The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-20
The Regents Park Disaster,
TWENTY SKATERS DROWNED IN LONDON
The london Times Of January IL has
TERRIBLE SCENES.

The london Times Of January IL has
full particulars of tile accident in Regents
Pars,, by which twenty skaters were drown
led. The Times says: Isa,,e xf.tI
"On that part of the ornamental water
in the Regents Park, Immediately opposite
Sussex Terrace, which is the broadcast, sew
eral thousand persons had been skating,
during the forenoon without any accident
taking place, although the ice was looked
upon by the experienced icemen on duty as
very unsafe, from, its being principally snow
lce.s~About, halfpast three o'clock in the
afternoon there were near the same spot.
about five hundred. skaters, among whom
were many ladies, there being at the same
time on the bank from two thousand to.
three thousand spectators. Suddenly, and
without any warnins, the ice at the sides
Of the bank loosened, and was drawn from
the edge. Within o minute the whole
sleettof the. ice over the full width of the
lake gave way, and split into fragments Of
a few yards square. 4 l., FIX
"The CONSERVATION and alarm Of the
skaters and other persons on the ice NAV
be we'll imagined, and general rush was
made for the banks. Unfortunately this
broke up the soft ice into still smaller
pieces. Numbers Of persons fell through
the crivices into the water which is at
least twelve feet deep, and several appear
ed at once to be sucked under the ice. AT
least two hundred persons were struggling
in the water and screaming for help. A
few, with great presence of mind, threw
themselves fiat upon the surface of the
pieces Of ice, and thus were not only instru-
mentalin saving the lives Of many Of those
inthe water, but preserved their own until
assistance came to them. The screams Of
those struggling and sinking in the water,
and the shouts of the people on the banks,
added to the horror of the scene.
"The icemen, ofwhom the full number,
were on duty, did all that it was possible
to do under the circumstances, and three Of
them narrowly escaped from drowning, hay
ing, whensin the water, helping the people
out, been seized, by others drowning, and
pulled under the ice. Several Of the park
keepers and spectators rendered all bossi-I
BILE did, and more than one hundred persons
within few minutes of the accident, we're
got on shore, the great number Of whom
were SO much exhausted that they had to-
be taken to the Humane Society's tent, and
placed under medical treatment. G While
this was going on, several people were@ inl
the Water in, the, middle. Of thelake, and
whom it was impossible for the icemen to-
readhs the ladders and boats being fender
ed almost useless, owing to the state Of
ice, were seen to sink back exhaunted, evil
IDENTIFY benumbed with cold, after vainIy en-,
deayoring to support themselves by clutch
ingg1at the fotten ice, which clpnbled away
IN their grasp. rs =
"What made the scene the more dread /
full was that the female relatives of many
Of those who fell into the water saw their
struggles from the bank without the posi-
bility Of saving them. One lady saw her
husband sink and lose his wife, while two
sisters we're sending forth piercing screams,
and calling on the people to save their
brother 4 He was drowned, and. the two
ladies were taken away in. the most pitia-
bic state, and sent to their home in q, cab
Shortly after four o'clock strong body Of
| Of The Divisions Of police, and an addition
al number of icemen from Hyde Park, ar
rived, butstoo late to render anysaitf except
in getting out the bodies Of those drown
ed,I oil Che persons alive having by this
time been rescued and taken to the tent.
Some had suffered simply from the INNER
sion and fright, but forty were lying more
or less exhausted,
GAS soon as the ice ives cleared body
Of ice men and laborers, with great difficult
ty got out tle'boats {tos that portion of
the water where it was known several per
sons had sunk. Before dusk seven bodies
had been recovered but it was known that
there were many more, under the ice.
These will not be dragged for until this
morning, as it Is quite certain life must be
extinct. It is the opinion ofthe Ice men
who witnessed the accident that there are
at least twenty persons drowned. The
bodies, as they were brought one by one TO
the shore, were taken to the tent and their
pockets searched for the means Of i, entif-
cation, but in no, case was this succe esful.
One body was that Of gentleman aged
thirty. The Others were those Of young
men, apparently in the middle class Of life,
from eighteen to twenty years Of age. All
the bodies when recovered had skates upon
their feet. ~ .rs q.
.'Many instances Of individual gallantry
took place. One man, at the most immi-
nent risk, plunged in and brought several
children safely out. A gentleman, who
broke through near the southwestern.
shore, fell so that his head and chest rested
on large block Of ice, while his feet were
lin the water. There he lay smoking bis
|pipe for long time while the boats were
further out picking up as fast as possible,
those in q worse position, He began,
however, to realize his position, and, re-
moving his pipe from his mouth. he called
out ESQ to any one who will fetch me
out!' Several abortiyg attempts gwerel
made to reach him with ropes, poles andl
ladders. A man with the aid Of 10 ladder
reached a small piece Of sound ice. and
endeavored to throw rope to him, but it
fell short. He then managed to push the
ladder on to a piece Of ice further out, and
standing on the formerhe again threw the
rope. In doing 50 he fell, and ini clinging
to, the ladder lie hurt himself and was drawn.
ashore. A gentleman then got into an es-ff
cape, fitted up with barrels Of the end.
When pushed ont as far as possible be &c.
into the water and endeayored to ,jush The
escape along, but he DID nSt succeed
Eventually man striprssa to his shirt and
trousers, and . RIPE having been fixed to
his waist, he desperately fought his way
through the ice, and selling the skater
| round thebody, they were both dragged to
land amid tremendous cheers ,;....,> ,s.3
4" A man named Moore, who received a
medal two years ago for saving people un-
der similar circumstances, was very active,
and saved several persons. Just as one, Of
the boats approached q sufferer He, sank,
but a young man in The boat plunged after
him intoathe water, and brought him up.
They were both got into the boat. Mr..
Wepzell, the proprietor OF the boat, was
most energetic in his efforts, and many
| naco nho oro ;ndohtoi tn him for thair livea