The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-23
CRUSHED BY AN IRON SHIP.
FEMININE ACCIDENT Ar THE LdUNCHs
ING or 7JfE SARATOGA.
The Vessel Gliding Down the stocks withoaA
WnrrinF-scverni Men Killed and Many
Injured - sorrow In Ronch's ship Yard.

CHESTER, Pa, May 22.-At 8 O'Clock this
morning. while the preparations for the launch
OF tho vessel Saratoga were in progress a1
Roach ship yard In this place. withou, mo-
ment's warning the vessel started prcmaturely
down the stocks. and before the men at work
under her sides could get out of the way seven
Of them were crushed to death. and n numbeY
of others moro or less seriously injured. About
forty men were under the vessel when II went
of and did not hear the orderto como out. The
bodies Of the dcnd are horribly mangcd; one
being literally cut in halves. and others have
their legs and arms torn m The ship ynri was
soon throngod with the friends ani relatives Of
the victims. ana presented q very distressing
scene. This is the fret accident that has evoR
happened at n launch here since Mr.. Roach
took the yard and hr has launched some forty
vessels. The vessel reached the river safely.
and rode out some distance into the stream.
Tho names Of thos, Killed are Edward Burke.
Barney Cannon. George d. Wolf Charles
Wright. Sr.. Edward Fowler. John Nelson. and
James Parkerson. Three persons were wound-
ed all II whom win probably recover. All Of
the Killed and wounded wcr" workmrn eiaploy-
ed al the yards. AMI were engaged in lnO'king
t,n ,n1 n1 H. r. i,|ni rom HmI,t tlia hs'n me- S,nne ne
henrtrrnlin9 the mon heing seen struggling to
IS ape. wlile the huge blocks rolled by tn ship
possibly be- rendered hy those who were stand
INK by. Instead II ch 'er. usually grcets q
NuHrh, a wall OF anguish went up. AMI shricks
of pain rent the AR. A. soon as possible tho
drnd Nni wounded WHrn carried to the yard
oifi'r AMI physicians summoned. About fifteen
hun ired men ARE emp 'y"d al the yard. and the
friends ~ nrGriy al Of thcm rushed 10 inquire
Tor thrm. Flags are at half mast throughOut
tn" town, and work at the yard has been
stopped. John Koa IN has ordered money to be
furnished 10 the families Of the Killed and
wounded.
John Fountain who had charge OF the launch.
snid: Il found IL" ship WAS ready to move.
unl called for all hands To get ont from under
before ! commenced cutting loose. The men
who wrr, down hy the nit,r blocking evidently
did not hear thc order or all not obey. as they
had fully five minutes la grt out from the time
the order was given until the shin started. Some
Of tho mcr remained under. which Is frequently
the case to attend To- the ward blocking"
The Saratoga = It sister snip OF the Niagara.
nun from the same yards three weeks ago,
and was built for James H. Ward 4 Co.'S Ha-
Vaua I'm. Her keel was laid in February last,
and Ike her cOnsOri she Wls intended for great
speed and immense freight capacity. Her total
length is 292 feet; beam. 80 fec & inches:
depth Of hold % feet inches. Both vcs-
sells cost the company tor which they were
hult siOU.OOO. or f3JO.uOO cnch Nnd although
ntondcd Tor the Havana trade. it WAS thought
they would be sold either to the Russian og
Turkish Government. whose respective agents
inspected them. ami We're awaiting replies from
the homo Goy.Inment-. In case they wcr4
transferred Mr.. Roach wus TO have Immediately
duplicated them for Ir. Ward. who had mada
this agree meLt prior To- 'hrir Aeels being laid.