The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-08-12
The Oakland pisnster.

On the 4th Of July afternoon, the movable
end of the pier, at Oakland Ferry, broke and
precipitated about $50 persons into the bay.
/ Twenty persons were drowned. The cause OF
the accident is thus stated in the bulletin:
When the train from Oakland arrived at the
edd of the pier. the passengers from this city
I by FL Captain had been safely landed and
were in waiting. The train was heavily load
ed, and the passengers got of to go on board
the steamer. In order to understand how this
lamentable disaster occurred, it will be neces-
sary to describe the landing stage at the north
side Of the pier This is platform Of plank
and timbers, about u II wide and % # long.
The fixed ends is connected to the pier walls
by heavy cross timber, the end of which fit
in grooves, and constitute a sort of hinge.
The platform is hung at the other end by
chains instead of being held on tide floats, as
is sometimes the case. These chains at each
side of the outer end are fastened by means of
an iron band to a cross timber under the gang
way. The chains pass up over n wheel on the
wharf at either side, and to the other ends,
which hang down through the wharf, heavy
weights are attached. These serve in part to
balance the gangway. The wheels over which
the chains pass are cogged to fit the links of
the chains. and also a ratchet-wheel still fur
Their prevents the motion when desired.
From the boat to the stage an ordinary
plank, with ratings at the side, is placed for
the passage of people to and from the boat.
When the boat arrived, at the time of the
accident, and had discharged her freight and
passengers, the people from Oakland, inelud-
ing the Garibaldians who had participated in
the celebration, then commenced going on
board across the staging at the side. Some
had passed on when large fishing boat, which
the Italians had mounted on wheels, in the
procession, was hauled on board, and stopped
Immediately in front of the side landing. com
pletely blocking the way of the people who
stood on the staging. Others continually
jumped on it till, from one end to the other,
it was closely packed. This caused a surging
of the platform, and suddenly one of the
racket cogs gave way, and the chain on that
side flew like lightning round its wheel. The
swaying of the mass of human beings in the
direction of the stages inclination drew the
other chain away from its fastenings, and the
heavy weight beneath was brought against the
under timbers of the wharf with terrible force.
Had the chain staple in this weight held, the
staging would not have gone down entirely
but it gave way and the chain few out, when
the platform fell, and the throng of men,
women and children were shot into the bay
mated that from 100 to $50 people were thus,
without moments warning, hurled into the
very jaws of death. The scene which ensued
beggars description. The cries and shrieks of
those in the water were heart-rending, and the
multitude on the wharf seemed for a moment
stunned by the appalling spectacle. Then the
confusion increased. Men ran wildly to and
fro, and to add to the general panic and ex-
element, the Italians, who could. not under
stand the Americans and who could not be
understood by them, joined their voices with
the cries of those struggling in the water.
The tide was at its ebb, and the mass of peo-
pie soon began to separate; some foated
against the piles and transverse braces sup
porting them, and chung there till they were
assisted out. Captain Bushnell, of the Ell Cap
itdn, and Harvey S. Brown, instantly threw
all the Hfe-preservers overheard which they
could get at, and the captain ordered members
of the crew to throw over the lines which lay
coiled in the boats of the steamer. In this
they were at first hindered somewhat by the
crowd who wished to throw the lines from the
wharf, but finally thoy were placed as the
captain directed, and many lives were thus
saved.
Mr.. Montgomery, of the Rdshoe, which lay
at the pier, lowered a boat from that vessel,
and succeeded in saving many. The steward
of the III Captain also secured boat. and got
many out by it. Finally, however, it was so
filed with water that he abandoned it, and
sprang bravely into the water, seizing men,
women and children, and flashing them to the
piles or the floats of the steamers wheels till
they could be taken out by those on the boat
and on the wharf. Others of the boats crew
rendered effectual assistance. Many were
saved by individuals who courngeously jumped
into the water to rescue the drowning.