The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-06-02
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
The Canadian Thames the Scene of tho
Latest Steamboat Horrow.

AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
The Canadian Thames the Scene of the
Latest Steamboat aorrow.
LONDON, ONTARIO, May 24.-Thia
evening at z o'clock the steamer Victo'
ria, with over six hundred excursionists
on board, was returning from Spring
Bank, and when near the Cove railway
bridge, one mile below the city, the boat
suddenly collapsed like an egg shell and
became total wreck, level with the wa
ter's edge. All of the passengers were
instantly plunged into the stream, more
than one half of them being underneath
the debris. The first news of the disas'
ter which reached this city was brought
by survivors who struggled through the
streets wet and weary. The news fell
like thunderbolt and stampede took
place for the spot. Arriving there hor.
rible sight met their view; fifty or sixty
bodies had already been recovered and
we're lying on the bank. Those arriving
from the city from every direction crow
ded around anxious to see ifany relatives
were on board. About one thousand
families were represented on the excur-
sion and the wall of anguish that arose
at the sight of the victims was heart
rending. Fathers, mothers, brothers
and sisters rushed about panic.stricken
endeavoring to identify friends. BY 7
o'clock about eighty bodies were recov.
cred from under the wreck. Almost
every minute some victim was brought
to the surface and conveyed to the banks,
The steamer Princess Louise was early
brought to the spot and the victims
placed on the upper deck. Fires were
lighted on the bank overlooking the riv-
er. Petroleum torches we're brought
and the search was continued until
night. About one hundred and fifty
corpses have been secured. Among the
dead are Jas. Robertson, Manager of the
Bank of British North America; J. G.
Feredith, Clerk of the Dividend Court ;
VIM. Mcbride, Assessor and Secretary
of the Western Fair Association; Mrs.
William Ashburn; VIM. Milman, of
Montreal, Commercial Agent, aud two
sons J. Rogers, plumber. All is con-
fusion at the present moment. The Ian
ding at the foot of Dundas street is now
crowded with people, oil waiting in
-breathless expectation for the arrival Of
the steamer Princess Louise with the
bodies. The total loss will aggregate one
hundred and seventy-fve. Mr.. Mat
thews, night editor of the advertiser lost
his wife and two children. Harro Mart,
of the Free Press, lost his wife, two chill.
dren and sister.in-law. J. Siddons. of
the custom service, lost one boy. Dr.:
Oronhyatekna lost boy, aged 10, and
Miss Bayley. Among the missing are
also Alice Deadmen of New Brighton,
Miss Griffith of Buckle street and Alfred
Trimble-probably lost. A full list
cannot yet be obtained. All is in the
deepest confusion. The newspaper staff,
like all else, are sadly demoralized, all
having friends involved in the calamity.
The whole city seems almost demented
tonight. The accident was certainly
due to gross carelessness. The boat was
otvercrowded to disgraceful extent
Manager George Parish was expostula-
ted with by several at Spring Bank and
urged not to let the boat 60 out in that
overcrowded condition, but he is repor-
ted to have replied "All right; I know
my business" or something of that sort.
Samuel Stewart, stove merchant, one
of those who protested, left the boat at
Spring Bank with his family. Several
hundred more remained there unable to
get passage and had to walk home-a
distance of four miles-to-night, no con.
veyance of any kind being available.
The telephone was in constant use be-
tween the water works and the city by
friendly inquirers. This disaster will
put an end to the pleasure steamer bus
iness, as hereafter people will not ven
ture. The river which has been the
subject of many jokes and puns on &C.
count of its supposed shallowness, is in
reality in many places twenty or thirty
feet deep.
3.2O A. M.-The work of recovering
the bodies at the scene of yesterdays
disaster is still going on actively. Up
to this time ITO have been found and
most of them were brought to this city.
All ofthe undertakers' shops are besieged
and cofIius are going out by the score.
The crowds at the river bank and at the
steamer landing here have not dimin-
ished. Among the bodies identified are
those of the two daughters of james
Burns. The excitement seems to in
crease as night advances. A large num-
ber Of bodies remain on the grounds at
Sulphur Springs baths awaiting claim
ants,