The Portland daily press., 1883-07-25
CRUSHED AND DROWNED.
The Terrible Fate of a Baltimore
Excursion Party.
A Pier Crowded with People Gives
Way.
And Over Seventy Women and
Children Lose Their Lives.

BALTIMORE, Md, July 24.--A terrible calam-
ity occurred at North Point, Tiyoli, All excur-
sion resort on the Patapsco, teifz2hles from this
city, about 10 o'clock last night, by which
many lives were lost, the number being esti-
maten at between 90 and 10. The accident
was occasioned by the giving way of the outer
portion of q pier, on which several hundred
persons were congregated, waiting to return to
the city.
Yesterday an excursion was given to Tivoli,
under the management of Mount Royal Bene-
tcial Society of the Catholic church OF Corpus
Christi. The excursionists went down on the
barge Cottage City, towed by tug Amanda
Powell. She made three trips, the last being
made from this city between and Z last even
ing, aud reached Tivoli before TO- During the
day she had taken down about 800 persons, and
on the last trip about 100, A large nuI1ber
who went down during the day had remained,
intending to return on the last trip. When
the barge approached, all on shore made rush
for the end of the wharf, which is several hun
dred feet long, and became closely packed Ia
gether at the gate, about % feet from the end,
impatiently awaiting admittance through the
gate. As the barge came alongside and struck
the wharf, it suddenly, and without warning
gave way, and large portion of the crowd
was precipitated into the water, which was
about ten feet deep. Many were able to save
themselves by fleeing toward the shore, az the
outer end OF the pier crumbled and fell. Dark
ness added to the confusion aud 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 reach
ed the city little after 2 o'clock this morn ing
when the barge landed at Hunderson's wharf
bringing number of bodies of the drowned.
AS soon as the bodies had been deposited on
the wharf the barge went back to Tivoii, aud
before this morning had returned to Hender-
sons wharf with second load of dead, num-
bering over 80. BY this time news of the aw-
ful calamity had spread throughout the city,
and thousands gathered at the wharf and vi
cinity. Throughout the night many persons,
fathers, brothers and friends, connected with
the excursonists, had gathered at the wharf
where the barge usually landed anxiously
awaiting their arrival and apprehending disas-
ter wher the barge did not come at the usu-
al time. Their fears were realized when the
facts became known. AS fast as the bodies
we're identified by relatives and friends they
were taken to their respective homes, The
unidentified were carried to the eastern police
station.
The Sun says the boat had made three trips
to Tivoli The morning boat took down 100,
the O'Clock boat 200 and the o'clock boat
75. The latter boat reached the pier at s. 20,
and prepared to take all hands back to the city
at once. The excursionists knowing this was
the only boat, dashed along the pier until they
we're stopped by the gate near the steamer.
Some noisy youths tried to climb over the gate,
and man and boy seated themselves on
rail with their legs hanging. A too sudden
movement caused the rail to Dreak and the two
men were thrown into the water. A sudden
commotion followed this result, but before it
had even taken shape to save them there was
sudden crash and chorus Of shrisks. Splin-
ters flew in every direction, and about 200 peo-
pie were struggling among broken timbers in
eight feet of water. The noise and cries were
SO loud that the watermen heard them two
miles away. Those who witnessed the scene
state that it was sckening. The moon had
gone down, and the only light was that shed
by the feeble coal oil lamps. Some of the res
cueTs took the barge lanterns and set them on
the wharf. Two Of Them exploded and added
fresh terror 60 the scene; Those on the decks
OF the barge threw life-preservers, stools and
benches into the water. These struck great
many on the head and knocked them insensi-
BILE. Others let down planks and ropes. An
indescribable hopelessness and terror reigned.
Shrieks, curses, groaps, cries for God to save
ae, and heartrending prayers for help were
heard. The darkness impeded help being rem.
dered by those who jumped into the water
The bodies at the Eastern police station were
identified this afternoon as those OF Alfred
Buhgan, Is, Miss Kate Ives, 49, and the two
alive bat one of that family, Isttle boy of six
years, who was rescued. The bodies of two
more children are said to have been found, but
only one. child of Bernard McGahan, has yet
reached this city At O'Clock tonight Coro-
ner Morft began an inquest, at which Father
was present.
Some of the women were pulled upon the
wharf, and some were dragged into shallow
water. The movements of the barge caused
wash that carried these who were battling
with the water under the wharf and among
the piles. The men were mostly able to strug-
gle out. Those males who were drowned were
trying to help the women and children After
the confusion was over huge fire was built on
the shore for those who had been saved. and
their clothesEaere soon drying. Dredging for
bodies was then commenced. Seventy-eight
had been found up TO 10 o'clock, when Father
Starr took upon himself the responsibility OF
ordering the boat up to Baltimore 1t came
up and went back at day ybreak.
The following is the coroner verdict:--"We
find that Tonic Swearer and others came to
their deaths by drowning by the breaking of
biidge at Tivoli on the night of July 23d, and
that the authorities of the place did not use
proper core and precsution TO prevent the oc-
currence,"