The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-02
TWO HUNDRED VICTIMS,
An Excursion Rant near London. On.
tnriO. COlIHpses.

inv at 6 O'Clock the steamer Victoria,
with over 600 excl,rsionists on board
returning from Springbank, and when
near Cove railway bridge, one mile be-
low the city, suddenly collapsed like
an egg.shei and became n total wreck
level with the waters edge. All pas
sengers were instantly plunged into
the stream, more that half Of them be-
ing underneath the debris. The first
news which reached the city wa.
brought by survivors who struggled
through the streets, wet and weary.
The news fell like n thundcrbolt, and
stampede took place for the spot.
Arriving there, n horrible sight ap-
pcared. From so to 60 bodies had al
ready been recovered, and were living
on the green swarl some distance u,,
the bank. Those arriving from the
city and from every direction, crowded
around anxious to see IL any relatives
were on board. Several hundred fam
lilies were represented on the excursion
and the wall of anguish that arose mt
the sight Of the victims was heart
rendiuc. Fathers, mothers, brother.
and sisters rushed al,Oit panic stricken
en'leavnring to identify relatives. BY
o'clock eighty bodies were recovered
from under the wreck, where the WA
ter was Il feet deep. Almost every
minute some victim was brought to
| the surface aud conveyed to Il boat.
The steamer Princess L0uise was early
| brought to the spot and the victims
placed upon the upper deck. Fires
were lit on the bank overlooking the
river and petroleum torches were
brought and the search continued.
All is confusion. NewsrSper staff.
like all else, are sadly dcmoralized, all
having friends in the calamity. The
whole city seems almost denented to-
, night. The accident was certainly
| due to gross cnrelessness. The boat
was over crowded to disvrac-ful ex-
tent. The manager, Geo. Parrish,
WAS expostulated with i,y several, ut
Springbank, and urged nat 10 let ths,
boat go out in that over crowded com
dition, but he is reported to have re-
piled, "all right. know my hrsi-
ness" or something of that sort. Mr..
Samuel Stewart, stone merchant, oue
nf those who protested, left the boat
ut Sp-inghank, with his family.
Several hundred more remained there
unable to get passage and had to walk
home a distance vt four miles tonight,
no conveyance Of any kind being
available. a telephone was in con-
stant use between the water works
and the city, by friends inquirine.
This disaster will rut and end to the
pleasure steamer business hereafter.
The load of the VicfOria il varinusly
estimated at 400 to Go'. The boat
shipped wafer on the down trip, but
all went we'll until her return. When
over half way home some pranks of
playful yonths on the lower deck, or
perhaps the boat striking a snag,
caused rush to one side. when water
II foot or two deep broke over the
lower deck, which WAS crowded with
passengers. Instantly the crowd on
both decks rushed to the opposite side.
and their weight and the water shipped
caused n lurch in the opposite direc-
tion and she sank one ar two feet
While the crowd on the lower deck
| were struggling to save themselves
from slipping int" the river, the -tanch-
ions suddenly gave way and the whole
upper deck with its load of human be-
ings came down on those below, crush
ing and imprisoning them. II is i'm
possible to describe the scene that
followed. The boat continued settling
SIutWVNSs tNhiiIS uIciN lN~seiEtTS
who were stunned by the fall of the
upper decks and were unable to help
themselves. Scores of them sunk in
the water without an effort, while
many others who we're precipitated
into the river unhurt, rent the air
with their vain appeals for succ"r,
which those Of the passengers who
were safe were powerless to extend.
Utmost exertions were put forth to
rescue the many drowning ones, and
many were saved from = watery
grave. As Soon ~ possible, help was
secured and the work Of recovering
bodies proceeded. The bodies were
plXce,i on the steamboat Louise ~ fast
~ brought up. and then taken to the
c"mpany's dock, where the task Of
identification hegan. The accident
occurred ut 8:i5. II was midnight be-
fore the bodice we're brought back to
the city. Here = most hexrt-rending
scene rnaued. The bodies - trans
fsrred from the steamer were laid out
In ruws on the grass by the river aide.
all in their holiday attire, and with
the aid ri torches, faces were eagerly
scanned by hundreds II anxious frieiids
lnoking for their missing ones. A
goodly proportion of the drowned are
men In middle age, and many were
children.
A-A Nr..oe rvs,~