The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-07-28
FRIGHTFUL DRowNINa ACCIDENT.
Between Sixty and Seventy Persons Find
Watory Grave in the Patapsco.

between sixty ana Seventy Persons Find
Watory Grave In the Patapsco.
One Of the most appalling disasters tina, has
ever happened In the vicinity Of Baltimore occur
red at North Point Tivoli formerly Holly Grovel.
an excursion resort situated on the shores Of the
PatapseO river, fifteen miles from Baltimore, in
the 18th district Of this county, about 10 o'clock
on Monday night last. An excursion was given
on that day by Mount Royal Beneficial Society.
which is connected with Corpus Christi Catholic
church, situated on Mount Royal avenue, south
Of MeMseksn street. The barge cOekade City,
which Is towed by tug. made several trips dur
ing the day to that resort, taking down about
Lice people. On the last trip down the barge
reached the Tivoli about Q o'clock and at once
made preparations to load the sxeursionists for
tho home trip. The water OF the Tivoli Is very
shallow and In order that the boats might land.
wharf or bridge. $50 yards in length. was built
upon piles in the river. the gangwsy being about
eight feet wide. with gates at each end to prevent
crowds from rushing ON or Of boats landing there.
On Monday night. before the barge reached the
wharf, crowd VI several hundred people had
gathered upon II, and against the orders Of the
officers in charge, all were pushing for the gate at
the snd Of the pier, in order to get comfortable
seat upon the barge rs soon as she had been made
fast. II was at this moment tina, the terrible ac
eident occurred. While the crowd was surging
back aud forth, struggling to get through the gate
suddenly abOutthrty feet Of the tim Of the psr
which had become weakened by the decay Of
years, gave way, precipi,aiing its freight Of hu.
man beings-men. women and little children
into about eleven fee, Of water. Instantly there
was scene the like Of which would be calculated
to blaneh the face of the bravsst man For many
Il was the death struggle aud the cries and shreks
which rent the air On that dark night will never
be sfiaeed from the memory Of those who heard
them.
few brave men-there were many towards as
well a. bru;es among the excursionists went
nobiy to work to save the drowning women and
children. In scores of eases their efforts proved
successful, but alas in very many instances they
proved unavailing
After all had been saved who could be found,
efforts were directed towards recovering the dead
After lev hours hard work twenty eight dead
bodies, mostly those of women and children, were
taken from the water and laid side by side upon
the deck Of the barge. which then started for the
city, reaching llcnicrsohs wharf about . a. IN.
Scores Of those who were rescued remained at
the Ti'Oli all night aud we're brought up Tues.
day morning. Nearly all Of them were in a sad
plight, many Of the women having had their cloth
ing torn entirely from their bodies in the terrible
STRUGGLE llrough which fh.. hi
most OF them were painfully bruised and cut.
After the barge had lett for the city large fires
were built upon the shore and the men who re-
mained continued their search for the dead and
by . O'Clock the next day upwards Of thirty more
bodies were taken from the water and brough, up
to the city. where grief stricken relatives and
friends awaited their coming. The scenes at the
wharf where the boat landed are described us
Of the most painful character. The cries and
means Of those who had thus suddenly been bcreit
of their loved ones were most piiiful 10 hear. In
one instance husband had lost his whole family
in another two grown sisters and a relative were
drowned: several mothers with their young
babes were among the lost. The total number Of
bodies recovered was sixty.dve and il Is thought
that others may have been carried out into the
river by the action Of the tide.
The cause Of this terrible calamity was the un.
safe condition Of the wooden pier leading to the
boat landing. and the coroner's jury which in
Se'tgatcd the placed the blame upon the lessee
of the Tivoli. Dir. Frank Dsbilius. who a, one time
was proprietor Of barley Park. on the Hartford
road.