Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-06-08
RRIBLE DISASTER.
SUDDEN COLLAPSE OF AN EXCURSION
sTEAMER-oN HUNERED AND SEW.
ENTY.FIyE PERSONS DROWNED.

and the Navigation Company of th0
8 stream has three pleasure boats whic
carry excursionists to the groves an
Summer resorts'in the vicinity. Nor
day, May 23d, being the Queens birth
day, many people went down the rive
for holiday to Springbank, a favorit
suburb, yesterday the rates were low
cred to accommodate many more. o
the boats employed, the Victoria wa
an old one, but it had been satisfactori
ly repaired this Spring and approved
by the manager of the line, Geo. Par
rish, and put on for her first trip oil
Tuesday,
The boats ran full all day and at
P. NJ. there was a great rush for ac
commodations on the return trip, Tht
Victoria left Springbank about P. NJ
with about 400 men, women and
children on board, and the crowd wa.
so great that the manager was expos
tulated with and urged not to let the
boat go out in that overcrowded con
dltion, but he replied "All right,
know my business" Mr.. Samuel Stew.
art, stove merchant, one of those who
protested, left the boat at Springbank
with his family. Several hundred more
remained there, unable to get passage,
and had to walk home, distance Of
four miles, no conveyances of any kind
being available. They escaped wa.
terry grave by that necessity, The
boat stopped first at Wards dock and
left there safely, but overcrowded and
shaky and proceeded along slowly. A
band was on board-said to have been
a detachment of the band of the Sew.
enth Fusiloers, (mihtia) land the peo
pie on board had cleared a space on
deck for dancing, thus throwing the
crowd on the forward part Of the boat.
The evening was fine but somewhat
foggy On reaching the Woodland
Park dock 20Omore people were crowd.
ed on board. As the vessel swung out
from Cove railroad bridge, q mile be.
low the city, she keeled little to one
side, and the excurslonists, now mum.
bering 600, rushed to the other side.
The boat gave a lurch and sank al.
most immediately, going completely to
pieces. Her small boats and life belts
were IN good order but the vessel cap.
sized so suddenly and was smashed so
quickly that there was not time to use
them. Boats at once put out from the
shore and the crews of o few skiffs on
the river made haste to the spot and
took off large numbers. The Victoria
was lying almost on her side and the
people were clinging to the boat and
the wreckage that hoated from her.
The men made desperate efforts to save
their wives and children, but in the
confusion in was a hard matter to rec.
ognize face, and the cries for help
coming from every side, familiar voices
could not be distinguished in the ap.
palling uproar.
Meantime the crowd of interested
people, awaiting in vain the arrival Of
their friends at the Ontario dock, were
startled by the first news that reached
the city, brought by survivors who
struggled through the streets, wet and
weary. The news fell like a thunder
bolt, and stampede took place for the
spot,
Arriving there horrible sight met
their view. Fifty or sixty bodies had
already been recovered and were w.
ing on the green sward some distance
up the bank Those arriving from
the city from every direction crowded
around, anxious to see if any relatives
were on board. About one thousand
families were represented on the OK.
cursion, and the wall of anguish that
arose at the sight of the victims
was heart-rending. Fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters rushed about panic
stricken cndcavoring to identity their
friends.
By seven o'clock about eighty bodies
we're recovered from under the wreck.
Almost every minute some victim was
brought to the surface and conveyed
% the bank. The steamer Princess
Louise was early brought to the spot
md the victims were placed on the up
Der decks. Fires were lighted on the
'ank overlooking the river, petroleum
orchcs were brought and the search
vas continued until night The fol.
owing dispatch today indicates the
'xtent and further details of the awful
'alamity which has stricken the city:
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY coRPsEs.
LONDON, Ont, May 25-3:2O, A. NJ.
The work of recovering bodies at
he scene of yesterdays disaster is still
,oing on actively. Up to this time
40 have been found and most of them
we're brought to this city. All the
Indertaker shops are besieged, and
ofiins are going out by the score.
The crowds at the river bank and at |
ho steamer landing have not dimin. |
shed. The excitement seems to in. {
rease as the night advances. The I
st Of the identified is still incomplete. |
! large number Of bodies remain on /
he grounds at the Sulphur Spring I
ath awaiting claimants. |
LATER. q
LONDON, Ont, May 26.-It is esti. I
lated that 700 persons were on board q
be steamer Victoria whom she capsiz. q
d in the Thames river on Tuesday Q
fternoon. OF this number about 24O n
ere lost. Captain Rankin says that J
tried to keep the crowd from com. s
g on board, but they rushed on tho :
ter part Of the boat as soon as il 1
ndad and hor... 4. LII -. =.