Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-13
The Inflated "princess Alice"


The steamer Princess alice which was
run into and sunk with frightful results
on the Thames, near London,on the 3rd
inst, BY the collier, ByCeN Castle,
was one Of the largest saloon vessels Of
! the London steamboat company. The
Princess Alice left Glayesend for London
soon after 6 o'clock in the evening, and
arrived at Woolwich at about 5. The
ByWeH Castle was then approaching on
the opposite course. Two steamers
were near the middle of the stream,
just off the city of London. The gas
works at Becktyn are almost at the pre-
else spot where the fatal accident oc-
Cured, which is between Metas and
Wentworth. What happened is impos-
sible accurately to detail. All that is
known, amid the maddenng excite
ment is, that the screw steamer struck
the Princess Alice on the port side, near
the forecastle. A scene which has
had no parallel on the river en-
sued. A very few persons cham
bered on the vessel, but nearly all
rushed to the afterpart of the Princess
Alice. AS her bow subsidized gradually
under the water, shrieks were fearful,
and nothing could be done to save life.
There were dozen or more life buoys
on board, and some boats were swing
ing in davits. Even if they could have
been got at, they would have been Of
| little service under the circumstances.
Within five minutes the Princess Alice
keeled completely over, and went down
in the deep water. Some small boats
FASTENED to the scene, and the Duke Of
Trek, another steamer belonging to the
same company, which was elso on her
passage up the river with party of ex-
cursionists, went to the rescue, but the
river for hundred yards was full Of
drowning people, screaming in anguish
and praying for help, and as it was
growing dark then, not much could be
done. 1t is believed not more than $50
persons escaped out of 500 on board.
The vessel Alice was long and low
river steamer, built for excursions down
the river Thames. of which the middle
and upper classes Of LondonerS were
very fond. She had saloons on the for
ward and after decks, and her passen-
ger-carrying capacity was unusually
large. A large proportion of her
passengers last evening were OH the up
per saloon deck, and must have seen
beforehand their impending doom; but
those in the stern of the steamer had no
warning till they heard the crash and
found passengers from the forward deck
of the vessel running to the after part.
Beyond the fact that the tide was about
two hours ebb, which would enable the
| Princes Alice to ease and stop sooner
than the screw steamer, which would be
borne on the tide, it is impossible to
discover any of the circumstances i'm
mediately preceding the collision. Be
fore the boats came in contact, there
were cries from one to the other to
keep out of the way, but as usual in
such cases, the accident was probably
due to misunderstanding
The cause OF the Princess dHce disas-
ter is believed to be that both vessels
were rounding n sharp bend in the river
caused by the projection of point of
land whereon the powder magazine Of
Woolwich arsenal is situated. In order
to turn this point, Princess Alice had
crossed over to the right bank Of the riv-
er, and was thus out Of her course; her
lights were probably obscured by the
shadow Of the powder magazine, and
being much smaller and lower than By
nell Castle, the latter was upon her be.
fore danger was perceived.