Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-05-26
NEW DOMINION.

The Steamboat Horror-Further Details
| of the Awful Disaster--Over Two Hun
dred Lives Lost-A Memorial Monument
| to be Erected.
LONDON, Ont, May 25.-In all the
annals of steamboat fatalities, not excepting
even the Narragansett and Sewanhaka dlsas-
ters, which are fresh in the minds of the
public all over the continent, none has prob
| ably ever equaled in extent that which occur
red here yesterday, by which $50 lives have
| been sacrificed.
| Later particulars of the disaster fol
lows: During the day large number of
citizens sought enjoyment in the various ex-
cursions leading from the city to the adjoin-
| ing towns; and for those who remained in
the city, the chief outdoor attraction was a
| series of steamboat excursions through the
| day over the Thames river. This enjoyment
was rendered more attractive from the fact
that this was the first day of the season for
the boats to run regular trips, and this cir
| cumstance, taken in connection with the pub
lie holiday Cthe Queens birthday naturally
drew large crowds of pleasure seekers to the
river. Trips were made down the river a
distance of four miles to Spring Bank, a
place of popular resort, where the city water
steamboats, took down large loads of excur-
sionists at regular intervals throughout the
day. At 4 O'Clock in the afternoon the
Victoria, of the Thames Navigation com
pany line, started from the dock on her
fourth and last trip for the day, with
large load of passengers of all ages,
variously estimated at from 400 to 900 in
number. All went well the down trip.
although the boat was so heavily laden that
she shipped water in small quantities occa-
sionally, when the crowd would happen to
surge to any particular side. On the return
trip, when more than half way home, a
slight commotion on the boat, said by some
to have been caused by the playful pranks of
a number of youths the lower deck,
and by others ascribed to the boat strik-
ing on a snag caused the crowd out of curl
osity to rush to one side, and. the side of
the boat sank with the additional weight, a
volume of water a foot or two in depth
poured in upon the lower deck, which was
crowded with passengers Instantly the
crowd on both decks rushed to the opposite
the water shipped by the boat, caused
lurch in the opposite direction. Then it was
that the disaster occurred. The side of the
boat sank in the water to the depth of one or
two feet and while the crowd on the lower
deck were struggling to save themselves from
slipping down into the river the stanchions
supporting the upper deck suddenly gave
way, and the whole structure with its load
of human beings came down on
those who were below, crushing
them on the deck and rendering escape
impossible. The scene that followed cannot
be described. The boat continued to settle
on its side deeper into the water, taking with
it many of the passengers who were stunned
by the fall of the upper deck. and were
therefore unable to help themselves. Scores
sank into the water without consciousness of
their fate, while many others who were pre-
cipitated into the river unhurt, rent the air
with their vain appeals for that succor which
those of the passengers who were safe were
powerless to extend to all in moment. The
utmost exertions were put forth to rescue as
many of the drowning ones as possible, and
many in this way were saved from watery
grave. AS soon as possible help was secured
and the work of recovering the bodies from
the river and from the wreck was proceeded
with.
1t is now believed that the total loss will
not fall short of 25O of which about 23O
bodies have been recovered. The council
have resolved to erect monument to COM
memorate the sad event.
Nearly Another Terrible Disaster.
BELLEvILLE, Ont, May 25.-About six
o'clock last evening at Massasaga Point some
two hundred persons gathered on the dock in
anticipation of the arrival of steamer to
carry them home. The span suddenly gave
way, precipitating nearly one hundred in the
water, none of whom were drowned.
NEW ENGLAND