The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-24
DEATH SUDDENLY MET.

fatally injuring both oil the young men.
DEATH SUDDENLY MET.
Collision OF Two Excursion Steam
ers on Detroit Riyer-Fonrteen
Persons Drowned, Mostly
Young People.
DETROIT, July GA terrible accident
occurred about 10 o'clock last evening on
the Detroit river, some nine miles below
this city. The excursion steamer Garland,
with 1900 persons on board, under the
auspices of the Detroit MoIders Union,
while going down the river collided with
the yacht Mamie coming up, cutting her
in two, 30 that she almost instantly sank.
The latter had on board twenty.four per.
sons, consisting mainly Of Father B. Bley.
enbergh, pastor of Trinity Roman Cath
olic Church, this city, and number oil
acolites, boys officiating in various capa.
cities in the service OF the church. They
had been on an annual excursion TO Mon
roe and were returning home. The night
was bright moonlight and there would
seem to have been no earthly reason save
that OF criminal negligence why the acci.
dent should have occurred.
OF those on board the Mamie the follow.
ing we're drowned: Mrs. Fred. Martin,
wife of the engineer; Miss Lizzie Murphy,
housekeeper; Father Bleyenbergh, Miss
Mary Holm, domestic at the Parochial
School, Trinity Church, and Frank Solon,
John Howe, David Barry, John Donovan,
Willie Cuddy, David Cnddy, John Cos
grove, James Toomey, James Monaghan,
all altar boys at Trinity Church, aged from
eleven to fourteen; Thomas Keely, sexton
OF the church; Jim Keely, organ blower,
and Andrew Doran, a boy who was invited
to accompany the excursionists. Thomas
McLogan, another boy, is missing, and is
doubtless lost. Captain Hoffman, engi-.
neer Martin, Father Bleyenbergh, Miss
Lizzie Dussean, OF Monroe, and four Others
were saved. All parties reached this city
about two o'clock this morning. None OF
the bodies drowned have yet been recov-
cred. An Investigation will doubtless take
place.
LATER ACCOUNTS.
Fuller details OF the accident on the
river last night do not essentially alter the
general facts already telegraphed. In an
an interview, Bleyenburgh states that
Just prior to the collision most Of the boys
were in the cabin, and that he was sitting
with the older members Of the party when
they noticed the steamer coming down
the river. The Garland, Fortune
and another steamer seemed to him
not very far apart and coming
very rapidly. 81 don't know" he said,
81 hardly dare assert 1t, and yet it seems
TO me-" and the father made significant
pause as though he thought they were
racing. He went on TO say that he did
not dream OF collision; In fact he had
lust said to Miss Dussean, who was
sitting besite him, that it was pic
turesque and exhilirating sight 10 see
the steamer plow through the water on
such bright moonlight night, when he
saw the Garland suddenly loom up larger,
and instantly OWNED that the horror
that collision was imminent. The
Mamie whistled and soon after the Gar
tand replied, but bore down directly on
the fragile Yacht, crushing it as il it had
been an eggshell. fairly cutting it in two
OF amidships. At tue moment he had de-
vined the collision was unavoidable, he
had shouted to his friends and children 70
Come to the 'front.'" Come to the front"
Some of them did so. Miss Dussean fol:
lowed him, and at the same time he ielt
the boat give away beneath him and
caught hold OF rope on the Garland.
The young lady did the same, and some.
body on board the steamer pulled her
aboard, and he climbed the rope that he
had hold OF unaided. The four boys
who were ,saved crawled out OF the
cabin windows Of the yacht and
threw themselves into the water.
They were picked up by life
boat OF the Garland, which which was
Immediately lowered, butsome who might
have been saved, he fears, we're drowned
by the swell or run down by the Fortuna,
which plowed alongside soon after. This
was not the fault OF the Fortuna, as
they seemed TO suppose that the
Garland people who hailed them
in alarm and anxiety were cheering
them, The father did not know how the
accident could have occurred at all, as it
was such brilliant moonlight night that
the smallest object could be discovered at
great distance.
Persons on the Garland claim that the
right OF way belonged TO her as she was
going down stream and the largest boat.
The Mamie, they say, came straight tot
wards the Garland, signaling that she
| would pass to the left, by the blast whistle,
to which the Garland responded, neith.
er apparently changed her course
bow Of the Garland, when the pilot OF the
Mamie threw his wheel over aud she
swung directly across the stream and pre-
seuted broadslde to the Garland. In
this position the latter struck her squarely
lust aft the pilot house, crushing in her
side and submerging her whole forward
mart. Before they struck the Garland
stopped her engine, but did not reverse 1t,
She was apparently going nearly at her
full rate Of speed at the moment ofthe col
liaiou. When the two vessels struck they
clung together for moment or two, and
The pilot OF the Mamie and ! or pas
sengers clambered on board the GSrlani
with assistance. The Garland then begar
10 back and the two vessels separated
Mamie drifted down stream, her iorwart
port submerged or entirely carried away
but her stern was entirely out OF water
she Sspk entirely out OF sight in tel
! minutes.
! In addition to the names OF the los
already sent another boy, John Grensel
was also drowned.
Search to-day fails to find the wreck G
the sunken yacht. No bodies have ye
been recovered. An investigation ha
been ordered by the local board Of steau
boat inspectors, which will probably b'
gin to morrow.
Ocean Vessels.