The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-07-27
A TERRIBLE DISASTER.
The Collapse of Rotten Pier Near Bal
timore Throws Nearly 200 People into
tho Water-A Large Number of Corpses
Recovered.

1he Coliapse OF Rotten Pier Near Bal
timore Throws Nearly 200 People into
tho Water-A Large Number of Corpses
Recovered.
BALTIMORE. Nd, July 254
A terrible calamity occurred at the North
Point Tivoli, an excursion resort on the Pa
tapsco, ten miles from the city, about ten
o'clock Monday night, by which many lives
We're lost. The number is estimated at be-
tween sixty and seventy. The accident was
occasioned by the giving way of the outer
portion of the pier on which several hun
bred persons had congregated, await
ing the boat to return to this city.
The locality is on small bay dis
tant about two miles from North Point
Lighthouse. 1t was formerly known as
Holly Grove, and was the first excursion
place fitted up about fifteen years ago, and
was the most popular resort at that time and
for several years afterWard. Monday an
excursion was given to Tivol, under the
management of the Mt. Royal Beneficiary
Society of the Catholic Church of Corpus
Christi, corner Of Mount Royal avenue and
Mosher street, Of which Father Star is pas
tor.
The excursion went down on the barge
Cockade City, which was towed by the tug
Amanda Howell. The barge was formerly
all old canal-boat Teftted with double decks
for excursion purposes, and used for such
for several years. Monday she made three
trips, the last being made from this city be-
tween six and seven O'Clock in the evening,
aid reached Tiv0li before ten o'clock.
During the day she had taken about 500 per-
sons, and on her last trip about 100 A large
number of those who went down during the
day had remained, intending to return OH
the last trip.
When the barge approached, all those on
shore made rush for the end of the wharf,
which is several feet long, and were close
ly packed at the gate, about twenty-five
feet from the end, impatiently awaiting adj
mittance. As the barge came along side
and struck the wharf it suddenly and with
out warning gave way, and a large portion of
the crowd. was precipitated into the water,
which is about ten feet deep at that point
of the wharf. Many were able to save
themselves by fleeing toward the shore as
the, outer end of the pier crumbled and fell
The 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 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing, when the barge landed at Henderson's
Wharf, bringing number of the bodies of
the drowned.
The scene at Henderson's Wharf, where
the Cockade City arrived with her first load
of dead at two o'clock Tuesday morning,
was affecting. Many friends of those who
had gone on the excursion had gathered,
being uneasy at the unusual delay. Anxious
parents, sons and daughters at once began to
make inquiries, and agonizing cries went UP,
as they found their fears verified, and learned
that some of their friends were among
the dead. During the morning the crowd
increased and the sorroWful scenes grew in
number. Most Of the eases were women
aud very many cases young girls. In many
Instances their faces were discolored and
blood oozed from their noStrils When car
ried off the boat the bodies were laid side
by side in the shed on the wharf. The
faces were covered with cloths, amt the
hands were crossed on their breasts. All
the undertaken wagons obtainable were Sc
cured, and the work of taking the identified
victims to their homes so suddenly cast
into gloom was begun. The Cockade City
left at 4:3S a. m. for the scene of the
disaster again. It had left many bodies
there and about two hundred of the excur-
sionists. Those left behind We're in large
part women and children, and they passed
a terrible night, mostly in the open air. A
large fire was built, and around this the
shivering ones gathered to dry their clothes.
The inquest was commenced Tuesday eve
ming, butwas not concluded. The evidence
goes to show that the timbers of the pier
were rotten, and it is 'lieved that the YER
dict will hold the person or persons owning
the property criminally responsible for the
calamity. A rumor prevails that twelve adj
ditional bodies have been recovered, making
the total loss of life seyenty-eight by the
disaster