The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-27
ACITY OFTHEDEAD
GuAsrL1 RECITAL OF TIE STORY
or the DISaster 10 the Victoria Exeur.
SiOA = Many whole Families
DrOWnsd "A COmmunity
WEAPPsd n GIoOm.

misaing ones. The story Of the disasts
as given by witnesses who were on toarC
shows that the vessel was on herlas triI
and that on setting ont from Spring Ban
to return to the city had nearly all her pasl
engers on the way down, and in addition
large number who were waiting on tn
wharf to be conveyed home. The numbs
on board ON the return trip ia said to b
700. q burden out OF oil proportion to tn
strength and capacity Of the vessel. shortl,
after passing the Woodland cemetery th
boat began to rock and the crowd surg
from aide TO side with each oscillation
rather enjoying the fun than being In an,
way alarmed. The passengers state thG
. number Of youths on the upper decl
took delight In keeping up the rocking
motion by moving from side 70 side, whill
Others shouted gleefully, "Let her sink, w
will only have 70 wade to shore" II L
said by some, though denied by others
that the officer In charge endeavored Il
induce the passengers to remain quiet
but his efforts were unRvailing.
The crowd surged from aide to side, ant
with each movement OF the vessel shG
took Ap increasing quantity Of yatel
on the lower deck, to the terror Of some
and delight OF Others. The dangerno one
seemed 10 ioresee before their position be
came alarming. When opposite the Cove
bridge the water TO the depth OF foot
or more rushed in on the south side Of the
hA Iva 10 ka
north, the boat slowly following the move
ment by listing over 10 that side. This
time the vessel almost turned on its edge,
and the deck floor became elevated to an
angle not far from perpendicular. All at
once the supports OF the upper deck gave
way with 0 terrible crash, on account Of
Ehe unnatural position, and great weight
imposed over the railing. The people tum.
bled in hundreds headlong into the water.
And to make the situation more terrible
the whole upper deck and supports went
crashing down upon the victims, tearing
and bruiaing the struggling mass OF
humanity, which thua became eDgulfed
ln q dreadful watery tomb. The scene
that followed beggSrs description. Be.
tween the wreck and The shore could be
seen human beings who had become lib.
Grated from the mass Of debris and were
battling with the element into whose cruel
grasp they were so suddenly. thrown, and
slowly but surely yielding to It's power.
Many who were 90 stunned by the Crash
as TO be unconscious, sank without 40
effort. The work Of recovering the bodies
then began and has been continued unre.
mittingly ever since. :, 49,.
The steamer Princess Louise came along.
side In few minutes, and 10 short time
both decks and every inch OF space were
taken up with dead bodies. Tears came
into the eyes Of many man OF iron nerves
as he gt7ed upon the bodies OF the boys
and girls as they were taken from the
river, clad In holiday attire, and were car
ried In sympathizing arms aboard Of the
Princess Louise. Meanwhile, the tidings
were conveyed 10 the city, and crowds
hoCked 10 the scene, 10 learn, II possible,
the fate OF some on board who were dear
TO them. Many Of the bodies were badly
crushed and bruised from the crash Of the
timbera which came from the upper deck.
In many cases the features bore evidence
Of the desperate struggles which must
have taken place.
A visit to the acsne shows the Victoria
TO be complete wreck. The tonnage oi
the boat was about 10 tons. She was fiat
bottomed, scow.shaped ct both ends, and
was registered 10 carry 400 passengers. She
was we'll stanehioned, but had no braces.
She had lileSaying apparatus for 400 pss.
sengers. The boat was going up slowly,
and the eyphon and pony pump were
both working. She now lies In the river,
with her top works oil broken up.
Mr.. Parish, manager, states that the 90.
Cident was the result oil overlooking the
vessel. He had not been able Ia ascertain
from the number Of tickets cold the mum.
Der OF passengers who were on board, but
he estimated them at from 500 te 900. The
vessel, which cost about $1,000, is total
wreck and good for nothing, and % the
insurance policy covers loss BY fire only,
Il is not applicable in this case.
A. G. Montgomery, leather merchant
OF this city, one OF the passengers who es.
capped from the wreck, gives version OF
the disaster that differs in some impor.
tant particulars from the others already
published. Montgomery says that the
steamer was greatly overloaded. he was
on the promenade deck, and. does mot
know what may have been going on down
on the lover deck, but he Is sure the peo
pie he saw were thoroughly quiet aud or.
derly. There was no chasing about the
boat nor pranks OF any kind. As soon As
the boat started, however, she proved TO
be deeply listed to the starboard, and the
passengers on the promenade deck were
requested TO move over 10 the port side.
Some Of them did so, but still II did not
straighten up 10 any perCeptible extent.
Again the passengers were requested to
move over 10 the port eide, though large
majority of those on the promenade deck
we're already over there.
Atthis time he looked down the compan.
ion way aud saw o considerable depth oil
water on the main deck, which, ~ he then
feared, accounted for the extraord mary
listing Of the steamer 10 the starboard. A
very short time after this, and only a
moment OF 60 before the disaster, the Gap.
tain passed through the crowd, rematking:
All you do not keep over TO that-the port
side, you will have 10 swim for IT," At
this several more Of the passengers moved
over 10 the port side, and the boat Sud
denly fighied and then listed heavily TO
the port side, which was not more than
forty feet from the bank, and down she
went with astonishing rapidity. To save
themselves those on the promenade deck
clutChed the stanChions that supported
the awning over head, butthese snapped
like pipeatems, and a second later the sup.
ports Of the promenade deck gave way
ard the whole wreck slld down the port
-. .t...E. ~. Al A. k.aii taIa A.
Montgomery caught hold Of an iron rod OF
bucket Of some kind Ia the awning, and
holding 10 this manSged TO keep himself
above water Tor some seconds alter. The
collapsed promenade deck beneath his feel
had gone into the water. His position al
this time wa, a terrible one. Below the
deck which had sunk from under him be
knew ecofes we're petishing and drowning
| like The rats In The hull while the awning ID
which he was Clinging was rapidly sinking