Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-25
Terrible Disaster to Pleasure Steam
boat at London, Ont
A HEAVILY OVERLOADED BOAT
Falls to Pieces and Precipitates 600
People Into the River.
THE CALAMITY OVERWHELMING
| so Dead Bodies Recovered and Many
More Not Found.
TFRRIBIE DISASTER.


LONDON, May 24.--The steamer Victoria
plying between Land and Spring bank, cap
sized this evening on q return trip, and full
seyenty-five men women and children wer
drowned.
LONDON, Ont, May 24.-This evening at 81!
O'Clock when the steamer Victoria, with 60'
eXcursionsts on board, was returning from
Spring Bank, aud when near the covered
bridge, one mile below the city, the boat sud
denly collapsed like an egg SHE'LL and became
total wreck level with the waters edge
All the passengers were instantly plunged intC
the stream, more than hall of them being
underneath the debris. The first news which
reached here, was brought by survivors, who
struggled through the streets, wet and weari
IL. The news fell like thunderbolt, and
stampede took place for the spot. Arriving
there, horrible sight met the view. Fifty OF
sixty bodies had already been recovered and
were lying in the greensward some distance
up the bank Those arriving from the city
from every direction crowded around the
bodies to see if any relatives were on board.
Several hundred families were represented on
the excursion. The
Wall OF ANGUISH
that arose 1T the sight of the victims was
heart rending. Fathers, mothers and brothers
rushed about panic stricken, endeavoring to
identify relatives. By o'clock about eighty
bodies were recovered from under the wreck,
where the water was twelve feet deep.
Almost every minute some victim was
brought to the surface and conveyed to the
shore. The steamer Princess Louise was early
brought to the spot and the victims placed on
the upper decks. Fires were lit on the bank
overlooking the river, and petroleum torches
were brought, and the search continues up 10
the present hour.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CoRPSEs HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED.
Among the dead are Jas. Robertson,
manager of the bank of British North Amer
lea, c. Meredith, Wm. NJ. Mcbride, assessor
and secretary of the Western Fair association,
Mrs. VIM. Ashbury, VIM. Wellman, of
the Montreal Commercial, agent and two
sons, and j. Rogers, plumber. All in confu-
sion at the present moment. The landing at
the foot of Dundas street is now crowded with
people, ali waiting in breathless expectation
for the arrival of the steamer Princess with
the bodies. The total loss of life will aggre-
gate 175.
ADDITIONAL CASUALTIES. e.
The following is an additional list OF casual
ties: John Clark, shoemaker; Mrs. Cox, Nellie,
Johnny and Willie Morrison, three children of
j. Morrison, London East; Lillian Skinner,
Hobbs, plumber, and three children; A
Westman, Lizzie Barkerstille, John Darch'
Sr.; Miss Connell, Willie Clan and Miss Nan.
ME Cooper, daughter of John Cooper, his af
iianced. These two were sitting together
when the machinery was observed
to fall oyer upon them. Mr.. Matthews, night
editor of the Advertiser, lost his wife and two
children. Harry Smart, of the Free Press,
lost his wife and two children. Mr.. ]. Sid
,dens, of the customs, lost one boy. DR.. Or
anhyette, boy aged 10. Miss Baylie is among
the missing. Also Alice Deadman, of New
Brighton; Miss Griffiths, of Buck street
Albert Teremble is probably lost.
A full list cannot yet be obtained. All is in
the
DEEPEST CONFUSION.
The newspaper stats, like all other, are sadly
he calamity. The whole city seems almost
.demented tonight. The accident was certain
ilydue to gross carelessness. The boat was
covercrowded to disgraceful extent. Major
Geo Parish was expostuated to by several at
Spring Bank, and urged not to let the boat go
out in that oyererowded condition, but he is
reported to have replied ''all right, | know
my business" or something Of that so rt.
Mr. Samuel Stewart, stove IN erchant, one
Of those who protested, left the boat at
Spring Bank, with his family. Several
hundred more remained there unable
10 get passage and had to walk home, a dis
lance of 4 miles, tonight no conveyance of
any kind being available, The telephone was
in constant use between the water works and
city, by friendly inquiries. This disaster has
put an end to the pleasure steamer business,
as hereafter people will not venture on the
river.