The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-25

awaiting a boat to return to this city. The
locality is in a small bay, distant about two
miles from the North Point lighthouse. 1t
was formerly known as the Holly Grove,
and was the first regular excursion place
fitted up near the city, about fifteen years
ago, and was the most popular resort at that
time and for several years afterward.
Yesterday an excursion was given to Tivoli,
under the management of the Mount Royal
Beneficial Society of the Catholic church of
tor, corner of Mount Royal avenue and
Mosher street. The excursion went down on
the barge Cockade City, which was towed by
the tug Amanda Powell. The barge was for
merly an old canal-boat which had been fit
ted up with several decks for excursion pur-
Yesterday she made three trips the last be-
ing made from this city between and
O'Clock last evening, and reached Tivoli be-
fore 10 O'clock. During the day she had
taken down about 500 persons and on her
last trip about 100.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
A large number of those who were down
during the day had remained, intending to
return on the last trip. When the barge ap-
preached all those on shore made rush for the
end of the wharf, which is several hundred
feet long, and were closely packed together
at the gate, about twenty-five feet from the
end, impatiently awaiting admittance
through the gate. AS the barge came along
side and struck the wharf it suddenly and
without warning gave way, and large por
ton of the crowd was preci pita.ed into the
water, which is about ten feet deep, and
many were able to save themselves by fleeing
toward the shore as the outer end of the peer
crumbled and fell. 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
hrst news OF the disaster reached this city
a little after O'Clock this morning, when
| barge landed at Henderson's wharf bringing
number OF the bodies of the drowned. Up
to this hour il is said that sixty-one bodies
have been recovered.
AS soon as the bodies had been deposited
on the wharf the barge went back to Tivoli,
and before O'Clock this morning had re-
| turned to Henderson's wharf with the dead,
numbering over thirty. By this time the
news OF the calamity had spread throughout
the city, and thousands gathered at the
wharf and in the vicinity. Throughout the
night many persons, fathers, brothers and
| friends connected with the excursionists had
gathered at the Lightstreet wharf, where
| the barge usually lands, anxiously awaiting
ner arrival and apprehending disaster
| When the boat did not come at her usual
time, as the hours wore on past midnight
| friends their fears were increased almost to
conviction that some dreadful accident had
overtaken the party. At later hour their
fears were realized, when the facts became
| known.
As fast as the bodies were identified by rel
atlves and friends they were taken to their
respective homes, and unidentified bodies
were carried to the Eastern police station to
| remain until recognized or otherwise dis
posed Of
| The coroner will commence an official in
vestlgation this evening. Statements in re-
gard 10 the immediate cause of the accident
are conflicting. 1t is stated by some that the
| barge was lying alongside the wharf and
| gang plank being run out when it gave way,
and that it fell from the sheer weight of the
| crowd upon it. Others are of opinion that
the wharf was carried away by contact with
the barge.
THE SUNS ACCOUNT.
The Sun in an extra issued after o'clock
says: The boat had made three trips to
Tivoli. The morning boat took down 100,
the o'clock boat 200 and the o'clock boat
175 This latter boat reached the pier at
$40, and prepared to take all hands back to
the city at once, as requested by Father
Starr. The excursionists, knowing this was
the only boat, dashed along the pier until
| they were stopped by a gate near the steamer.
| OOfno youths tr1ed TO climb over the gate,
| and man and boy seated themselves on the
rail with their legs hanging over. A too
sudden movement caused the rail to break
and the two were thrown into the water. A
commotion followed, and there was a sud-
den crash and a chorused Shrek Splinters
| flew In every direction and about 200 people
were struggling among the broken timbers
in eight feet OF water, The noise and cries
| were so loud that watermen heard them two
| miles away. Those who witnessed the scene
| state that it was sickening
The moon had gone down, and the only
| light was that shed by two feeble coal-oil
| lamps Some of the rescuerers took the
barge lanterns and Sc them on the wharf,
Two of them exploded and added fresh terror
| to the scene. Those on the decks of the
barge threw life preservers, stools and
| benches into the water. These
them insensible. Others let down planks
and ropes. Indescribable hopelessness and
terror regned; shrieks, curses, groans, cries
for God to ''save u.s." and heartrending
prayers for help. Darkness impeded the
help rendered by those who jumped into the
water.
| Those whose swimming powers were the
means of saving the lives of others were as
| follows, together with the number of persons
each saved: Charles NJ. Connor, 6; E. A.
Fitzpatrick, A Patrick Beatty, 6; John Con-
all, 4; Jacob Barnit, 10; James Burns, 10;
Wm. carey, z; Chris. Doyle and Captain
Roberts, OF the tug Amina Powell. Some
women were pulled up on the wharf and
some dragged into shallow water. The
movements of the barge caused wash that
carried those battling with the water under
the wharf and among the piles The men
were mostly able TO struggle out Those
males drowned were trying to help the
women and children After the confusion
was over huge fire was built on shore for
those who had been saved, and their clothes
were soon drying. Dredging Tor bodies then
commepced, and twenty-eight were found
up to 10 o'clock, when Father Starr took
upon himself the responsibility of ordering
the boat up to Baltimore, and it came up
and went back at daybreak
no 49,