The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-29
From the London Times, 10th.
Fearful Accident I'm Reeeut,s Pa,

calamltleS ever known in the metrOpO-
lis took place in the Regents Park,
where, by the simultaneous giving way
OF the whole of the ice on the lake, at
least 200 people were thrown into the
water at once and from 20 to 10 persons
drowned. The scenes were most start
ling and narrowing.
/ Women rushed about on the banks
screaming out that their children, or
husbands, or brothers were drowning
and implOring help to save them. BOYS
and girls stood Historically crying and
wringing their hands, and between
their sobs eXclaiming, ''Oh, look at
fatherl Oh, father, father!" and giving
expression to other heart-rending excla-
nations; and strong men conVulsively
appealed to those who had no means of
help, and pointed out friends AID rela-
tions struggling in the agonies OF death.
Only those who, like the writer, Were on
the spot, and saw with their own ewes
what took place, can form an adequate
idea of the calamity which in an instant
placed two hundred persons at the very
gates of death, almost within arms
reach of those who were related to them
by the closest ties, but who were yet in
most cases obliged TO stand helplessly
by and see them fighting desperately
for life, and gradually succumbing or
waiting passively, clinging to pieces of
ice till they became insensible and lost
their hold.
By halt-past 8 O'Clock the ice showed
unmistakeable signs OF breaking up.
1t was cracked to such on extent that
there was not a sound piece of more
than foot or SO broad, and the cracks
were clearly marked by the water
which rose through them. These alarm
ing symptoms were noticed by every
body, and many who had sense enough
made the best of their way of, express
sing their opinion as they did so that
the ice would not last many minutes
longer. Even these in many instances
got wetting in getting out of danger,
TOR with hardly an exception the ice
had parted from the shore right round
the lake. Notwithstanding the warn
ing signs, more than 200 persons still
remained on the ice skating and sliding.
Shortly before four o'clock three chill
dren and two men went through the
ice together at about dozen feet from
the southwestern shore A gentleman
Immediately plunged in and brought
to the shore the three children, who
clung so as almost TO drown him. Here
one of the Royal Humane Society's
men excited a great deal of indignation.
He went foot or SO into the water,
and there waited until the children
were brought to him, and then, with
another, claimed to have rescued them.
one or the men who had fallen in
scram bled out, and the other was taken
from a boat by Royal Humane Soci-
ety's man. Immediately after this sew
eral other people fell in, but they were
soon got out. SomeWhat awakened to
and the shouts of the people on the
banks. few other persons left the
ice not, however, without in most
cases falling through when near the
shore At this time a dozen people on
the Northeastern side, near the boat
house who were standing close togeth-
er watching the misfortunes of the 9th
ers, next fell in together. This was
witnessed from all parts, and created a
panic among all who remained on the
ice, and they all with one accord rush
ed towards the opposite shore. Before
this movement commenced numbers
were seen dropping through the ice in
made for the banks the whole field of
ice gave two or three heaves, and then
simultaneously broke up over the
whole of the broad part of the lake. In
an instant 200 men and children were
thrown into the water. 4 fearful cry
OF dismay proceeded from them as they
fell, which was mingled with a loud
shout of horror from the thousands
who lined the banks Then all was
confusion and distraction. For several
minutes nothing etIectual was even
thought OF, and there in the water
NOdAN OG oGCAA Gul4hISu OI 10 IL
years of age, clingiug to the edges of
the broken ice, crying every moment
in frantic voices for the assistance
which those who witnessed their
suderings were powerfess to rem
der them, and in brief time giving
last faint waves of the hands above
water. Those who witnessed these
scenes cried and shrieked with even
greater exhibition OF feeling than the
ut1erers themselves. The first shock
over, men rushed wildly about, seizing
upon everything in the shape of a rope
or spar to throH to the struggling and
drowning; but by this time all direct
communication with them was cut off
by the general breaking up OF
the ice, and very few we're reach
ed for long time. A cry was
raised Of ''the boats, the boats -
and hundreds of willing workers ran
OF to return with the boats on their
shoulders, but when they got them into
the water the greatest difficulty was
experienced in forcing them through
the ice. Ropes were rapidly Joined
and then one end of each being carried
across the bridge they were stretched
from shore to shore and dragged along.
a few persons managed to grasp them.
but they could not be dragged and had
to remain holding on to Them till the
boats picked them up. Some of them
failed to hold on long enough, and the
spectators were Mortified to see, every
now and then, man thoroughly ex-
hausted gradually relax his hold and
sink. Many instances, of individual
gallantry, took place. One man, at the
most imminent 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 in the water,
There he lay, smoking his pipe, for a
long time, while the boats were farther
out, picking as fast as possible those
in worse position. He began, how
ever, to realize his position, and,
removing his pipe from his mouth,
he called out, ESQ TO any one who
will fetch me OUT ~ Several abor-
with ropes, poles and ladders. A man
with the aid of a ladder reached a
small piece of sound ice, and endsavor-
ed to throw rope to him, but it fell
short. He then managed to push for
ward the ladder to a piece OF ice fur
ther out, and standing on the former he
again threw the rope, In doing SO he
fell, and clinging TO the ladder he hurt
himself and was drawn ashore. A
gentleman then got into an escape tit
ted up with barrels at the end. When
pushed out as far as possible, he got in
10 the water and eDdeavored to push
tie escape along, but he did not sue
coed. Eventually a man stripped to
his shirt and trousers, and a rope hav-
ing been hXed to his waist, he deSpera-
tely fought his way through the ice,
and seizing the skater round the body,
they we're both dragged to land amid
tremendous cheers. a man named
Moore, who received a medal TWO years
ago for saving people under similar