in attendance, and by
great exertion succeeded in restoring many apparently
dead, who were subsequently removed in cabs to their own
residences.

When the excitement consequent on the first shock of the
accident had a little subsided, the watermen and others com-
menced dragging, and in a few minutes the bodies of two
young girls were brought up, one apparently about sixteen,
and the other some years her junior. They were removed
to the Glaziers' Arms, and here a most painful scene took
place—they were recognised by their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Breadcot, residing in Newgate-market, who had been saved
from a similar fate, as two out of three children who were
with them when the accident happened. Mr. Hutchinson
tried to restore them to life, but from the time they had been
under water, his services were of no avail. In an hour after
the body of a remarkably fine little boy, about four or five
years of age, was found near some coal barges lying off
Messrs. Eddington's wharf. It was carried to the same house,
and was immediately identified as the third child of Mr.
Breadcot, who, with his wife, appeared inconsolable for their
loss.

At this time, nine o'clock, the excitement prevailing in the
neighbourhood of the bridge almost baffles description. The
bridge itself was rendered impassable, whilst in Chatham-
place thousands had assembled, hundreds anxiously pushing
forward with inquiring gaze, to ascertain if any of their
friends were missing; whilst women whose children had been
allowed out to see the rowing-match, and had not returned,
were rushing to and fro in the most frantic manner, calling
loudly for their offspring. Cabs kept continually driving up
to the bridge, rumour having made the accident much more
melancholy than it really was, with persons anxious for the
safety of theirlr,elatives, who were to land at that pier from
the steam-boats.- Around the Glaziers' Arms, whither' the
bodies were taken, an immense crowd assembled; and it re-
quired the assistance of two police-constables to prevent the
mob from rushing into the house en masse. At twelve
o'clock last night the excitement had not in the least abated.
AbOut half-past nine o'clock, a fourth body, that of a
young woman, was recovered, and was removed to the
Glaziers Arms, when she was identified as residing, up to
the time of the accident, in Jerusalem-court, St. John-street-
road, and her name was stated to be Eliza Edwards. The
number of persons who were precipitated into the river was
about forty, of these only twelve were takeirout by means of
the drags, eight were restored, and four were dead when
brought ashore. How many were rescued by the boats it
is impossible to state ; but it is the opinion of the men em-
ployed in dragging that a great number of bodies are still
in the river, having floated under the coal barges lying near
t
twelve o'clock last night, the drags were still
b
used, and Commissioner Harvey gave orders that a
fresh iUsnlpfpietr o'and beyond the reach of the drags.
body of police should be sent to the bridge, to render
assistance. The most active measures have been resorted to
to find other bodies.

Yv
The cause of the accident, and whether any one is to blame,
will be fully inquired into, not only by the Coroner, but by
the Lord Mayor, information having been sent to his Lord-
ship of the occurrence.
TSVELVE O'CLocK.—The number of people on the bridge
has in no way decreased, nor the excitement in the neigh-
bourhood. The police still continue their exertions in
trying to find more bodies, and the scene altogether presents
one of an awful but singular character. The red glare of
the torches, added to the splashing of the drags as they
were thrown into the water, together with the stillness, ex-
cept now and then, which reigns, has a strange effect.
About eleven o'clock the four bodies were removed from
the Glaziers' Arms to the dead-house of St. Ann's, Black-
friars, in Ireland-yard, followed by an immense multitude,
who appeared to feel deeply the cause which had hurried so
many to an early grave. Mr. Breadcot carried on the busi
ness of a cheesemonger, in Newgate-market, and with his
wife and children, was waiting for a steam-boat when the ac-
cident happened. The other female had landed but a few
minutes from a steamer.
At midnight the tide was so low that the police were able
to make a search among the coal barges for others, but up
to that hour their. search was fruitless. The opinion, how-
ever, is; that there are many persons still missing, and that
the coal barges are still resting upon them.
The pier extends nearly 100 feet into the river, being formed
of old craft, covered with deal planks, a kind of gangway
uniting one barge with the other. Upon this gangway a
nuinberpoifp, erson despite the efforts of the men employed
at the er,collected, and it is supposed the wood being
rotten,
and not of sufficient strength to bear such a weight,
gave way, and caused the loss of life above detailed.

NUMEROUS FATAL ACCIDENTS
ON THE RIVER.
SEVEN LIVES LOST.

happenedNmyhTchhwfeillbe found in the sub-
joinedft:le of the facts. The one of the
On Sunday night last no fewer. thanfour accidents,
on the River
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ust slhaeor fsl
vohli
most painful and distressing character occurred between the
hours of ten and eleven o clock abreast of the Archbishop of
Canterbury's Palace, to a party of five, who were returning
from a trip up to Richmond. From the statements of the
survivors, two youths named Henry Tuckton and Alfred
M'Evoy, it appears that on their return they stopped at the
Red House, Battersea, where they partook of some slight re-
freshments, and continued their course towards Hungerford-
market, where they had engaged the cutter, Mr. Thwaites, a
brother-in-law of gr. Lye, a master tailor, of Great Pulteney-
street, taking charge of the rudder, and the remainder, viz.,
his son John, another young man whose name is at present
• dle of the stream, they observed a
steamer in their wake, and being close upon them, they pulled
Church,unknonk,e and the thtehseur mylidvors, pulling. On nearing Lambeth
towards the Middlesex shore; in order to get out of her way.
Very few minutes had elapsed before the whole of the party were
suddenly precipitated into the water, by the cutter running into
a barge moored in the roadstead, with such force as to almost
be heard from both shores for,
shiver it in two, clearly showing that the unfortunate peisons
had their attention directed to the. approach of the steamer
more than to where they were going. For some time their
piteous cries of " Help," could
a considerable distance, but inconsequence of the lateness of
the evening, a lengthened period elapsed ere boats were put
off to their assistance: M'Evoy managed, as the boat went
from under him, to grasp at an iron ring that hung. over the
barge ; and Tuckton was afterwards picked up, floating on
the 'bottom of the cutter, by a waterman, and taken 'whore