The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-05-26
HORRIBLE DISASTER.
ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION STEAMER.
The steamer Victoria with over Six
Hundred ENcarsiouists ON Board
Coilapses Near London, OMta.
rtO-One Hundred aud Sew
enty-ive Bodies RecOv-
cred 50 far-Full Dc
tn ills Of the
Calamity.


returning from Sprias Bank, and when near
the Cave railway bridge, one mile below tho
city. the boat suddenly collapsed like an
egg she'll, and became total wreck, ana
is now level with the waters
eGge. All the passengers were instantly
plunged into the stream, more than
one half of them being ulder the debris.
The first news of the disaster which has
reached the city was brought by survivors,
wh) struggled through the streets wet and
weary
Thenews fell like thunderbolt and a
stampede took place tor tho spot. Arriving
there horrible sight met their view. Fifty
or sixty bodies had already been recovered,
and are lying on the bank. Those arriving
from the city, from every direction, crowded
around anxious TO sec if any relatives we're
on board. About one thousand families
were represented in tho excursion, and the
wall OF anguish that arose ut the sight OF the
victims was heart rending. Fathers, moth
eTs, brothers and sisters rushed about panic
stricken, endeayoring 10 identify
friends. BY seven o'clock
about eighty bodies were recovered from
unaer the wreck. Almost every minute
some victim was brought to the surface and
conveyed to the bank.
The steamer Princess Louise was early
brought to the spot ard the victims placed on
the upper deck. Fires were lighted on the
bank overlooking the river. and petroleum
torches werebrought, and search continued
till night.
About one hundred and fifty corpses have
been secured. Among tie dead are joseph
Robertson, manager of tho Bank of British
America; j. Q. Meredith, clerk of the district
court VIM. Mcbride, assessor and secretary
of the Western Fair association; Mrs. vii.
liam Ashbury; William Wilmer, Of the
Montreal commercial agency, and two sons OF
j. Rogers Plummer.
Al Is confusion at the present
moment. The landing at the foot of Dun
das street is now crowded with people, all
waiting in breslhle:s expectation for tho
arrivsl of tho steamer Princess Louise with
the bodies.
The total loss will aggregate 175. MIR.
Matthews, night editor of the Advertiser, lost
his wife and two children; Harry Smart of
the Free Press, lost his wife, two children
and sster.in>sw; Mr.. j. Siddons, of the
Customs, lost one boy; DR.. Oronkysteks,
lost a boy, aged ten, and Miss Bailey.
Among the missing are also Alice Deadman,
of New Brighton; Thomas Griffith, of Buck
street, and Alfred Trimble, probably lost A
full list cannot yet be obtained. All Is in the
deepest confusion. The newspaper stats like
all the rest are sadly demoralized, all having
friends involved 10 the calamity.
The whole city seems almost dementod
tc>Dight. The accident was surely due to
gross carelessness. The boat was over
crowded TO adiagraceful extent.
Manager George Parish was expostulated
with by several at Spring Bank, and was
urged not to let the boat 90 out in that
over crowded condition, but he is reported to
have replied, "all right; l know my bysi-
ness" or something to that effect. Sam
Thwart, stove merchant, and one OF
those who protested, left the boat
at Spring Bank, while several hundred moro
remained 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 end to pleasure
steamer business, as hereafter the people will
not venture on the river, which has hereto
fore been subject of jokes and puus on
, account of its supposed shallowness. II il
in 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 l70 have been
found and most of them were brought to this
city. All the undertakers' shops are be-
sieged, and cOtfins arc going out by the
score.
The crowds at the river bank and steamer
landing have not diminished. Among the
bedies identified arc those Of two daughters
of James Burns. The excitement seems Il
increase as night advances, and large
number of bodies remain on the ground at
Sulphur springs baths, awaiting claimants.
Further details Of the scores O. the time oi
the occurrences of the terril lee .lamity, have
been received. The vessel WAS so heavil !;
laden that she shipped water in small guam
titles occasionally, when tho crowd would
happen TO either eide Of the boat. On the
return trip, when more than half way home,
slight commotion ocburred on board
said by some tohavo ..been csuse1
by the playful prsnks of q
number of youths on the lower deck
and by others ascrbed TO the at.strkirg on
snsg, causing the crowd, out of curl
osity 10 rush to ono side, and tho side
of the boat eunk with additional weight.
poured in over The lower deck, which was
crowded with passengers. Instantly the
crowd on both decks rushed 10 the opposite
side, and their weight, together with that ol
the water shipped by the boat, caused a
lurch in the opposite direction. Then II we.
thst the disaster occurred. The eide Of the
u IL