The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-26
APPALLING ARRAY
CRIMES AND FATAL CASUALTIES.
Later Particulars OF the Disaster 10 the
Victoria ExcursiOn-MOFe than Two
Hundred BOdies Recovered.
Numerous Other Deaths.

cred, and most of them brought to thi
city. All the undertakers' shops are be
sieged, and CotEips are going out by tn
score. The crowds at the river bank AM
steamboat landings have not diminished
Among those identified are two daughter
OF James Barnes. The list OF the identified
Is still incomplete, Large numbsrs o
bodies remain on the ground At the Sui
phuT Springs baths awaiting claimants.
During yesterday q large number o
citizens sought enjoyment in the vAriouI
exCunions leading from the city to tht
adjoining towns, and tor others the chic
outdoor attraction was q series OF steam
boat excursions on the Thames river
This enjoyment was rendered more at
tractiye from the fact that this was the
hrst day OF the season for boats to run
regular trips, and this circumstance taken
in connection with the public holiday,
naturally drew q large crowd Qf pleasure
seekers to the river. Trips were made
down the river distance OF about four
miles to Springbank, a popular place Oi
resort where the city water works are 10.
Gated, and three or four local steamers
took down large loads OF exCursionists ut
regular intervals throughout the entire
day.
About o'clock In the afternoon the
Victoria, Of the Thames Navigation Com.
pany line, started from the dock on her
fourth aud last trip for the day, with a
large load OF passengers OF all sges, yari.
ously estimated at from four hundred TO
htNn hn Il
trip, though the boat was so loaded that
she shipped water In small quantities oC.
CasionAlly when the crowd would happen
10 rush to any particular side. On the
return trip, whau more than half way
home, q slight Commotion on the boat,
said by some to have been the playful
prsnks OF q numbero OF youths on the lower
deck, and by.others AscTibed to the boat
striking q snag, caused the crowd, out Of
curiosity, To rush 10 one side, aud as
the side Of the boat sank with the addI.
tional weight q volume oil water a foot or
two in depth poured In on the lower deck,
which was crowded with passengers. In.
stantly the crowd on both decks rushed
10 the opposite side, and their weight,
together with that OF The water shipped by
the boat, caused a lurCh In the opposite
direction. It was then that the disaster
occurred. The side Of the boat sunk In
the water 10 the depth Of one or two feet,
and while the crowd on tho lower deck
was struggling to save themselves from
slipping down into the river the etanCh.
ions supporting the uppOr decks suddenly
gave way and The whole structure, with
its load oil human beings, came down on
those who were below, crushing them on
the deck and rendering escape out Of the
question.
II 10 impossible to describe the scene
that followed. The boat continued to set.
tie on its side deeper In the water, taking
with 1t many Of the passengers, who were
stunned by the fall Of the upper deck, and
unable TO help themselves. Scores sank
in the water without an effort, while many
others who were precipitated into the
river unhurt, rent the air with their vain
appeals for sucCor, which those OF the
passengers who were safe were powerleas
10 extend. The utmost exertions were
put forth 10 rescue as many drowning
ones as possible, and many were saved
from watery grave. AS soon 40 possible
help was secured, and the work Of recoy.
ering the bodies from the river and from
the wreck proceeded with.
The bodies were placed on the steamer
Louise al fast as they were brought up,
and then taken 10 the Company's docks,
where the work OF Identification began.
The accident occurred at about q quarter
past six, and 1t was midnight before the
bodies so far recovered were brought back
TO the city. Here q most heartrendng
scene ensued. The bodies, as fast as trans.
ferred from the steamer, were laid out 10
rows on the grass by the riverside, all In
their holiday attire, and with the aid oi
torches the faces were eagerly scanned by
hundreds OF anxious friends looking for
their missing ones.
A goodly portion Of the drowned are
men In middle life, and many are children
Of tender years. Many were the walls oil
sorrow which followed tho identification
Of relatives, perhaps a mother who discov.
ers her child or children. One man was
heard inquiring for four children. As fast
as the Corpses were claimed they werC
taken In charge by their triends and re-
moved 10 their homes. The utmost con
fusion prevails. 1t is impossible at pres
49, .S,ou,. t,so,,,;nn,,t citj,o,,. al ,LSI.
put many H5 Hotl.I5e1t o!I,Hens .I Slu 'ne''
ISllIea MI are lnvIiueu in. in sG1 nutoe
e & the NV hon., .ao,C sOt al W SHe .eIosa
o. W. SSn UOS,o9 az loSn sST dor %"s
i 'e ,.sn 1o"H S.ooS, =, u'oS anu W s"onay
wv wv lnD,o sjUo G'S h"", "0 TO-, U. ~ .i'S gu
rescued. II 10 not known how many
more, II any, are lost.
/ st. e. = a
Inc Guy CouEc'I nes u "ay ana passseT
resolutiohs q G4nu9ience' zoe. te1tIeu
gloom reigns oVer lhe Guy. .....,..,
II " llontRonet, Jea.her merchant 0
Eoronio, wac on Doaru' Anu Escaped Ant
succeeded ln saving many othets. III
stAtes that on the passage up the OaPiall
went among the passensefs,r urging thet
70 keep on me i,t 0thsT t sue, e., 10 one ooy NJ
sMu rol wv EnAe .., neel oI 'le otno
side! ltyou don't you'll have to swim 70