The Portland daily press., 1881-05-26
by TELEGRAPH.
THE LONDON DISASTER,
Even Worse than at First
Reported.
TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY
EIGHT BODIES RECOVERED.
Statements of Eyewitnesses Of the
Terrible Scene.
LONDON STREETS FULL OF WEEP.
ING MEN AND WOMEN.
Whole Families Swept Away in an
Instant.
LONDON STREETS FULL OF WEEP.
ING MEN AND WOMEN.
Whole Families Swept Away in ar
Instant.

LONDON, Ont, May 24-The following is an
additional list of the drowned by the capszlng
of the excursion steamer Victoria on the
Thomas river:
John Clark, shoemaker; Miss Cox, Nellie,
Johnny and Willie Morrison; three children of
James Morrison, merchant of London;
Lillian Skinner; j. Hobbs, plumber, and three
children A. Westman; Lizzie Baskerville;
John Darch. ST.; Miss Conneil Willie Glass
and Miss Fanny Cooper, daughter of John
Cooper,) his affianced. These two were sitting
together when the machinery was observed TO
fall over 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 and sister-in-law; Mr.. J.
| Siddons of Customs, lost one boy; Dr. Oron-
hyatekia lost his boy, aged 10; Miss Bayey is
among the missing; also Alice Deadman OF
New Brighton; Miss Grifliths, Albert Trem-
Bile is probably lost.
All is in the deepest confusion. The news
paper stats, like all else, are sadly democrat
lied, all having friends involved in the calam-
ity. The whole city is almost demented to-
night.
The accident was certainly due to gross care
lessness. The boat was overcrowded to a dis
graceful extent. Manager Geo. Parish was
eApostalated with by several at Spring Bank
and urged not to let the boat go out in that
ovefcrowded condition. but he is reported to
have replied, "All right, know my bust
ness
Mr.. Samuel Shewall, stove merchant, one
of those who protested, left the boat at Spring
Bank with his family. Several hundred more
remained there unable to get passage and
lad to walk home distance of miles at
night.
This disaster will put an end to the pleasure
| steamer business, as the people will not ven-
ture upon river which has been the subject
| OF many jokes and puns on account OF its sup
| posed Shallowness. 1t is. in reality, in many
| places 20 to 30 feet deep.
Hnt nho
work of saving is still, at 800, going actively
on. Upto this time ITO bodies have been
| recovered. Most of them have been brought
to this city. All the undertakers' shops are
besieged, and the collins are going out by the
score. The crowds at the river bank and
steamer landing have not diminished.
Among the identified are two daughters Of
| James Barns. The excitement seems to in
crease as the night advances. The list of the
| identified is still incomplete. A large num-
Der OF bodies remain On the grounds at Sulphur
| Springs Baths, awaiting claimants.
| The cause of the disaster is said by some to
have been the playful pranks of a number of
| youths on the lower deck, and by others is as
cribed to the boat striking on snag, which
caused the crowd out of curiosity to rush to
| che side, and as the side of the boat sank with
the additional weight, a volume of water a
| foot or two in depth poured upon the lower
| deck which was crowded with passengers. III
| sJantly the crowd on both decks rushed to the
| opposite side, and their weight with that of
| the water shipped caused q lurch in the op-
| posite direction. Then it was that the disas-
ter 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 struS-
| Cling to save themselves from slipping down
into the river, the stanchions supporting the
upper decks gave way and the whole
structure with its load of human beings, came
down on those below, crushing them on the
deck and rendering escape impossible. The
boat continued to settle on its side deeper in
the water, taxing with it many Of the passen-
gers who were stunned by the fall of the up
per deck and unable to help themselves
Scores sunk in the water without an effort,
while many others were precipitated into the
river unhnrt and rent the air with their vain
appeals for succor, which the passengers who
were safe were powerless to extend. The ut
most exertion were put forth to rescue as
many drowning ones as possible, and many
were saved from watery grave.
AS soon as possible help was secured and
the work of recovering bodies from the river
and wreck was proceeded with. Great con-
fusion prevails. Many prominent men and
their families are included among the victims.
LONDON, Ont, May 25.-3 P. M.-When the
water was let off by the removal of the plash
boards this morning search was continued for
these under the lower deck and % more bodies
were brought to the surface making about
200 in all recovered. 1t is not known how
many more if any are lost. The city council
to-day passed resolutions of confidence. Set
tied gloom reigns over this city. Many BUSH
ness places are closed. II. O. Montgomery,
leather merchant of Toronto, was on board
but escaped and succeeded in saving many
others. The burial of the victims is proceed
ing. a solemn stiffness prevails in the city,
flags are at halfmast and bells are tollng.
LONDON, May %, 1890 P. Mp to The
present time 238 bodies have been recovered
1t is believed there are several yet beneath the
wreck. A committee of citizens met this af-
ternoon to consider the situation. 1t was de-
cided to ask the mayor to proclaim tomorrow
a day of public mourning by suspension of bus
mess, to call upon those in Strengthened cir
cumstances and extend necessary relief, to
care.for such bodies as are neglected and devise
means for the erection of a monument. 1t is
probable such monument will be erected in
Woodland cemetery, on the banks of the river
almost overlooking sthe scene of the disaster
An inquest was begun this evening. The jury
formally viewed the body of Miss Fannie
Cooper and adjourned till tomorrow. A field
battery was called out this afternoon for the
purpose of blowing up the boiler under which
several more bodies are supposed to be. A
large number of bodies were taken to the drill
shed there to await further action. The peo-
pie throughout the city feel stunned and stu
pefed by the blow and weeping men are seen
on every side.