Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-03
Death on a Pleasure Excursion.

TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE PER-
SONS DROWNED IN THE TWINKLING OF
AN EYE.THRILLING SCENES ON THE
CROWDED LITTLE STEAMER, &C., sc.
Queen Victoria's birth day was celebra-
ted by various excursions from London.
Canada, on Wednesday, May 25th They
we're chiefly made to beautiful little ISL
and about four miles below the city and
chiefly in small and over crowded steam
ers. The steamer which broke down and
caused the terrible disaster was the Vic
toria,'' only eighty feet long, and yet hay
ing from four to six hundred cursjonists
on board. The little steamer left her wharf
about O'Clock in the afternoon on her re-
turn trip. The following is the statement
of Capt. Rankin, the Captain of the boat:
s'After we started a number Of people
on tine lower deck began singing anu NOV
around. Presently l noticed slightly
different action On the boat, and | sent
boy down to the engineer to ascertain If
there was any danger. He returned with
word from the engineer that unless we
could straighten the boat there was danger
1 was looking forward to sand bar about
two hundred yards ahead, on which L in
tended to beach the boat. just then two
row boats came alongside, the occupants
of which were racing. The crowd rushed
to the side of the boat to see them. The
engineer then sent up word that the wa
ter was coming in. just then the crowd
made rush 10 the port side, and as they
did so, the vessel took lurch and went
with the port bow down. Then the boiler
shifted from its position and went through
the side, and as she went it carried away
the main deck with the crowd on it. There
were not 100 people on the lower deck, be-
cause the space below was largely taken
up with the boiler and machinery. The
aft part Of the boat went down, but the
fore part came to the surface, and the
boat was spread about six feet apart. The
result was that many of the passengers
were imprisoned between the water and
top deck, but they had a breathing space
many had not the others persisted in
climbing Oh the floating deck, thus crush
ing it down and smothering those under
meath. l rescued one man who had been
under this deck for four minutes before it
went down. | did all [ could to prevent
the people from climbing on it.. A great
number had the presence Of mind to swim
out from under the deck at the side or end
and in this way were saved. In few min
utes all who were thus imprisoned were
drowned. do not think we had more than
$50 on board, because there Is not standing
room On the boat for more, at eight inch
eS space for each person"
In one spot two babies lay side by side,
their faces turned toward each other, and
were Ii not for the surroundings one would
imagine they were sleeping peacefully. In
another place a gray-haiTed man lay mo-
tionless in death and fair-haired girl
alongside of him while in another direc-
ton lay woman, with frightful cash IN
her forehead, caused. no doubt. by the
crashing timbers Of the upper deck of the
Victoria when she capsized. AS soon as
the upper deck of the Princess Louise was
covered with corpses the lower deck Was
used, and about ITS bodies had been recov-
cred and brought back to the city. Here
a most heart-rending scene ensued. The
bodies, as fast as they were transferred
from the steamer, were laid out in rows
on the grass by the river side, all in their
holiday attire, and with the aid of torches
the faces were eagerly scanned by hundreds
of anxious friends looking fer their MISS
ing ones. A goodly proportion of the
drowned are men in middle life, and many
are children Of tender years. Many were
the walls Of SORROW which folio wed the
Identification of relative. Perhaps it
was mother who discovered her child, or
the children a parent. One man was heard
inquirlng for four children. AS fast as
the corpses were claimed they were taken
in charge by their friends, and removed to
their homes.
Many prominent citizens and their fam
lilies are included in the number of the
drowned. Among them are Mr.. j. G.
Merideth Clerk OF ths Division Court, and
father of W. r. Meredith, NJ. 2. P; Will
lioy Moi 40 md pt.3rV
of the Western Fair Association; w. Ii.
Millmap, COMMERCIAL traveller of Mon
treal, and two sons; Nellie Morrison, John
Morrison, BERTHE Morrison, children of
James Morrison, of LONDON, East; Mrs.
Matthews, wife Of the night editor OF the
advertiser" and two children; Mary
Mcpherson. aged Is, daughter of Mr..
Archibald Mcpherson, of Lang 81 McPher-
son; son of DR.. Oronyatekba. an Indian
chief; Mr.. Herbert: puIser. and son OF the
manager of the boat; Mr.. A. B. Powell
and two nephews; Manager Robertson CT
the Bank of British North America: Mrs
Smart, wife of II. Smart Of the Free
Press" and two children; Mr.. j. 9. Sid
don of the Customs. and Lizzie Skinner,
daughter of Alderman Skinner.
Many were the heartrending scenes that
occurred on board the boat. Geo. Evans
of Maitland street went on board where
che bodies were lying, fearful that his
family might be among the lost. After
searching for a time he was about to turn
away when be discovered the corpse of his
golden-haired little girl. He took her in
his arms and sank down with grief. Be
side the body lay that Of another little
child, whom Mr.. Evans did not recognize.
An hour later, however, he took his hand
kerchief and on Wiping off the little face
he exclaimed: my God, here's another
little one of mine" Sitting, nursing and
weeping over the forms of his two dead
children, he remained for another hour.
Near by was the form of a woman. well
dressed and comely. Searchers for friends
came along, one by one, peering wistfully
into the upturned faces. ard at length some
one suggested that the watch of this lady
be examined for initials. AS the chain
was being drawn ont Mr.. Evans said, II
know that trinket. Merciful God, it's my
wife! Then my two other children are
still in the water.
Charles Matthews, the night editor of
the s'Advertiser,'' was on board with his
wife and two children. When the disas-
ter occurred he sprang off into the water
with one child, and succeeded in reaching
the shore. His wife, however, and the
other child were found among the drowned.
Every effort was made to restore life, but
in vain, and the frantic husband went sad
ly home with his only remaining child.
Mr.. FL. BlatOn, the halter, was nearly
in the centre of the deck when the boat
capsized, and, taking child in each arm,
he sank below the surface. In the strug-
gle of the next two moments he lost his
two little ones, and he himself was drown
ing below the deck, when he felt the body
of woman move past him. Selling hold
of the dress, be was drawn out. Some one
had broken a hole in the deck. His two
little children were lost.
In another case mother. whose child
had been torn from her by the crash. saw
Its clothing appear above the water. With
cry of There's my darling!" she ran
! waist deep into the water, and clasped her
dead child in her arms. Two men dragged
The mother and child ashore. This WIS