Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-06-04
LATER.

LONDON, Ont, May %.
Up to the present time 1880 p. M 23S bodies
lave been recovered. 1t is believed there are
several yet beneath the wreck
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
About four o'clock in the afternoon the Vic
toria, of the Thames Navigation Companys
line, started from the dock on her fourth and
her last trip for the day with large load of
passengers of all ages, variously estimated, at
from 400 to 6O1 All went well on the down
trip, though the boat was so heavily laden that
she shipped water in small quantities occa-
sionally, when a crowd would happen to surge
to any particular side.
On the return trip, when more than half
way home, slight commoton 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
on snag, caused the crowd out of curiosity,
10 rush to the side, and as he side Of the boat
sank with additional weight, volume OF
water foot or rye g. aa''fs en,trpd m,npap
the lower deck, which was crowded with pas
sengers. Instantly the crowd on both decks
rushed to the opposite side, and their weight
together with that OF the waite shipped by the
boat, caused it 10 lurch in the opposite dir2c-
| ton. Then IL was that the disaster occurred
| The side of the boat sank in the water 10 the
depth of one or two feet, and while tho crowd
| of people on the lower deck were struggling to
save themselves from slipping down into the
river, the stanchions supporting the uppe
deck suddenly gave way, and the who
structure with its load of human beings came
down on those who were below, crushing them
on the deck and rendering e scape out OF the
question. i''
1t Is impossible to describe the scene that
followed The boat continued TO settle on its
side deeper into the water, taking with 4
many of the passengers who were stunned by
the fall OF the upper deck, and were unable
to help themselves Scores sank in the water
without an effort, while many others, who
were precipltated into the river unhurt rent
the air with their vain appeals for that succor
which those passengers who were safe were
powerless to extend
The utmost exertions were put forth to res.
cue as many of the drowning ones as possible,
and many were saved from watery grave.
As soon as possible help was secured and the
work of recovering the bodies from the river
and from the wreck proceeded with. The bod,
les we're placed on the steamboat Louise as
fast as they we're brought up, and then taken
, to the company docks, where the tE.sk of iden
tifcation began. 'A
The accident occurred at aboue 6l5, and il
was midnight before tho bodies so far recov-
cred were brought back to the city. Here a
most heart-rending scene erst ed. The bodies,
as fast as transferred from the steamers, wero
laid out in rows on the grass by the river side
I all in their holiday attire, AMI with the aid OF
, torches, the faces were eagerly scanned by
hundreds of anxious friends looking for theil
missing ones.
goody proportion Of the drowned are meI
In middle life, and many are children OF ten
der years. Many were the walls of sorrow
which followed the identificat on of relatives
Perhaps it is the mother who discovers he
child, or children a parent One man wa
heard inquiring for four children. As fast a
= corpses were claimed they were taken il
charge by their friends, and removed to thei
: homes.
INCIDENTS.
small lad, In his fall into the water, strucl
b. on the back of Mr.. william Ashburg who's
6 wife was drowned). MIR. Ashburg felt the OF
: 1ect on his shoulders weigh heavily, and, no
II knowing what in was shook to free himsel
from his Imam of the sea-" All to no purpose
however. The little chap hung on with tn
j. desperation of despair and Mr.. Ashburg wa
: able to reach the shore more dead than aliv'
= No more desperate struggle for life eve
,, took place than that in which Nicholas Wilso
engaged Immediately after the disaster Al
pretending the danger, he told his newl!
= married wife TO cling to the railing, and a mi
i ment later he found himself tiounderingin th
% water. Strange TO say, Mrs. Wilson VIZ
% thrown directly into his arms and selling hi
firmly, he struck out for shore. On the wa
!. a strong, big man, overcome with fear, seizs
him by the throat, and hung there f
dear life. The whole three must 'uevit
u bly, have sunk but for Mr.. Wilson
2. presence of mind. He seized the fellow vii
ty his teeth, and bit him with all his FORCE II
IN hold was then relaxed, and with weakent
II strength, and still bearing his wife in his arm
- he struggled toward the shore. But fe
:. :. feet had been passed, however, before be vi
ID again seized with a vise-like grip by a drow
ing man, and in the struggle he lost his wifi
IN He reached the shore exhausted and look
. about to see his wife saved, in some una
countable way, by his side. They bpth thu
became unconscious.
b. Tho building improvements in Ss
a Lake City for the coming season, it
elk estimated, viii reach the value of 81
O0o OOn