The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-06-02
THE NEWS.
The Victoria Disaster.

Inc NLCtOI1h DtSttStct.
| LONDON, Ont, May 25.-During the
enjoyment in the various excursions
leading from the city to adjoining towns
and for others the chief outdoor attrac-
tlon was a series Of steam boat eXcur-
sions on Thomas river. This enjoyment
was rendered more attractive from the
fact that this was the first day of the sea-
son for boats to run regular 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,
q 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
Victoria, Ofthe Thames Navigation Com
pany line, started from the dock on her
| fourth and last trip for the
day with large load of
passengers of all ages-vsriOusly esti-
mated at 400 to Goo All went well 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 par
ticular side. On the return trip, when
more than half way home, a slight COM
motion on the boat, said by some to
have been the playful pranks of num-
Der of youths on the lower deck. and by
others ascribcd TO the boat striking on q
snag, caused the crowd, out of curiosity,
to rush to one side of the boat. Sunk
with the additional weight, q volume of
water loot or two in depth, poured in
upon the lower deck, which was crowded
with NIL lRa nd
both decks rushed to the other side, and
their weight, together with that of the
water shipped by the boat caused
lurch in the opposite direction. 1t was
then that the disaster occurred. The
side of the boat sank in the water TO a
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 away and
the whole structure, with its load OF hui
man beings, came down on those below,
crushing them on the deck and render
ing escape out of the question. It Is
impossible to describe the scene that
followed. The boat continued to settle
on its side deeper into the water, taking
with her many of the passengers who
were stunned by the fall of the upper
deck and were unable TO help themselves.
Scores sank in the water without an eff
fort, while many others, who were pre-
cipitatcd into the river unhurt, rent the
air with their vain appeals for that sue
cor which those of the passengers who
were safe were pOwerless 20 extend. The
utmost exertions were put forth TO res
cue as many of the drowning ones as
possible, and many were saved from a
watery grave. AS soon as possible help
was procured, and the work of recover
ing the bodies from the river and from
the wreck proceeded 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 of Identification began. The acct
dent occurred at about 6 rs in the even
ing, and it was midnight before the bod
les so far recovered were brought back
to the city.
TORoNTo, May 26-Official papers
bearing ON an inspection of the steamer
Victoria, which collapsed at London,
were forwarded to Ottawa to-day by
Sandy Risley, government steamboat in
spectOr of this city. He looked on her
as safe for river traffic. She was in
spected twice year-first in May and
again in October.
LONDON, Ont, May 26.-The bodies
from the Victoria wreck, still unclaimed,
are being enclosed in shells, and remov-
ed to the drill shed, where they can be |
visited by friends in search of missing
ones. The story of the disaster as given |
US by competent witnesses who were on |
board, shows that the i'll fated vessel was |
on her last trip and that setting out from |
Spring Land to return to the city she |
had nearly all her passengers on her way |
down and in addition large numbers |
who were waiting On the wharf to be |
conveyed home. The number on board |
on the return trip is estimated at 200, q
burden out of all proportion to the /
strength and capacity of the vessel.
LONDON, Ont, May 27.-Up to mid |
night SO interments had taken place at |
Mount Pleasant cemetery; IS at st. |
Peters Roman Catholic burying ground; |
40 at Woodland cemetery, and SO In the |
country. Two features in connection
with the catastrophe are provoking no |
little comment. One of these is the |
rapacity of cab men who took advantage
of the large number of funerals, to make |
exorbitant charges for the use of
their vehicles, and the other is the
apathy of Middlesex county Off |
cials and the proprietors of the wrecked |
steamer in the matter of aiding in the
recovery of bodies from the Victoria 1
kilograms proffering pecuniary aid |
have been received by the mayor
Amongst others Dunn, Wyman & Co, of
New York, send check for a hand
some amount