Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-06-08

iush W tuo port sue anu US lne'
did so the vessel took lurch and wen
with the port bow down. Then th
boiler shifted from its position an,
went through the side, and as it wen
it carried away the main deck, ant
that lot down the upper deck with tn
crowd on il, There were not 100 peo
pie on the lower deck, because th
space below was largely taken up witt
the boiler and machinery. The ai
part Of the boat went down, but th,
fore part came to the surf ace, and th,
boat was spread about six feet apart
The result was that many of the pas
sengers were imprisoned between th,
water and top deck, but they had {
breathing space Of about foot or sc
which would have saved many had
not the others persisted in climbing on
the floating deck, thus crushing il
down and smothering those under.
meath, | rescued one man who had
been under this deck for four minutes
before II went down. did all ! could
to prevent the people from climbing
on it, A great number had the pres.
ence of mind to swim out from under
the deck at the side or end, and in this
way were saved. In a few minutes
all who were thus imprisoned were
drowned. ] do not think we had more
than $50 on hoard, because there is
not standing room on the boat for
more, at eight inches space for each
person"
To-day this is a city of the dead.
Business is practically suspended, cx.
cept such branches as are connected
with the arrangements of the funerals.
In the poorer quarters of the city the
authorities have been giving away
collins as in the winter they bestow
doles, The feeling abroad is one of
utter desolation. No one speaks or
seems to think of anything else than
the great calamity. From an early
hour to day the bells have been tolling
and funeral professions vending thro'
every street on their way to the sew
eral cemeteries All the places of bust
ness are closed and Sabbath stiffness
has settled over the city. At no time
could one walk block without meet
ing some solemn procession. The long.
est procession was that attending the
remains Of Willie Glass and Miss
Cooper, who were engaged to be mar
ried next month, and who persisted
together in the water. Two hundred
well filled vehicles attended, and the
hearscs passed along side by side.
Every kind of coffin is in use, and the
dead are being conveyed to the burial
places in every class of vehicles. The
remains of Mr. William Mcbride were
carried in light wagon, which was
followed by procession a mile long.
The clergymen, who have worked no.
bly, all through, are worn out, and can.
not reach the graves fast enough. Inl
many cases the members of different
families are put in one grave The
various societies are on hand, and are
doing their utmost to facilitate the
burials.
The scenes in the afflicted houses are
hcart.rending in the extreme. In sew.
eral cases entire families, with one or
two exceptions, have perished. Mr..
James Cougblin's children and grand. |
numbering FIVE in all, are ly-
ing dead in his house. He is thus LEFT |
alone. His daughter Jennie was mar.
ried to young man named Swazzee
on the day before the accident, and
they were both drowned The family
Of W. Hall loses five members also.
In another instance a whole family
were lost, and the first the neighbors
knew of the accident was when one of
the shopmates of his father called for
him to go to work and found them all
IN their grave clothes
The searchers for the dead this morn.
ing raised two little girls clasped tight
y in each others arms, just as they
no doubt had fallen together into the
water.