Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-07-27
AWFUL CLOSE OF A DAY OF
INNOCENT PLEASURE.
s1xrY-s1x PERSONS DROWNED.

INNOCENT PLEASURE.
s1xTY-sIx PERSONS DROWNED.
Another dreadful accident has been add
ed to the already frightful list which has
been chronicled this summer. On Monday.
the Sabbath school and members OF the
of the church OF Corpus
Christi in Baltimore, went on an excur-
SION by barge, drawn by steamer, to
Tivoli 1.-THE old Holly Grove) about four
teen miles down the Patapsco river. At
ter day of innocent pleasure a crowd
of some 200 persons, children and adults,
gathered on the pier to await the opening
of the gate to admit them to the barge fo'
their return home. The Baltimore Day
of Tuesday afternoon says:
The pier was Id and decayed. and th'
weight of some 200 persons on the nuteI
end caused it to give way. precipitat'm
about 100 persons into the water. nf whor
some 66 we're drowned. The barge Cockad
City had arrived at $50 p M and tn"
who had been spending the dav at IL
grove pressed forward IN An eager desl,
to return home. Rsv. W. e Starr, p'~-
tor of the church. and Jacob Bennett an
John Conner. the gate-keepars, vainlv re-
quested the people again and again to keel
back, but as usual in such cases their eau
lions were not regarded and merrilv, hap
PLY, and with no dire forebodines thai
death lay so near. the throng pressed for
ward to their fate.
A crash was heard, and in an instant
before the eyes OF the terrified spectators
the end of the pier was seen to give way.
and wild cry of agony was heard from
the unfortunate persons who went down
into the water with the debris of the
wharf. This wild cry was repeated from
their relatives and friends who we're at
tho grove, and who paused In the several
sports in which they were engaged. hor-
rjfisd at the fearful spectacle presented to
them. Most of these on the broken pier
we're young people. A number were rem
derei unconscious by iojnries from the
timber of the pier, others from fright. but
there was large portion of those thus
thrown into the water who struggled des-
perately for their lives. Many sank into
the water from eXhaustion; others were
pulled down by those who were drowning,
while by the efforts of their friends large
proportion were rescued and brought safe
~ w ioIius 1Ao C0Cu UOuy V'dS UIOuRuu w
the shore there was q terrible scene
Strong men were wild with grief as wife
or child was laid at their feet and mothers
wept with that woe which passeth all 9TH
or earthly sorrows-a mothers lament for
their children. Women tainted here and
there and were ministered to by kindly
hands, and there we're children crying bit
terly for THAR parents who had persisted
in their sight. The excursionists we're
profoundly affected by the sad and thrill
ing scenes of sorrow presented at every
hand. and those who were at Holly Grove
yesterday will never efface from their
minds the recollection OF the horrors Of
last night. There were some bright con-
trasts to the wild scenes Of grief presented
when parent and child who had been res
cued and who had given up each other as
lost were restored safely to each other;
but these scenes were SO filled with pathos
as only to intensity the feelings and height
en- the excitement of the spectators.
About thirty five bodies we're within the
FIRST hour taken from the water, twenty
nine of whom we're placed on the barge,
side by side, and brought to the city, the
barge arriving at Hendarson's wharf at
A. NJ. and the spectacle in the cabin
was piteous one. The bodies of men
women, youths and children we're lying
side by side, in death, their countenanoes
exhibiting terror and fear, and their CLOTH
ing torn and soiled. On board were a
number of relatives, parents and friends
If the dead, who seemed to be beyond all
consolation. A large number of persons
we're on Henderson, q wharf waiting with
great anxiety for the coming in of the
barge, fearing from 1t not returning at the
usual hour that some accident had occur
red. When the fact was known to them a
scene of intense excitement followed and
the GRO wd rushed on the boat and eagerly
scanned the faces Of the dead. Some few
recognized the coultenanca of friend,
but the majority of the relatives and
friends of the deceased were waiting at
Light street wharf for the return of the
barge, and did not hear of the calamity
-nlil morning, when they proceeded to
Henderson 8 wharf and another scene OF
sorrow and grief commenced, which last
I'd for some hours. until nearly all or the
drowned had been identified ard claimed
by their families Several hundred eX-
remained at Tivoli to continue
he search for more bodies.
THE SCENE ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE
DEAD AT BALTIMORE.
The scene at Henders g wharf at the
DOT Of Fell street, where the Cockade City
came slowly in at 2 O'Clock this morning.
and the bodies Of the dead we're carried off
he boat, was shocking in the extreme.
Many friends of those who had gone on
he excursion had gathered, being uneasy
1t the unusual delay. The boat is due at
10 o'clock. Anxious fathers, sons and
daughters at once commenced to make in
duiries, and walls and agOnjZing cries
went up as they found their fears verified
and learned that some of their loved ones
we're among the dead. This state of affairs
continued until dawn arrived, and on into
the day.
During the morning the crowd increased
and the sorrowful scenes grew in number.
Anxious inquiries were frequent, and in
many instances those who put the ques-
ton were doomed to despair BY the answer
that those they were looking for had per
lshed in the terrible disaster. These would
turn away with tears in their eyes and
giving up walls and lamentations. To
others whose inquiries could not be yeri-
fed, the suspense was nearly as great as
the sorrow.
Most of the victims were women, and in
nearly every case young girls in the flush
Of maidenhood. But in their appearance
there was ample evidence of the death in
horrid shape which they had endured. In
many instances their faces were disc olor-
ed, bruised and bloody, and clothed blood
oezed from mouth, nose and ears.
When carried off the boat the bodies
we're laid side by side in the shed to the
eft of the wharf at the entrance which is
Inown as the 81 orahouse. The faces were
covered with cloths, and the hands were
crossed on the breast and tied together.
The feet were also tied.
The police were promptly notified, and
Is soon rs the nature Of the accident was
Known Capt. Kenney, of the Eastern pc.
ice station, took prompt steps for the re-