Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-26
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
TERRIBLE ACCIDEN T.
An Excursion Steamer Collapses
With 800 Persons-Great
Loss Of Life.

LONDON, ONT., May 24.-Thls even
| ing at 6 o'clock the steamer VICTORIA
With over 600 excurslonlsts on
hoard. was returning from Spring
Bank and when near the Cane Rail
way bridge, one mile below the city,
the boat suddenly collapsed like an
epc-shell and became total wreck
level with the waters edge. All the
passengers were instantly plunged
lnto the stream, more than one
half of them being underneath the
debris. The first news of the dis
aster which reached the city was
brought by the survivors who strug
gled through the streets, wet
and weary. The news fell like
a thunder-bolt and a stampede took
place for the spot. Arriving there
horrible sight met their view. Fifty
or sixty bodies had already been re-
covered, and were lying on the banks.
Those arriving from the city, from
every direction, crowded around, anxi
Gus to see if any relatives were on
board About 1000 families were
represented on the excursion, and
the wall of anguish that arose at
sight OF the victims was heartrend-
ing Fathers, mothers, brothers and
sisters rushed about frantic stricken,
endeavoring to identify friends.
By seven o'clock about SO bodies
were recovered from under the
wreck. Almost every minute some
victim was brought to the
surface and conveyed to the
bank. The steamer Prince Louise
was early brought to the spot and
the victims placed on the upper deck.
Fires were lighted on the bank over
looking the river. Petroleum torches
were brought and search was con~
tinued until night. About $50
corpses have been secured. Among
the dead are Jas. Robertson, mana
ger of the bank Of British North
America, J. C. Moindith, clerk of the
dividend court, VIM. Mcbride, as~
spssor and secretary Of the Western
Fair A 3ociation, Mrs. VIM. Ash
bury, VIM. Millman. of Montreal,
commercial agent, and two sons,
J. Rogers, plumber. All is confu
sion at the present moment. The
landing at the foot of Dunbars
street is now crowded with people,
all waiting in breathless expectation
for the arrival of the steamer prin-
cess Louise with the bodies. The
total loss will aggregate ITS. Mr..
Matthews, night editor of the Ad-
vertiser, lost his wife and two chill
dren; Harry Stewart, of the Free
Press, lost his wife, two children and
a sister-in -law; Mr.. J. Siddons, Of
the customs service, lost one boy !;
DIR. Orokajaka lost a boy aged 10
years, and Miss Bayley. Among the
missing are also Alice Deadmond, of
New Brighton; Miss Grifiths, of
Bucks street, and Alfred Trimble,
all of whom are probably lost. A
full list cannot be obtained All
is in the deepest confusion
The newspaper staffs, like all
else are sadly demoralized, all having
friends involved in the calamity. The
whole city seems almost demented
,, to night. The accident was certainly
due to gross carelessness. The boat
was overcrowded to disgraceful ex-
tent. The manager, George Parish,
was expostulated with by several at
: Spring Bank, and urged not to let
the boat go out in that overcrowded
condition, but he is reported to have
replied: ''All right. [ know my
business" or something of that sort.
Samuel Stewart, S one merchant, one
of those who protested, left the boat
at Spring Bank with his family
) Several hundred N, re remained
there unable to get passage, and had
to walk home, a distance of four
miles Tonight, no conveyance being
available. The telephone was in
constant use between he water
works and the city by friendly in
: quiries. This disaster will put an
end to pleasure steamer business, as
l hereafter the people will not venture
The river, which has been the sub
ject of many jokes and puns on ac-
count of its supposed shallowness, is
: in reality in m.ny places 20 or sc
feet deep.
320 a. m-The work of recover
ing the bJdies at the scene of yes
terday's disaster is still going on
actively. Up to this time ITO have
been found and most of them were
brought to this city. All the
! under ak ers' shops are besieged
and d cotfns are going out by
= the score. The crowds at the river
:, pahk and at the steamer landing
i have not diminished. Among the
\ bodies identified are those Of two
Ii daughters of James Burns. The
excitement seems to increase as
: night advances. A large number O.
bodies remain on the grounds at the
= sulphur springs baths awaiting
= claimants.
:, Boiler Explosion in Memphis.
!, MEMPHIS, May 25.-Yesterday af,