Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-26


aster of the sinking of the steamboat Victoria
yesterday, and the drowning of between Ii
and 200 persons, continues to absorb public
attention to the exclusion of all else. Th'
scene of the disaster has been visited by thou
sands of people to-day, and the sight has beer
the saddest ever witnessed. The search fol
friends and relatives has been kept up diligent
.-ly all day. The entire city is in mourning
The work of
SECURING THE DEAD
from under the wreck of the Victoria is stll
going actively on. One hundred and sew
enty bodies have been recovered, and most OF
them brought to the city. All the undertak
ers' shops are besieged, and collins are going
out by scores The crowds at the river bank
and steamer landing are not diminished
Among the identified are two daughters OF
James Barns The list of identified is still in
complete. A large number of bodies remain
on the grounds of the Sulphur Springs baths,
waiting claimants.
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
During yesterday large number of citizens
sought enjoyment in the various excursions
leading from the city to the adjoining towns,
and for Others the chief outdoor attraction
was a series of steamboat excursions on the
Thames river. This enjoyment was rendered
more attractive from the fact that this was the
first day of the season for boats to run on
regular trips, and this circumstance taken in
connection with the public holiday, naturally
drew large crowds of pleasure seekers to the
river The trips were made down the river
for distance of about four miles to Spring
bank, place of popular 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 day.
About O'Clock in the afternoon the Victory,
of the Thames Navigation companys line,
started from the dock on her fourth and last
trip for the day, with large load of passen-
gers of all ages, variously estimated at from
400 to 6O0 All went we'll 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 halfway home, slight commotion, said
by some to have been playful planks of num-
Der of youths on the lower deck, by them as
cribed 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 ad-
ditional weight, a
VOLUME OF WATER,
a foot or two in depth, poured in upon the
lower deck, which was crowded with passsen-
gers. Instantly the crowd on both decks rushed
TO the opposite side, and their weight, to-
gether with that of the water shipped by the
boat, caused lurch in the opposite direction.
Then it was that the disaster occurred. The
side of the boat sunk 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 into the river,
the stanchions supporting the upper decks
suddenly gave way, and the whole
structure with its load of human beings
came down upon those who were below,
crushing those who were on deck; and rem
dering escape out of the question. 1t is
IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE THE SCENE.
The boat continued to settle deeper on its
side, taking with it many of the passengers
who were stunned by the fall of the upper
deck, and who were unable to help themselves.
Scores sank in the water without an effort,
while many others who were precipitated into
the river uGhurt, rent the air with their vain
appeals for thpt succor which those of the
passengers who were safe were powerless to
extend. The utmost eXertions were put forth
to rescue 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 was proceeded
with. The bodies were placed on the steamer
Louise as fast as they were brought up, and
taken to the company's dock, where
THE TASK OF IDENTIFICATION
began. The accident occurred at about a
quarter past 6, and it was midnight before the
bodies, so far as recovered, were brought back
to the city. Here most heartrending scene
ensued The bodies, as fast as 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 friends
looking for their missing ones. A goodly
proportion of the drowned are men in middle
life, and many are children of tender age.
Many
WERE THE Walls OF SORROW
which followed the Identification of relatives,
perhaps of a mother who discovered her child,
or children parent. One man was heard en-
quiring 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. It
is impossible at present to secure complete
list of the drowned, but many prominent citi-
zens and their families are included In the
number.
MORE DEAD RECOVERED.
When the water was let off by removal of
the plasb boards the search was continued for
those under the lower deck, and twenty-five
more bodies were brought to the surface. II
is not known how many more, if any, are
lost.
COND0LENCE.
The city council met to-day and passed reso
lutions of coincidence. A settled gloom reigns
over the city.
R. o. Montgomery, leather merchant, Toron.
TO, was on board but escaped, and succeeded
in saving many others. He states that on the
passage up the captain went among the pas
sengers urging them to.keep on the other side
He said for Goods sake keep on the other
side, if you don't, you will have to swim fol
it." A little later on he saw the water passing
over the deck and the boiler go by the board
when the crash Immediately took place.
ls=Almost all business is at standstill, and
crowds line the streets discussing the sad ca
lamity. The burial of the victims, is at this
hour, 2:30 p. m, proceeding. A solemn still
ness prevails. The city flags are half mast
and bells tolling knell.
THE DROWNED.
The following is list of the drowned, SO
far as identified:
Mrs. VIM. Ashbury, Maple street.