Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-02
SAD DISASTER !!
Twenty Skaters DrOWned--A'artieuia
Of the Disaster fn london.

in the Regents Park Immediately oppo-
site Sussex Terrace, which is the broadesi,
several thousand persons had been skating
/ during the forenoon without any accident
taking place, although the ice was looked
upon By the experienced ioemen on duty al
very unsafe, from is being principally
snow ice About half past three O'Clock
IN the afternoon there were rear the same
spot about Eve hundred skaters, among
whom were many ladies, there being at
the same time on the banks from 1000 20
5000 spectators. Suddenly, and without
any warning. the ice at the sides Of the
bank became loosened, and was drawn from
the edge. Within a minute the whole
sheet Of ice, over the full width Of the lake,
gave way and split into fragments Of few
yards square.
TWO HUNDRED PERSONS IL THE WATER.
The CONSERVATION and alarm Of the ska
ter and other persons on the ice may be
well imagined, and a general rush was
made for the banks. Unfortunately, this
broke up the soft ice into still smaller
pieces. Numbers Of persons fell through
the creyices into the water which is at
least twelve feet deep, andseveral appeared
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 upon the surface of the pieces
Of ice, and we're thus not only instrumental
in saving the lives Of many Of those in the
water, but preserved their own until assist
anas came to them. The screams of those
struggling and sinking in the water, and
the shouts Of the people on the banks, adj
ded 10 the horrors Of the scene.
The icemen, Of whom the full number
were on duty, did all that it was possible
10 do under the circumstances, and three
Of them narrowly escaped from drowning,
having, when IN 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
possible aid, and more than one hundred
persons within a few minutes Of the accident
we're got on shore, the greater number Of
whom were 30 much exhausted that they
had to be taken 10 the Humane Society's
tent, and placed under medical treatment
While this was going on several persons,
who we're in the water in the middle Of the
lake, and whom it was impossible for the
icemen 10 reach, the ladders and boats
being rendered almost useless, owing to
The state Of the ice, were seen 20 sink back
exhausted, evidently benumbed with cold,
after vainly endeavoring to support them
selves by clutching at he rotten ice, which
crumbled away in their grasp.
What made the scene more dreadful was
that the female relatives Of many Of those
who fell into the water saw their struggles
from the bank without the possibility Of
saving them. One lady saw her husband
sink and lose his life, while two sisters
we're sending forth piercing screams and
calling on the people to save their brother
He was drowned, and the two ladies we're
taken away ia the most pitable state and
sent to their home in cab. Shortly after
4 o'clock a strong body Of the d. division
Of police, and an additional number Of ice
men from Hyde Park, arrived, but too late
b render any aid, except in getting ont the
bodies Of those drowned, all the persons
alive having hy this time beeh rescued and
taken % the tent Some had suffered simply
fgom the immersion and fright but forty
were living more OF less exhausted.
THE RESCUE.
As soon az the ice was cleared, a body Of
icemen aud laborers, with great difficulty
got out the boats to that portion of the
water where il was known several persons
had sunk. Before dusk seven bodies had
been recovered, but it was known that
there were many more under the ice.
These will be dragged for until this morn.
ing, as il is quite certain that life must be
extinct Il is the opinion of the icemen
that at least twenty persons were drowned.
The bodies, as they were brought ont one
by one 10 the shore, were taken to the tent
and their pockets searched for the means
Of identification, but in no case was this
successful. One body was that Of a gentle
man aged thirty. The Others were those
of Young men, apparently in the middle
class Of life, from eighteen 10 twenty years
Of age. An the bodies when recovered had
Hates on their feet.
INDIVIDUAL CALAMITY.
Many instances Of individual gallantry
took place, One man, al the most immi-
nent risk, plunged IN and brought several
children safely out A gentleman, who
broke through near the southwest shore, fell
30 that his bead and chest rested on a large
block Of ice, while bis feet were in the
water There he lay smoking his pipe for
q long time while the boats were further
out picking up as fast as possible those in
q worse position. He began, however, 10
realize his position, and, removing bis pipe
from his mouth, he called out: ESQ to any
one who will fetch me ont Z" Several alb
ortive attempts were made to reach him
with ropes, poles and ladders. A man with
the aid Of a ladder reached a small piece of
sound ice, and endeavored 10 throw a rope
90 him, but il fell short. He then managed
10 push The ladder on 20 piece of ice fur
ther out and standing on the former he
again threw the rope In doing so he fell,
and in clinging to the ladder he hurt him
self and was drawn ashore. A gentleman
then got into an escape fitted up with bar
rels AZ the end. When pushed out as far
as possible he got into the water and en-
90 push the escape along, but he
did not succeed. Eyentuallya man strip
ped 20 his shirt aud trousers and a rope
having been fixed 20 his waist, be deeper
ately fought his way through the ice, and
seizing the skater around the body, they
were both dragged 90 land amid tremendous
cheers
A man named Moore, who received q
medal two years ago for serving people
under similar circumstances, was very ac-
tive, aud saved several persons. just as
one Of the boats approached a sufferer, he
sank, bat Young man in the boat plunged
after him into the water, and brought him
up They were both got into the boat.
Mr.. Wenzell, the proprietor of the boat,
was most energetic in his efforts, and many
persons are indebted to him for their
lives
A young man stood on a solitary piece |
Of ice, in the center Of the lake for an
hour and half, aud vas at last fetched |
off by a man who reached him in a boat |
Within about half an hour Of the break !
ing of the ice large bodies OF police began
70 arrive, and rendered great assistance in |
dragging ropes that had been caught by
some Of those in the water, in fetching and
launching boats, and keeping idlers back.
All this time the excitement was kept up
by the frequent sinking OF those who had |
lost All power 20 support themselves
-------------
A CONFIRMATION X-GOv. HARRIS
On motion Of Mr. NJ. J Wicks. the
Memphis Chamber az Commerce adopted
the following by a unanimous vote:
Whereas, l-hsm c. Harris. weIl-knovn
and highly esteemed citizen OF the State Of
Tennessee, which has h0nored him with
some 0f the highest trusts within her gift,