Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-06-01

LONDON, ONT, May 25.-The follow
ing account is furnished, giving further
details of the terrible calamity Of yes
! terday: 1t was the first day of the sea-
son for the excursion boats to run re"
gular trips, and this circumstance, taken
in connection with the public holiday,
naturally drew large crowds of pleasure
seekers to the river Trips were made
down the river distance Of about four
miles to Spring Bank, place OF popu'
lar resort, where the city water-works
are located, and three or four local
steamboats, took down large loads OF
excursionIsts at regular intervals
throughout the Cay. About 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon the Victoria, of the
Thames Navigation Company's line,
started from the dock on her fourth and
last trip for the day with large load Of
passengers, of all ages, yariously esti-
mated at from 400 to 600 in number.
HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
All went we'll on the downward trip,
though the boat was so heavily laden
that she shipped water 10 small quantl-
ties 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 beel
caused by the playful pranks ofa num-
Der OF youths on the lower deck, and BY
others ascribed 70 the boLt striking on
snag, caused the crowd, out ofcuriOsitY,
to rush to one side, and, as the side OF
the boat sank with the additional
weight, volume of water, q 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 lurch 10
the opposite direction. Then 1t was
that the disaster occurred. The side OF
the boat sank in the water to the depth
of one or two feet, and while the crowd
on the lower deck were struggling to
save themselves from slipping down in-
to the river, the stenchions supporting
the upper decks suddenly gave way,
and the whole structure, with its load of
human beings, came down on those
who we're below, crushing them on the
deck and rendering escape impossible.
The scene that followed cannot be des'
cribed. The boat continued to settle
on its side deeper into the water, tax"
ing with it many Of the passengers who
were stunned by the fall Of the upper
deck, and were, therefore, unable to
help themselves, Scores sank into the
water without consciousness OF their
fate, while many others, who were pre-
cipitated into the river unhurt, rent the
air with their vain appeals for that
succor which those of the passengers
who were safe were powerless to extend
to all in a moment.
THE RESCUED AND LOST.
The utmos. exertions were put forth
to rescue as many of the drowning ones
as possible. and many were in this way
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 was proceeds
ed 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 oi
Identification began. The accident oc'
Cured at about a-quarter past six, and
il was midnight before the bodies 80 Tar
recovered were brought to the city,
Here a most heart-renderiu scene en-
sued. 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 for their missing ones. A good"
ly portion of the drowned are men IN
middle life, and many are children OF
tender years. Many were the walls OF
sorrow which followed the Identification
of relative. Perhaps 1t is a mother,
who discovers her child, or the children
a parent. Que man was heard inqulr-
inc for four children. As fast as the
corpses were claimed they were taken
in charge by their friends and removed
to their homes. The utmost confusion
prevails, and at present it is impossible
| to secure a complete list of the drown
ed, but many prominent citizens and
their families are included IN the num-
Der.
When the water was left off by The
removal Of the plash boards this mern-
ling, search was continued for those
unde- the 10 yer deck, aud p more DO
dies were brought to the surface, max
| ing about 200 in ali recovered. 1t Is
not known how many more, il any, are
lost.
STATEMENT OF A PASSENGER.
R.O. Montgomery, a leather mer-
chant, of Toronto, was on board, ou'
escaped and succeeded in saving many
others. He states that on the passage
up the captain went among the passen-
gers, urging them to keep on the other
,ide. To one boy he said: "For Gods
sake keep on the other side; 1t you DO
not you'll have to swim Tor IT," a
little later Mr.. Montgomery saw the
| - - 4. oyar Tho dock and the