The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-01

spot, ana tne VICTIMS placeu on lne
upper deck. Fires were lit on the
bank overlooking the river and pc
troleum torches were brought and
the search continued UP to the
present hour.
~ DEEPEST CONFUSION.
All Is confusion at the present hour.
The landing at the foot of Dundas
street IS crowded with people all
waiting in breathless expectation
for the arrival OF the Princess with
the bodies. The total loss of life
viii aggregate one hundred and sew
entv-iivc.
The newspaper staffs, like all els e
arc sadly demoralized, all having,
friends involved in the calamity.
The whole city seems almost de
mented at present. The accident
was certainly due to gross careless
ness. The boat was overcrowded to
a disgraceful extent. Manager Geo.
Parish, was expostuiated with by
several at Spring Bank and urged
not to let the boat go out in that
overloaded condition, but he is re-
ported to have replied, "all right, l
know my business" On some
thing Of that sort, Mr.. Samuel Stew
art, a stove merchant, one Of those
who protested, left the boat at Spring
Bank with his family. Several
hundred men remained there una
ble to get passage and had to walk
home, distance of four miles to-
night. no conveyance OF any kind
being available. The telephone was
in constant use between the water
works and city by friendly inqui-
ries.
LoyDoN. OyT., Nay 25.-The fol-
lowing additional details of the
wreck of the Victoria excursion
steamer yesterday evening arc Civ
en-
During the day a large number OF
citizens sought enjoyment in the va
rious excursions leading from the
CITY to adjoining towns, and for
Others the chief outdoor attraction
was q series of steamboat excursions
on the Thames river. This enjoy
ment was rendered more attractive
from the fact that this was the first
day of the season for boats to run
regular trips, and this circumstance
taken in connection with the pub
lie holiday, naturally drew large
crowds of pleasure seekers to the
river. Trips were made down the
river, distance Of about four miles,
to Spring Bank, place of popular
resort, where the city water works
are located, and three or four steam
boats took down large loads of ex-
cursionists at regular intervals
throughout the day. About 4 o'clock
in the afternoon the Victoria, of the
Thames navigation Company's line,
started from the dock on her fourth
and last trip for the day, with large
load of passengers of all ages, vari
ously estimated from 400 to 600.
All went well on the down trip,
though the boat was 50 heavily la
den that she took water in small
quantities occasionally when the
crowd would happen to surge to one
side.
HON THE DISASTER HAPPENED.
On the return trip, when more
than half way home, slight COM
motion on the boat, said by some to
have been the playful pranks of a
number OF youths on the lower deck.
and by Others ascribed to the boat
striking a snag, caused the crowd,
out of curiosity, to rush to one side,
and as the side of the boat sank
with the additional weight, a vol
ume of water foot or two in depth
poured in upon the lower deck,
which was crowded with passengers.
Instantly the crowd on both decks
rushed to the opposite sideand their
weight, together with that Of the
water shipped by the boat, caused
a lureh on the opposite direction.
Then it was that the disaster occur
red. The side Of the boat sank in
the water to depth of one or two
feet. and while the crowd on the
lower deck were struggling to save
themselves from slipping oifthe deck
into the river, the stanchions sup
porting the upper deck suddenly
gave way and the whole structure
with its load Of human beings came
down on those who were below.
crushing them on deck and render
ing escape out Of the question. 1t is
impossible to describe
THE SCENE THAT FOLLOWED.
The boat continued to settle on
its side deeper into the water, taking
with it many of the passengers who
were stunned by the fall of the up
per deck and were 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 that succor
which those Of the passengers who
were safe were poweriess to extend. |
The utmost exertions were put forth
to rescne as many drowning ones as
possible, and many were saved
from a watery grave As soon as pos |
sible help was secured and the work |
of recovering bodies from the river
and from the wreck was proceeded
with.
The bodies were placed on the
steamboat Louise as soon as brought
ND and then taken tn fhe comnanv,s