Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-02
Frightful Fate of a Pleasure
Party at North Point Tiv-
oil, near Baltimore.
Between One and Two Hundred People
Compelled 10 Struggle DeS-
perately for Life.
Eighty-two Corpses Already Taken
Out of the Water and
identified.
-Bahlmore. MI. TeI.nam.

Baltimore Nd, Telegram.
One end of an old and rotten pier
at North Point TiyoH, an excursion
resort on the Patapsco river, about
fourteen miles from tins city gave
way last night while 200 returning eX-
cursionists were about to board the
boat Cockade City. One hundred per
sons were precipitated into the river
and about seventy drowned
The disaster is the most terrible in
its results in this vicinity since the eX-
plosion of the steamer Medora i'm the
harbOr some forty years ago. Most of
the dead are women and children, and
their faces are mutilated by the splin-
tered timber Of the old wharf. The
excursion was composed of the mem
bers of the Catholic church of Corpus
Christi They We're taken down to
Tivoli on the barge Cockade City,
towed by a tug which had made three
trips during the day, and as this arriv-
ed rush was made to get aboard as
soon as the barge was fastened to the
pier. Father w. K. Starr, the pastor
of the church, aided by the two gate
keepers, Jacob Bennett and John Con
nor, vainly tried to keep the people
back, but as usual in such cases their
cautions were not regarded, and, mer-
rily and with no forebodings that death
lay SO near, the throng pressed forward
TO their fate
THE CRASH
Some noisy youths tried to climb
over the gate ON the pier, and man
and boy seated themselves on a rail
with their legs hanging over A too
sudden movement caused the rail to
break, and the two were thrown into
the water 4 sudden cOmmotion fol
lowed this result. but before il had
even taken shape to save the unfortu
mates, there was a sudden crash and a
chorused Shrek, splmters flew in ev-
cry direction, and about POO people
were struggling among the broken
timbers i'm eight feet of water. The
noise and the cries We're SO loud that
watemen heard them two miles away.
Those who witnessed the scene state
that it was sickening Most Of those
ON the broken pier We're young people.
\ number were rendered unconscious
by injuries from the timbers of the
pier and others from fright, but there
was q large portion of those thus
thrown INTO the water who struggled
for their lives Many sank
from exhaustion. others We're pulled
down by those who were drowning.
while, by the efforts af their friends.
numbers were rescued and brought .
safely to land. Herman Wal
terS, an expert young swimmer,
saved several women and children.
and other swimmers labored hard in
saving the living and bringing the
bodies to the grove
FRANTIC GRIEF
As the dead were brought to the
shore there was terrible scene. Strong
men were filled with grief as wife
or child was Laid at their feet, and be
reaved mothers wept. Women tainted
here and there, and were ministered
to by kindly hands. There We're also
children crying bitterly for their
parents who had persisted. The moon
had gone down, and the only light
was that shed by to coal-oil lamps.
Some of the rescuers took the barge
lanterns and set them on the warf
Two exploded and added fresh terror
to the scene. Those on the deck of the
barge threw life-preServers, stools, and
benches into the water. These struck
a great many on the head and knock
ea them insensible. Others let down
plauks and ropes Indescmbable hope
leSSless and terror reinged. Shrieks,
curses, and groans mingled with cries
for God to save them and heartrend-
ing prayers for help. The darkness
impeded the efforts of those who
Jumped into the water. Many of the
men drowned persisted IN trying TO
save The women and children As one
after another of the bodies were
brought to the surface and landed the
grief of friends was painful to witness
Husbands saw their wives ana little
ones cold and lifeleSs, and brothers
discovered their sisters among the
mass of bodies. while some who had
thought their dear ones lost fairly
danced with Joy when they discovered
them among the saved. Others looked
in vain for friends or relatives among
the throne. About thirty-iive bodies
We're taken out of the water the first
hour after the accident. twenty-nine
Of which wer; placed ON the deck Of
the barge. side by side and the boat
started back to Baltimore after mid
night. The barge always stops at Hen
dersou 5 warf eoiugaud returning from
Tivoh 1t arrived there this morning
about , o'clock. when the first news
of the disaster became known in the
city. Upon the cabin floor Of the
boat we're the bodies of the victims
vauno oirls old ladies. and men and
boys AN huddled together In
cabin adjoining were parents sisters
and brothers, some waiting fer Ii
dnes Of the absent ones, others weep
ing and frantic. knowing that those
dear to them had been lost The po-
ljeeuleu did an they could To quiet
aad pacify the people and gave as
encouraging answers 20 questions as
possible. Every fifteen minutes more