The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-06-02

over six hundred excursionists on board, was
returning from Spring Bank, and when near
the Cave rail way bridge, one mile below the
city, the boat suddenly collapsed like an
egg she'll, and became total wreck, ana
Is now level with the waters
edge. All the passengers we're instantly
plunged into the stream, more IMAM
one half o. them being uader the debris
The first news of the disaster which mas
reached the city was brought by survivors,
who struggled through the streets wet ana
weary. :.
The news fell like thunderbolt and o
stampede took place for the spot. Arriving
there horrible sight met their view. fry
or sixty bodies had already been recovered,
and are living on 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 in the excursion, and the
wall of anguish that arose at tue sight OF tne
victims was heart rending. Fathers, moth
ers, brolhers and sisters rushed about panic
stricken, endeaVoring to identity
friends. By seven o'clock
about eighty bodies were recovered from
unaer the wreck. Almost every minute
some ViCtlm was DCouSub W VIC euiA"So "i'N
conveyed to the bank.
a.The steamer Princess Louise was early
brought to the spot ard the victims placed on
the upper deck. Fires we're lighted on the
bank overlooking the river, and petroleum
torches werebrought and search continued
till night.
About one hundred and fifty corpsss have
been secured. Among the dead are Joseph
Robertson, manager of the Bank of British
America; j. 9. Meredith, clerk of the district
court; VIM. Mcbride, assessor and secretary
of the Western Fair association; Mrs. Will
liam Ashbury; William Wilmer, OF the
Montreal commercial agency, end two sons OF
j. Rogers Plummer.
All is confusion at the present
moment. Tho landing at the foot of Dun
das street ia now crowded with people. ali
waiting in bresthless expectation for the
arrival of the steamer Princess Louise with
the bodies.
The total loss will aggregate 175. MIR.
Matthews night editor of the Adver User, lost
his wife and two children; Harry Smart of
the Free Press, lost his wife, two children
and sister-in>law; Mr.. j. Siddons, of the
Customs, lost ono boy; Dr.. Oronkyateks,
lost boy, aged zen, and Miss Bailey.
Among the missing are also Alice Deadman,
L
street, 81 Alfred Trimple, probably lost. a
deepest confusion. IT'S newspaper stats like
all the rest are sadly demorslized, all having
friends involved 10 the calamity.
The whole city seems almost demanted
to.nlght The accident was surely due to
gross csrelessness. Tho boat vas over
crowded to disgraceful extent.
Manager George Parish was expostulated
with by several at Spring Bank, and was
urged not to let the boat 20 out in that
over crowded condition, but he is reported to
have replied, "all RIGHT; 1 know my bust
ness" or something to that effect. Sam
Thwsrt, stove merchant, and one OF
those who protested, left the boat
at Spring Bank, while several hundred moro
remsino1 there unable to get passage. The
distance is four miles.
Tonight no conveyance of any kind being
available, the telephone was in constant use
between the water works and city.
This disaster will put an enc. to pleasure
steamer business, as hereafter the people will
not venture on the river. which has hereto
fore been subject of jokes and puns on
account of its supposed shallowness. It is
ia reality in many places twenty or thirty
feet Deep
The work of recovering bodies at the scene
OF yesterdays disaster is still going on
rapidly. Up to this time 170 have been
found and most of them were brought TO this
city. All the undertskers' shops are be-
sieged, and oofins are going out by the
score.
The crowds at the river bank and steamer
landing have not diminished. Among the
bodies ldentlned are those of two daughte
of James Burns. The excitement seems 10
increase as night advances, and large
number of bodies remain on the ground at
Sulphur springs baths, awaiting claimants.
Further details of the scenes q, the time Of
the occurrences of the terrible amity, have
been received. The vessel was so heavily
laden that she shipped water in small guam
tiles occasionally, when the crowd would
happen to either side of the boat On the
return trip, when more than half way home,
o slight commotion occurred on board
said by some tohaye been caused
BY the playful prsnks Of al
Number of youths on the lower deck,
\snsg, causing the crowd, out Of curl
70 rush 10 ono side, and the side
be boat sunk with additional weight.
pes Of water foot or two in depth
in over the lower deck, which was
with passengers. Instantly the
o both decks rushed 10 TIE opposite |
their weight, together with that of
shipped by the boat caused
be opposite direction. Then It was
sstef occurred. The side Of the |
wster 10 the depth Of one 10 |
while the crowd on the lower |
struggliLg 70 save themselves |
g down into The river,
supporting the upper decks
way, and The whole structure
human beings came down on
below. TIE scens which
be described. The boat
tie IN deeper water, The
Il many passengers who
the fall Of the upper
erefors unsbls 20 help
many, precipiisied
unburt, rsrt The
NJ vain sppe.ls
lof The passengers who
ss 70 srtend aid
ere recovered to-day
deck Of the vssssl,
Cd in al recovered.
fny more If any,
. Et.nd siiIl. ana