The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-09
Continued from first page. 5

II the woods to warm up those who were
saved. One man, whose wife was taken
with chill, offered So for one glass of
Whiskey, but was unable to get it. Be
sides, there was nothing to eat, and driz-
zling rain coming down for the space of
two hours, compelled all to take shelter in
the dancing pavilion.
When questioned as to tile security of
the wharf, Mr. Frank Debilius, the pro-
prietor of the North Point Tivoli, said :
There is not safer wharf anywhere on
the bay. The Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie made an excursion here about q year.
down. there was no danger then. nor
would there have been any last night if the
people had acted as | besought them to-
that is, not to be in a hurry, but to go
along quietly. Instead of doing this. they
all rushed pell-mell for the boat and the
gate being so narrow, only two could pass
at one time. The. consequence was they
become sofpacked that the bridge gave
way, with the awful RESULT
Jacob Bennett, one of the gate keep
ers, denied most positively that the gate
was locked, but said it was wide open, and
that some OF the women, in their eager
ness to reach the boat, actually climed over
the gate. He further said 9 | cautioned
them and begged them for Gods sake not
to rush, otherwise they would be sorry
Dozens of ladies', however, testified that
the gates We're locked.
On the second trip up Of the Cockade
City, thirty-two bodies We're brought to
this city. They were stretched upon the
lower floor oftthe boat, in as decent a man
ner us the circumstances would permit.
Many of them had their noses or ears
eaten off by the crabs. Several had their
hoo 1c cl,n1. l,,.
by the articles thrown into the water Sew
eral, when rescued, showed signs of life,
and were anointed with the last sacraments
by Fathers Starr, of Corpus Christi, and
Jordon, of st. Bridget'S, Canton. Great
complaint was made Of the robberies COM
mltted by some ghouls, who pretending to
reSuSticate young ladies by rubbing their
hands, robbed them of their rings and
bracelets. One man, whose name could
not be obtained, was caught in the act of
taking q ring off the finger of one of the
dead. Threats were made to lynch him,
but in the darkness and excitement he
made good his escape. On the trip up
THERE WAS MANY SAD SCENES.
An old gray-Iiaired lady weeping over her
dead son, a young lady trying to find her
brother OF husband a mother trying to
identify from the many babies strewn up
on the floor, her darling, and brother
looking for brother. Perhaps the most
touching scene was that of young hus-
band bowed upon the dead bodies of his
wife and only child. Z, He did not speak one
word, but his look was fulls0f significance.
On the upper deck seated'in quiet corner
sat man without hat orcoat. Whenask-
ed'by the Anaeffcota representative if he
had lost anysfriends, he replied; 'tHave 1
lost any friends? Ny God! / have lost
all that is dear to nue.. | have lost my
wife, my tw0children and my two sisters.'7
The man S. name was Michael j. Ma
gam. Z
BY the inquest of the coroner's jury it
was shown that the stringer Of the wharf,
upon which the flooring rested was COM
pletely rotten, and that, furthermore, the
lessee Of the place hadains other ways. failed
to exercise proper precautiop to guard
against such an occurrence. A verdict in.
accordance with these facts was found.