Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-27
FOLEY'S AWFUL PENALTY
THE CANADIAN STEAMBOAT
---- - IT. HORROR.
How the Dreadful Disaster Hap
penec-" Let Her Sink, Wen Only
Have 10 Wade de''-StaIement of the
Captain-Seven Hundred Persons
1.-THE Doomed Graft.

LONDON, ONT, May 26.-The number OF
passengers on board the Victoria at the
time of the disaster is now estimated at
seven hundred-a burden out OF all proper
ton to the strength and capacity OF the
vessel. Shortly after passing Woodland
Cemetery, and when the boat began to
rock, the crowd surged from one side to the
other with each oscillation, rather
enjoying the motion instead of being
In any way alarmed. One Of the pas
sengers stated that a number Of
youths on the upper deck took delight In
keeping up the rocking motion by moving
from side to side, while others shouted
gleefullY, "Let her sink, We'll only have to
wade ashore" 1t is said by some, though
denied by others, that the officers in charge
endesvored to induce the passengers to re-
main quiet, but their efforts were unavsil-
log. The CROWD sUrged from side to side,
and with each movement the vessel took IN
an increasing amount of water on the lower
deck to the terror of some and delight of
many more OF those below. Few seemed to
foresee the danger.
Suddenly the position became alarming.
When nearly opposite the Cave bridge
water to the depth of foot or more rushed
in on the south side OF the boat, and the
crowd surged again to the north. the boat
slowly following the movement by listing
over to that side. This time the vessel al,
most turned on her edge, and the deck
floor became elevated to an angle not far
from the perpendicular. All at once the sup
ports OF the upper deck gave way with a
terrible crash Ou account of the
unnatural position and the great weight
imposed over the ratings. People tum-
n EnA In d E-EA 81
deep water, and to make the terror more
terrible the whole Of the upper deck and
the supports went crashing down upon the
wretched victims, tearing and bruisiDg the
struggling mass and eDgulphing them in q
dreadful watery tomb. Many of the bodies,
when they were afterwards taken from the
water, were found to be terribly bruised
and msngIed from the crash of timber,
which came down from the upper deck, and
in many cases the features bore evidence of
the desperate struggle which must have
taken place.
A visit to the scene shows the Victoria to
be complete wreck, the lily constructed
vessel being literally broken Into pieces. 1t
is said on good authority that her boiler
was not properly secured to the deck, and
that it shifted with the rocking OF the boat.
Hardly any portion OF the vessel is visible
above the water.
Captain Rankin, who was in command of
the Victoria, says he believes the vessel
would have recovered herself only for the
boiler going over, and as It went It carried
away the main deck and that let down the
upper deck with the crew on it. There were
not one hundred people on the lower deck.
The after part Of the boat went down, but
the fore part came to the surface and the
boat was spread about six feet apart.
The result was that many of
the passengers were imprisoned
between the water and the top deck, which
came down atOYe them, but they had
breathing space of foot or so, which would
have saved many had not others persisted
in climbing on the floating deck, thus
crushing It down and smotkerinR those un-
deFGeath. The Victoria was a 1st bottom
scow, sharp at both ends, and registered to
carry four hundred passengers. Capt. Ran
kin does not think there we're more than four
hundred and fifty on board. He attributes
the disaster to the factthat the vessel leaked
badly, aud says that a boy sent down
to the engineer just before the scci
dent reported half an arms length of
water in the hold. Captain Rankin says he
was praying earnestly that the boat might
reach the sand bar, where he intended to
beach her.
Two more bodies were recovered to day
No one speaks or seems to think of anything
except the great calamity, which has had a
parslyzlng effect on all classes of citizens.
At no time to-day could one wslS block
without meeting funeral procession.