The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-07-26
TELEGRAPHIC
a Horrible Disaster.


occurred at Northpoint, on an excnrsion
train on the Poiapsco road, ten miles
from the city about 10 O'Clock last night.
By which many lives were lost, the num-
Der being estimated at between sixty and
seventy. The accident was occasioned
Of the giVlng way OF the outer portion
OF the pen on which several hundred
persons were cougregsted, awaiting the
boat to return to this city. The locality
Is on q small bay distant about two miles
from Northpoint lighthouse; it was
formerly known SIS the holy grove, and
was the first excursion place fitted IN
fifteen years ago; it was the most popular
resort st that time aud for several wears
sfterWsrd. Yesterday the excursion was
given uu1er tia management of the
Mount Roysli Beneficial Society ofCorpus
Christi, of which Father Star is the mas
tor. The Mount Royal Avenue and
Washington excursions vent down on
the barge CockGde CITY which yas
towed by the tug AnlG1edG Howell. The
barge wss formerly an old canal boat.
Tefded with double decks for excursion
purposes and has been used as such for
several years. Last evening between 6
and O'Clock, and during The dsv. she
had taken about 500 persona, and 100 on
the las trip. a number of those who
vent Gown during the day, had remained,
intending to return on the last trip.
When the barge approached all these
made rush for>the end of the wharf
which was several feet lorg, and were
closely packed st the gate. those near the
eud impatently waiting. AS the barge
came alongside she struck the wharf,
when suddenly and without warning
It gave way. A large portion fell into
the water which was about ten feet deep,
and many were able TO save themselves,
fleeing toward the shore as the outer cad
of the pier, crumbled and fell. Darkness
sdd,d to the confusion, and little could
be done ct once to rescue the drowning,
most OF whom we're wo hen and children.
The frat news Of the Disaster reached the
city little after o'clock this morning,
when the barge landed ct HeDderson's
wharf. bringing a number OF bodies Of the
drowned. Up TO this hour it is said that
sixty-one bodies have been recovered
Bodies at the eastern police station
we're identified this afternoon as those of
Alfred Burgan, Is. Miss Kate Ives, %,
and two children as those of John Nc-
Ansry, leaving alive but once that fam
lily, little boy of years, who was res
Cued. The bodies of two mole children,
are said to have Teen found, but only one
of them, child of Bernard McGahsr,
has reached the city.
At O'Clock this evening, Coroner
MoTgit began al inquest st which Father
Star, pastor of the church OF Corpus
Christi was present. Jacob Bennett
testified that ne is g special officer at the
Ii7oli; Locked the gates Of tho wharf at
in the evening by order of the proprietor
of the place TO keep the people from
| getting on the wharf; refused some young
ladies who wished to return to the
grounds through the first gates, because
! he feared others might get through;
! the boat reached the wharf between 10
and II; sWitness then opened the gates
and people rushed through; begged them
to keep back as the wharf was not the
best; soon after bsaFd o crash, ran back
and saw a humber of people in the
water; pulled off his clothes, went into
the water and rescued twelve persons,
also recovered three de&d bodies; did rot
consider the wharf secure with such q
crowd; there were about 700 persons on
the wharf when it fell; fully 800 were in
the water; the flooring had been re-
paired this season, the break occurred
between the two gates and not where the
boat landsi examined the place where
the bresk. occurred and found the tim bers
pretty rotten; there were six to eight
lights on the wharf;they burned brightly;
did not think more than $50 people could
stand on the space where the break &C.
Cured; had . full view Of the accident;
saw the people struggling in the water;
had there been rush of people, many
more would have been thrown into the
water; thought it a fair estimate to say
there were 1900 people on the excursion
pier in mass, pitching from one end 10
ths othsE; sfer the crash, found the
outer gate open, though it wa closed five
minutes before.
james GOsnell, on the excursion, ex-
amined the wharf as ssoon Is the break
took place; G piece OF timber, of which
the wharf was built, part Of one of the
ioists supporting the floor. w6s shown to
be entirely rotten; vas about forty feet
back from the break when it occurred.
Frank Debilens, proprietor of the
TiVoli, was on the pier at the landing of
the 2 o'clock boat; the pier is LOO feet
long; the break was about twenty or
thirty feet; there are thirty piles in the
bFeski they are all there apparently in
good condition, none of them were rot
teui the piles are six feet apart. The
bai ye did not strike the wharf when she
reached it.
The investigation was proceeding at
midnight, With no probability of con-
cluslon Tor several hours. The testimony
OF witnesses given will doubtless cover
all the facts.
Following is the verdict; We find
Louisa Swesrer aud others came to theiE
deaths by drowning, by the breaking OF
q bridge at the Tivsli, on the night OF
the 3d. that the authorities Of the place