The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-08-02
DOWN TO DEATH.
4 Frightful Calamity BefaIIs a Church
Excursion Party from Baltimore, Md
Sixty or Seventy People Lose Their Lives.

a Erightful Calamity Befalls n Church
Excursion Party from Baltimore, Md
Sixty or Seventy People Lose Their Lives.
BALTIMORE, Nd, July 24.
A terrible disaster occurred at North.
point Tivoi, an excursion resort on the
Patapsco, 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 retI IN to this city. The
locality is a small bay, distant about two
miles from Northpoint lighthouse. 1t was
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 Ii
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
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 on shore made rush for
the end of the wharf, which is several hun
dred feet long, and were closely packed to-
gether at the gate, about twenty-five feet
from the end, impatiently awaiting admit
tance 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 precipitatcd
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 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-fa-
| b0efS, DFOGlefS ana IF16u0S connected Win
| eaexcursionists-g at the Eighth
| Street wharf, where the barge usually
| lands, anxiously awaiting her arrival and
| apprehending disaster when the boat die
| 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 lay
/ relatives and friends they were taken &c
| 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 immedla &c
cause of the accident are conflicting. 1t Is
stated by some that the barge was already
! lying alongside the wharf and the gang
! plank had been run out, when it gave way,
and that it fell from the sheer weight OF
| the crowd upon il. 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
trips to Tivoli. The morning boat tool
down 100, the two O'Clock boat POO, and the
six O'Clock boat seventy-ive. This latter
boat reached the pier at S:20 and prepared
! to take all hands back to the CITY at once
| as re0uested bv Father starr. The excnr
sionists, knowing this was the only boat
| dashed along the pier until they were
| stopped by gate near the steamer Some
| youths tried to climb over the gate, and {
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 commotior
| followed, and there was a suddeI
crash and a chOrused shrek. SpliD
teTs flew in every direction, aHd
about 200 people were struggling
among the timbers in eight feet Of water
The noise and cries were so loud tina
watermen heard them two miles away
Those who witnessed the scene state it was
sickening. The moon had gone down, auf
the only light was that shed by two feobje
coal oil lamps. Some of the rescuers tool
barge lanterns and set them on the whaI"-
Two of them exploded and added frest
terror to the scene. Those on the decks O
the barge threw life-preservers, stools anC
| benches into the water. These struck
great many and knocked them insensible
Others let down planks and ropes. Inde
scribable hopelessness and terror reigned
shrieks, curses, grOans, cries for God t.
t'Save u.s. heartrending prayers for help
Darkness impeded the help rendered bI
those who jumped into the water.