The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-05-26
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
AN OVER CROWDED EXCURSION
STEAMER SUDDENLY COL
LAPSES AND SINKS TO
THE BOTTOM,
Casting Into the Water Six Hundred Passengers,
or Whom Nearly Two Hundred Sink
to a WaterV Grave.

LONDON, ONT, May "a This evening at six
o'clock, as the steamer Victoria with over 600 ex.
cuTsonists on board, was returning from Spring,
bank, and when near the Cove railway bridge,
one mile below the city, the boat suddenly col.
lapsed, like an egg shell, and became q total
wreck, level with the waters edge. All the pas.
sengers were Instantly plunged into the stream,
more than half Of them being under the debris.
The first news that reached the city was brought
by survivors, who struggled through the streets
wet and weary. The news fell like thunder.
bolt and a stampede took place for the spot. Ar
riving there a horrible sight met their view.
Fifty or sixty bodies had already been recovered
and were lying on the greensward some distance
up the bank. Those arriving from the city from
every direction crowded around anxious to see II
any relatives we're on board. Several hundred
families were represented on the excursion, and
the wall Of anguish that arose at the sight of the
victims was heartrending. Fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters rushed about paDic.stricken
endeavoring to identify relatives. By o'clock
about eighty bodies were recovered from under
the wreck, where the water is twelve feet in
depth About every minute some victim is
brought to the surface and conveyed 10 the bank.
The steamer Princess Louise was early brought to
the spot ard the victims placed on the upper
decks. Fires were lit on the bank overlooking
the river, and petroleum torches we're brought
and the search continued. Up to the present
hour about $50 corpses have been secured Among
the dead are James Robertson, manager of the
Bank OF British America; ], c, Meredith, clerk Of
the Division Court; William Mcbride, assessor
81 u,,
Mrs. william Ashbury; william Millman, of
Montreal, commercial agent; two sons of j.
Rogers, plumber; John Clarke, tboem aker; Mel.
lie, Johnny and Willie Morrison, the children of
James Morrison, Of London East; Hobbs Plumber
and three children; Willie Glass and Miss Nan.
ME Cooper, his atianced, who " re sitting TO.
gether when the machinery was observed TO fall
over upon them; Mr., Matthews, night edi or of
the Advertiser lost his wife and two children;
Harry Smart OF the Free Press, lost his wife, two
children and sister,in'law; Mr.. sidons, Of the
customs, lost one boy. full list cannot yet be
obtained.
All Is in the deepest confusion. Newspaper
STATS like all else are sadly demoralizeda all hav
ing friends involved In the calamity. The whole
city seems almost demented tonight The acci
dent was certainly due TO gross carelessness. The
boat was over crowded to q disgraceful extent
Manager George Parish was expostulated with by
several at SpriDgbank, and urged not to let the
boat 70 out in that overcrowded condition, but
he Is reported TO have replied, IAN right know
my business" or something Of that sort. Samuel
Stewart, stove merchant one Of those who pro
tested, left the boat at Springbank with his fami
ly. Several hundred more remained there, una.
BILE TO get passage, and had 10 walk home, q dis
lance Df four miles, no conveyances OF any kind
being available. The telephone was In constant
use between the water works and the city by
friendly inquiries The disaster will put an end
to the pleasure steamer business, as hereafter peO
pie will not venture on the river which has BEEN
the subject Of many jokes and puns, on account
Of the supposed shallOwness OF the water, which
s, In reality in many places twenty or thirty feet
deep. All is confusion at the present moment
The landing at the foot Of Dundas street is now
crowded with people, all waiting in breathless
expectation or the arrival Of the steamer Princess
with bodies The total loss OF life will aggregate
one hundred and seventy-hve.