The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-02
FRIGHTFUL DISASTER,

The Steamer Victoria Sinks With SIX
Hundred Passenger AbOard-TwO Hum
dred and Thlrfy.Eight Dead ROdIes He
covered-Solemn scenes-A PassenEer's
StOry-The Dead. - -l+- f1 .
The excursion steamer Victoria, running be-
tween London, Ontario, and Spring Lake, q dis
tance of four miles, on the evening of the oath
inst, sunk in twelve feet of water with six hun
dred passengers aboard. She had made three
trips during the day, and was returning from
the fourth trip. aasa % ,t5s- s.. sa.
All went well on the down trip, though the
boat was so heavily laden that she shipped
water in small quantities occasionally when the
crowd would happen to surge to any particular
side. On the return trip, when more than half
way home, a slight commotion on the boat,
said by some to have been the playful pranks
of a number of youths ont the lower deck, and by
others ascribed to the boat striking on snag
caused the crowd out of curiosity to rush to
one side, and as the side of the boat sank with
the additional weight, volume 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
side, and their weight together with that of the
water shipped by the boat, caused her to lurch
In the opposite direction. ~ - 5a
Then it was that the disaster occurred. The
side of the boat sank in the water to a depth of
one or two feet, and while the crowd on the
lower deck were struggling to save themselves
from slipping down into the river the stanch-
ions supporting the upper decks suddenly gave
way, and the whole structure, with it's load of
human beings went down on those who were
below, crushing them on deck and rendering
escape out of the question. It would be i'm
possible to describe the scene that followed.
The boat continued to settle on its side deeper
into the water, taking with it many of the pas
sengers who were stunned by the fall of the
upper deck and were unable to help themselves
Scores sank into the water without effort,
while many others, who were precipitated into
the river unhurt, rent the air with their vain
appeal for that succor which those of the pas
sengers who were safe were powerless to ex-
tend. The utmost exertions were put forth to
rescue as many drowning men as possible, and
many were saved from watery grave. eszs'.'ss
As soon as possible help was secured, and the
work of recovering the bodies from the river
and from the wreck proceeded with The
bodies were placed on the steamboat Louise as
fast as they were brought up, and then taken
to the company's docks, where the task of
identification began. The accident occurred at
about quarter past six, and it was midnight
before the bodies SO far recovered were taken
back to the city. Here most heartxending
scene ensued. The bodies as fast g transferred
from the steamer were laid out in rows ON the
grass by the river side, one hundred and sew
enty-eight in all, all in their holiday assiro, and
with the aid Of torches faces were eagerly
scanned by hundreds Of anxious friends looking
for their missing 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 followed the identified
ton Of relations. Perhaps 1t Is Q mother who
discovers her child or children parent. One
man was heard inquiring for four children.
As fast as the corpses were claimed they were
taken in charge by their friends and removed
to their homes. r~-r-r- es
When the water was let on by the removal
Of the plash boards search was continued TO,
those under the lower deck, and twenty-five
more bodies were brought to the surface, max
ing about 200 in all recovered.
The work Of seaching for bodies continued
the day following, and by 1880 at night the
number Of bodies recovered numbered 23s.
Aoommittee nf citizens has been organized
70 bury the neglected, and public monument
win be erected overlooking the scene Of the
disaster. Bays the account. "Almost all bus
| mess is at standstin and crowds line the
streets, discussing the sAd calamity. The
burial Of the victims is proceeding. A solemn
stiffness is prevailing in the city. The flags are
at half mast and the bells are tolling . knell.
5Later accounts Of the Victoria disaster tend
only to increase the horrors Of that sad calam
ity. In several cases entire families, with ont
or two exceptions, have been wiped out. In
stances, that Of Mr.. Joseph Coughlin, Whose
children and grandchildren, numbering five
are lying dead in the house. His daughter
Jennie, was married to a young man namet
swazzie, the day before the accident, th,
couple were both drowned. The family of w
Hall loses five in one house. A dispatch say
men can hardly speak to each other withou
breaking down. The scenes Of burial wer'
very solemn. The longest nrooesai0n was Der