Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-03
A ROTTEN PIER.
A Frightful Calamity BefaIIs a Church
Excursion Party from Baltimore, Md
Sixty or Seventy People Lose Their Lives.

Frightful Calamity BefalIs a Church
Excursion Party from Baltimore, Md
sixty or Seventy People Lose Their Lives.
BALTIMoKK. Nd, July "a.
A terrible disaster occurred at North
point Tlvoli, an excursion resort on the
Patapseo, ten miles from this city, about
ten O'Clock last night by which many lives
were lost, the number being estimated
between sixty and seventy. The accident
was occasioned by the giving way of the
center portion Of the pier, on which sew
eral hundred persons were congregated
awaiting boat to return to this city. The
locality is small bay, distant about two
miles from Northpoint lighthouse. twas
formerly known as Holly Grove, and was
the first regular excursion place fitted up
near the city about fifteen years ago, and
was the most popular resort at that time
and for several years afterward.
Yesterdays excursion was given at IT.
voli under the management of the Mount
Royal Benefit Society of the Catholic
Church of Corpus Christi. The excursion
as it went down on the barge Cockade City
was towed by the tug Amanda Powell. The
barge was formerly an old canal boat
which had been fitted up with several
decks for excursion purposes, and used as
such for several years. Yesterday she
made three trips, the last being made from
this city between six and seven O'Clock last
evening, and reached Tivoli before ten
O'Clock. During the day she had taken
down about five hundred persons, and on
her last trip about one hundred. A large
number of those who went down during
the day had remained, intending to return
on the last trip. When the barge ap-
preached all those OH shore made a rush for
the end of the wharf, which is several hum
dred feet long, and were closely packed to-
gether at the gate, about twenty-five feet
from the end, impatiently awaiting admit
lance through the gate. As the barge came
alongside and struck the wharf, it suddenly
and without warning gave way and a large
portion of the crowd was precipitated
into the water, which is about ten
feet deep. Many were able to
save themselves by fleeing toward the shore
as the outer end of the pier crumbled and
fell. Darkness added TO the confusion and
terror, and little could be done at once to
rescue the drowning, most of whom were
women and children. The first news of the
disaster reached the city a little after two
this morning, when the barge landed at
Henderson wharf, bringing a number of
bodies of the drowned. Sixty-five bodies
had been recovered up to noon to-day and
been brought to the city. All except four
have been identified.
Throughout the night many persons-fs.
theirs, brothers and friends connected with
Observation-Disclosures at the Eighth
Street wharf, where the barge usually
lands, anxiously awaiting her arrival and
npprehending disaster when the boat did
not come in at her usual hour. AS the hours
wore on past midnight and there were yet
no tidings of their friends, their fears were
increased almost to conviction that some
dreadful accident had overtaken the party.
At later hour their fears were realized
when the facts became known.
As fast as the bodies were identified by
relatives and friends they were taken to
their respective homes. Unidentified bod
les were carried to the Eastern police sta
tion-tO remain until recognized or other
wise disposed of.
Statements in regard to the immediate
cause OF the accident are conflicting. 1t is
stated by some that the barge was already
living alongside the wharf and the gang
plank had been run out, when il gave way,
and that it fell from the sheer weight OF
the crowd upon it. Others are of opinion
that the wharf was carried away by con-
tact with the barge.
FURTHER DETAILS.
The Sun, in an extra issued after one
O'Clock, says: The boat had made three
tri is to Tivoli. The morning boat took
down 100, the two o'clock boat 200, and the
six O'Clock boat seventy-fve. This latter
boat reached the pier at $50 and prepared
to take all hands back to the city at once,
as requested by Father Starr. The excur-
slonists, knowing this was the only boat,
dashed along the pier until they were
stopped by gate near the steamer. Some
youths tried tc climb over the gate, and n
man and boy seated themselves on the rail,
with their legs hanging. A sudden move
ment caused the rail to break, and the two
were thrown into the water. A commotion
followed, and there was sudden
crash and -chorused shrek. Splin-
tiers flew in every direction, and
about 200 people were struggling
among the timbers in eight feet of water.
The noise and cries were SO loud that
watermen heard them two miles away.
Those who witnessed the scene state it was
slckening. The moon had gone down, and
the only light was that shed by two feeble
coal oil lamps. Some of the rescuers took
barge lanterns and set them on the wharf.
Two OF them exploded and added fresh
terror to the scene. Those on the decks of
the barge threw life-preservers, stools and
benches into the water. These struck a
great many and Knocked them insensible.
others let down planks and ropes. Inde-
scribable hOpelessness and terror reigned,
shrieks, curses, groans, cries for God to
Save u.s." heartrending prayers for help.
Darkness impeded the help rendered by
those who jumped into the water.