Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-07-27


friends, formed party together. When
the time for the departure of the boat
drew near they FASTENED down the pier.
and took their stand near the edge to get
aboard early, so as to secure seats. Miss
Mary Miller thus continues the story:
people we're standing all around US, and.
like ourselves, seemed to be enjoying them.
selves in laughing and talking. I noticed,
now that think of it, that there were
quite number of mothers, with their
babies in their arms and children at their
sides, on the pier. and what became of the
poor things the Lord only knows. All at
orce l felt the pier shake, and before
could give it second thought there was
crash. The next thing remember Is that
I was struggling in the water.
Every fortunately l felt log, and on
TOD of this managed to scramble in some
way There 1 stayed until yeung gen.
tleman came to my rescue and carried me
ashore. The time seems an infinite pc
riod while was holding on that log
Every minute l can recall some event
eeing somebody 90 down, my helplessness
y save them bearing some familiar voice
Tying out in distress. | shall never forget
lat night. Sometimes it seems chat can
TAR some OF the shrieks and means re-
ouDdinp in my ears p"
ALI bnpSb yOuux ldulco lcinto 1uo dWt I'll
and horrfying experience they endured
while on t,.eir return to the city. They
were obliged to stand during the whole
trip within few feet of the pile OF dead
bodies
At 81 Hamburg street lay the corpse of
Miss Jessie Sum walt. Her body was re-
ceived last night and conveyed to her late
residence. She was 81 years of age, and
her appearance in the coffil leads to the
belief that she was beautiful woman
She was accompanied b. her father, John
Sumwalt; her sisters, Misses Venia and
Nellie, and Mrs. Skull and her husband
and infant 2 years old. All escaped but
Miss Jessie and the little baby. The house
was filed with the friends and relatives of
the family, all of whom were overcome by
grief. Many stood on the sidewalk and
were unable to gain admission. The
father had retired to an upper room, where
he sat with bowed head and apparently
unconscious that sucl terrible tragedy
had been enacted.
A MOTHERS STORY.
In back room sat Mrs. Skull the young
mother. bitterly mourning her harsh fate.
She at length partially composed herself,
and between her uncomfortable sobs she
related an account of tho disaster. "We
were standing she said, near the CEN
ter of the pier waiting for the boat. had
my child in my arms and she was quietly
sleeping Here the mother could no
longer restrain herself, and burst forth
into an uncomfortable fit OF weeping
Again composing herself. she continued:
II heard something breaking under my
feet and all at once | was thrown into the
water. My husband was at my side in an
instant, and together we struggled. He
got me out some way. When first went
down my baby was washed out of my
arms. recovered her when came up,
and my husband began to pull me toward
the shore. l went down again, and my
baby was again washed away, but found
her. / don't remember much else. some
how our little baby was again washed out
Of my arms, and could not find her.
y as then completely exhausted" At this
point of the interview some one came IN
from the street and said that a man was
coming with the dead baby. The mother
that followed defies description. "Oh, my
baby, my baby, my baby!' she frantically
screamed and rushed from the room. Her
means and signs were piteous in the ex-
IRENE. and many mother present burst
into tears. No arrangements have yet
been made in regard to their funeral, but
the services will probably take place from
| the residence tomorrow morning at 10
O'Clock.
At 2Oo Montgomery street were the
| bodies of three of the victims Of the disas-
ter, and one has not yet been recovered
They are Miss Lavinia Crouch, aged 40;
Thomas and Albaughina Crouch, brother
and sister, aged respectively and 8years,
and their mother, Mrs. Kate Crouch. The
little parIor in which the bodies lay was
| almost filled with the CT fins, and every
available foot was occupied BY the friends
and Del2hbtfgsfof the decreased. A police
| man was stationed in frout of the resi-
deDce to keep back the crowds tlat gath
cred on the sidewalk. No particulars Of
the disaster could be learned. With one
exception the whole family is gone.
The aged grandfather Of the two little
children is left, chilf1less and alone. to be-
moan his harsh fSte. He sat in back
room seemingly oblivious of his surround
ings, and of the many sympathizers who
vainly sought to console him. The little
companions of Tommy and his sister en-
tered the room and would gaze upon the
lifeless forms of their playmates who so
lately shared their trials and par took of
their pleasures, and would be overcome by
grief. Hourly the arrival of the other
body was expected, and it seemed already
that the fountain of tears of that house
hold were dried up. The interment will
take place probably tomorrow morning at
10 o'clock.
SCENES IN THE STREETS.
The streets leading to the wharf, upon
the arrival of the boat at g. 80 CLOCK, were
thronged with an excited crowd. The
police officers of the Eastern, Northeast
ern and Middle districts were stationed at
the entrance of the wharf, and were re-
qnired to use considerab bic force to keep
back the crowd of curiosity seekers, who
had assembled to witness the arrival of the
bodies. At the dead-hOuse the scene was
beyond cription-fathers, mothers, sis-
tiers and brothers were assembled in large
numbers. anxiously inquiring for their
friends and relatives who had gone down
on the excursion. One gentleman recogniz-
ed his child and Immediately took it from
one of the officers in charge and carried it
out to wagon.
The boat left Tivoli at $50 o'clock this
morning, bringing the other 80 dead bodies
and 40 OF the passengers who had been left
at the place all night. 1t arrived at Hen
ing, and friends who met them Joined in
their wailing and lamentations.
The bodies were first removed to the
dead hoube, Deputy Marshal Frey taking
charge, and were sent away as fast as con-
veyances could be secured. The work was
done as quietly as possible. but amid vio-
lent expressions of grief. The bodies lay
in two rows upon the floor. and as fast as
one was identified a note bearing name
and address was pinned to the wet cloth
ing.