The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-06
DRAGGED TO QUICK DEATH.
seven Men Killed and Several Wounded nj
the Launching of Il C:rent Ship.

seven Men Killed and Several Wounded nj
the Launching of n G:rent Ship.
The terrible accident at Chester, Pa,
during the launching of the vessel Sara
toga in Roach's ship-yard, is described
rs foliowS':.
The launching was to take place at
nine O'Clock. The beautiful weather
had drawn an immense concoursc of
spectators to the ship. yard. On the YES
sci were Captain Sandberger, who is to
command her Captain Curtis who is to
command her mate, the Niagara, which
| was launched Il few weeks ago; an agent
CT the owners; Miss Fountain, who was
to christen the vessel, and two citizens
Of Chester. Below we're forty workmen,
to whom was contided the labor ncccs-
sary to effect the launch. at a little
distance away, on m eminence from
which lie might command the whole
scene, stood Mr.. John Fountain, the
superintendent Of the yard. Mr.. Foun-
tain suddenly observed that the t~ell-tale
boaris were parting, and this meant
that the ship was pulling. The superin-
tcnLent knew that the momentum gained
by the slightest movement would make
it impossible to stop the launch ; SO
orders were ut c given i'll q loud voice
fox all to stand from under before he
gave the word to cut loose the last stays.
1t the same time tie men at the saws
were ordered to cut the planks holding
the cradles, as, if This was not done
promptly, the movement CT the ship
would wrench the bolts from their
sockets, and there would be danger of
the vessel, frame and all, topping over.
The two planks were sawed, and the YES
sci glideI into the water with the veloci-
ty Of lightning. Miss Fountain raised
the bottle of Saratoga water prepared
FOR the christening, and was about to
break it over the bow, when a scream
arose, and, terrified beyond measure, she
dropped it overheard.
The WAYS were now clear, and as the
screams that terrified Miss Fountain
reached the ears Of the spectators their
eyes were greeted by a sichening sight.
The great chain holding the cradles was
dragging along in The wake of the ship,
carrying in its folds men, iron bars and
wooden blocks. One man was cut in
half !; another was mashed past recogni-
ton ; others were limbless ; ONE were
carried into the water with the vessel.
A scene of great confusion followed. The
bell of the yard a rung, and in the
| course of Il few minutes the news spread
all over the city and brought q crowd Of
women and children to the gates, clamor-
ing for admission.
The workmcn devoted themselves to
the extrication Of the killed and wounded
from the dcJris of the stocks. Seven
dead bodies were 0 0 recovered and
identified with more or less certainty.
These were Edward Fawley, aged
thirty years a; John Nelson, aged thirty
five years; Charles Wright, ST., aged
fifty years ; J. TCrewe, aged forty-tive
years ; Edward Burke, aged thirty-tive
years ; Bernard Cannon. aged thirty-two
years George O.. Woolf, aged thirty
years. James Kasson, George Thomp-
son and Walter parkinson were found
among the injured, and there were others
whose names could not be ascertained.
John Nelson was completely doubled
up. The back part of his head was torn
off, and II ear was gone. The head
was cut off and was hanging to the body
by Il slight ligament. The arms were
cut off and were hanging on the clothing,
and the lower part OF the body was
crushed. lie was identified only by the
brass tag which is given to each of the
workmen when they enter the yard in
the morning, and the number on which
corresponds with a number opposite the
names on the books Of the firm. Nelson
was Il single man. The injuries of the
men were principally below the breast,
and the bodies and legs we're badly torn,
in some instances the limbs having been
torn out from the sockets.
The horrible rumor that many work
men had been mashed to death and car
ried into the water vas partly dissipatel
by the calling OF the roll, when it was
discovered that a number who were sup
posed to be lost were living. All of the
deceased except Nelson have families.
Mr.. Roach has given each suffering fam
lily $50 for the relief Of present n~ecessi-
ty. Wright owned the house he lived
in Ill the rest were poor men.