The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-25

SINTY-FIVE BODIES.
Reoo cred so Far at a Maryland
Summer Resort,
Where a Pier Upon Which Hun.
dreds Were Congregated Sud.
denly Coilapses.
Terrible C0iasaity on the PohaOsc0.-
sad Conclusion OF Day Of
Pleasure.


amity has occurred at North Point rrivoh.
an excursion resort on the Patapsco. ten 1
miles from this city, by which macy lives
were lost, The number is estimated at rs
tween sixty and seventy The accident was
occasioned by the giving way of the outer
portion OF pier, on which several hundred
persons had congregated awaiting the bpat
to return 70 this city. The locality Is on 8
small bay. distant about two miles from
North Point lighthouse. 1t was formally
known as Holly Grove, and was first titted
up rs an excursion place about fifteen years
ago, and was most popular resort at that
time and for several years afterward. Au
excursion was given to Trivoli under the
of Mount Royal beneficial
society of the Catholic church Of Coo
pus Christi OF which Father Star is pas ]
tor, at the corner of Mount Royal av-
enue and Mosher street The excursion went
down on the barge Cockade City, which was
towed by the tug Amanda Howell. The barge
was formerly an old canal-boat, but had been
refitted with double decks for excursion pur
poses and used as such for several years. She
made three trips, the last being made from
this city between 6 and O'Clock in the even
ing, and reached Tivoli before 10 O'Clock
During the day she had taken about five hun
dred 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 the last trip When the barge ap
preached all those on the shore made rush
for the end of the wharf, which is several feet
long, and we're closely packed at the gate,
about twenty-five feet from the end. impa
tiently awaiting admittance.
As the barge came alongside and ST. uek the
wharf, it suddenly and without warning gave
way, and large portion OF the crowd were
precipitated into the water, which Is about
ten feet deep Many were able to save them
selves by fleeing toward the shore the
outer end of the pier crumbled and fell The
darkness added to the confusion and terror,
md little could be done Mt once to rescue the
browning, most of whom were women and
children
The first news of the disaster reached this
city little after 2 O'Clock in the morning,
when the barge landed at HeRderson's wharf,
bringing number of bodies Of the drowned
Up TO this hour it is said siytV-ons bodies
have been recovered.
LATER.
Up to noon sixty five bodies had teen
brought to the city. All except four have
been identified. The greater portion is CON
posed of young ladies and children.
They resided in almost every section Of the
city, being members Of Catholic churches in
different localities.
As soon as the bodies had beru deposited
on the wharf the barge went back to Tivoii
ind before Z O'Clock in the morning had
turned to HepdeTsons wharf with her second
| load CT dead, numbering over thirty Iiy
this time news of the calamity bad spread
throughout the city and thousands gathered
| ut the wharf and in the vicinity.
Throughout the night many persons faith,
| .,rs, brothers and friends connected with the
txcursiOnists, had gathered at High street
wharf. where the barge usually lands, anx-
| ously awaiting her arrival, and aprrehend
ing disaster, when the boat did not come at
the usual time. As the hours were on past
midnight, and there were yet no tiiings ii
their friends, their fears were increased al
| most to conviction that some dreadful ncci
dent had overtaken the party. AT il Iater
hour their fears were realized
When the facts became known, aud as fas;
as the bodies were identified by relatives and
I friends, they were taken to their RESPECTIVE.
homes The unidentified bodies were car
ried to the eastern police station to remair
until recognized or otherwise disposed Of
The Sun, in an extra issued after O'Clock
says The boat hal made three trips tc
Tivoli The morning boat took down 100
the O'Clock boat 2cO, and the 6 O'Clock l,oa
IS This latter boat reached tbt
pier at $50, aud prepared to TAX,
all hands back to the city a
once as requested by Father Starr
The excursionists, knowing this was tlc onl,
boat, dashed along the pier, until they wer'
stopped by the gate near the steamer Som
youths tried to climb over the gate, aud
man and hoy seated themselves ON the raj
with their legs hanging. A too sudde'
movement caused the rail to break, and tb
two we're thrown into the water. A cuuIuJ
ton followed, and there was sudden ctush