Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-06-02
A TRAGEDY IN A sHIP.YARD.
Seven Men Killed ut n Launch in Chester
Pa.

Seven Men Killed nj n Launch in Chester,
Pa.
About eight o'clock in the morning a
terrible accident occurred at the Della
ware River Iron Ship Works of John
Roach & Sons, in Chester, Pa, which
resulted in the death of seven men and
the wounding of several others. The
new steamship Saratoga, designed for
q. E. Ward & Co., of New York. was
being launched, and the men, who were
shipwrights and laborers, were working
between the railway tracks ON the YES
sells bottom, prior TO the launch, when
the catastrophe took place. 1t was the
most sickening sight which has ever
been seen at a launch, the bodies being
mangled and torn in a horrible manner.
On account of the early hour at which
the launch took place only a few persons
were present, but the news soon spread
through the town and the surrounding
cities, which drew large crowd to the
scene of the accident
The Saratoga stood upon the ways at
eight o'clock, ready to be cut adrift. Mr.
John Fountain, the superintendent, gave
bilC OluCI W lllt DltL W Cllb away lllG
stocks which held her, and at the same
time called to the men who were under
her to come out. There were a number
engaged under the vessel, and, near the
after part, where the accident occurred,
about forty were engaged. Some of
these men needed the order, while the
others attempted a trick common, it is
said, among men engaged in this bust
ness, of lying down between the rail-
way, and allowing the ship to pass over
them. The order was given at about
7:55 o'clock, and fully seven minutes
elapsed before the ship lett the railway,
when it slid off into the water, being one
of the finest launches ever seen. Some
of the men had neglected to heed the
order to come out from under, and when
the vessel had passed midway down the
rails the appalling fact was discovered
that seven men had been killed in the
presence of the spectators, without their
being able to render the least assistance
1t was only the work of a second. The
cause of the accident as nearly as can be
ascertained, was that the immense
chains which were suspended over the
sides, passed under the keel, and were
then attached to the ways and blocks to
prevent them from floating away when
the water was reached, had caught in
some heavy blocks and timbers under
meath, and carried these from the amid
ship section down the incline to the
after part, near the water, where the
men were, and they, being caught in the
terrible rush before chance was afford
ed to escape, had fallen victims to most
horrible butchery. The vessel was
about half way down when the men were
discovered, and by no possible means
could she be stopped on her career to-
ward the water. The shrieks and cries
OF the victims for help were distinctly
heard, and the men could be seen for an
instant. The immense blocks of oak,
weighing hundreds Of pounds, We're
caught in the chains and hurled like
chips against the poor unfortunates. An
eyewitness describes it by stating that
first man raised himself up, then his
arm was knocked off, then he fell and
was seen no more.
When the vessel reached the water, a
rush was made to the spot where the
men were last seen, and sickening
sight met the gaze of the workmen. In
a promiscuous heap were blocks, and
arms, legs, and even heads of what were
once men, but now were pieces of flesh,
scattered around. Work was immedi-
ately begun in removing the remains
What was left of Edward Burke was
gathered up in a blanket. He and Ed
ward Fawley had been cut in two, but
the clothing had kept the flesh from
parting. John Nelson's head was picked
mp near the body, and the remains
placed on a board. There was nothing
left of the head except the face, the
back portion being gone clean to the
ears. Some time afterward the body
was identified by brass tag he had in
his pocket, which bore his number on
the roll books. Bernard Cannon lived
until 1870 o'clock in the most terrible
agony. His legs were torn in shreds,
and he suffered several internal injuries.
George 0. Wool did not die until eleven
O'Clock. His thighs were crushed. his
right leg torn out, and the left broken.
He was conscious part of the time, but
could give no statement concerning the
accident, or the cause of it. The in
juries were all below the waist which
shows that the m were in q recumbent
position under the ship, and expected
her to pass over them without being
grazed.
Miss Emma Fountain was to christen
the vessel, and she succeeded in accom-.
plishing her task before the horror was
completed. Immediately after the acct.
dent work was stopped in the shops
and the whole town seemed in mourn
ing. All of the men except Nelson
leave families of from four to six chill
dren. Mr.. Roach provided for their i'm
mediate relief, giving each a $50 bill
and providing for their funeral expenses