The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-12
FALL OF A LANDING STAGE.
MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED PERSONS
Thrown INTO THE WATER.

All But Seven or EiGht Saved by the Mar
| veiIOuaIy Rapid Work of Scores of Res
cuers-Four Dead BODIES Recovered.
HALIFAX, July ll.-A terrible accident &C.
Cured In Dartmouth tonight by which a
number OF people were drowned, but the
exact number OF the victims will not be
known until tomorrow. The chain at
tached to q ferryboat slipped out OF
place, allowing the front OF the bridge to sink
and precipitate q crowd OF GOO or 700 men.
women. and children into the water. The reo-
pie were crowded there waiting for the new
ferry steamer Annex, Just arrived from New
York to dock.
When tho steamer got within two feet OF the
landing q number OF persons jumped on
board, and Mt that moment the accident
/ occurred. Tho outer end OF the bridge
went down suddenly. and tho horror
stricken crowd slipped of into the harbor rs
/ though they were descending slide, piIinR on
top Of each other. shrieking for help and
scrambling for means OF safety.
For several minutes there was confused
crowd OF mon. women and children struggling
in the water. but the accident had badly hap
pened before a dozen men and boys leaped to
the rescue.
The drowning people were rapidly passed up
/ TO the men standing above on the whnrvos.
I
formed their work resulted In a great majority
OF those who fell In being saved from death.
There were many good swimmers in the party
and they helped the people to land until there
wero n more in sight on the surface.
When the crowd slipped of the landing
stage the several hundred people around
crowded to the sides OF the wharf and threw
sticks and boards to the struggling mass in
the water, while n number of life presorvers
were thrown to them from the steamer.
My people we're struck and injured by flying
boards and oil the bodies recovered bear cuts
and bruises Statements of spectators show
that most Of those who fell In were women and
children, and the scenes Immediately following
the disaster were frlEhtiul.
Several men and their wives we're thrown in.
and the former struggled heroically to save
the latter, succeeding in every instance. 80 far
as known. Harry Silver was thrown In with
his wife. and managed to get her out safely.
A man named Brodie saw his wife struggling
In the dock and leaning in. saved her. A
woman named Logan was thrown into the wa
ter with young child in her arms. She struR-
gled oravely to preserve the life OF the infant.
Both were finally brought ashore alive
An elderly man named Edward Foster and
his daughter fell In together, and the former
was saved. but was so frantic over the loss OF
his daughter that he could hardly be dragged
ashore.
When all those In sight had been brought to
land the work OF graphing for the drowned
ones was begun. Within two hours four bodies
had been recovered. but UP to midnight no
more had been found. 1t is believed that at
least three or four others were lost but the eX-
act number cannot be told at present
Intense excitement prevailed in Dartmouth
and Halifax when the news OF the disaster
spread. and thousands t1ocked to the scene.
whore they remained until late hour watch
ing those working in the water.
Owing to the Confusion 1t is impossible to
tell who are missing. but the Number cannot
be large. Divers are now searching Tor further
victims. Those whose bodies have been
covered are:
Miss Bessie Foster daughter of Edward Foster; Peter
Boyle. a Crmean veteran; Miss Auie SynOtt daughter
of Michael synott; John Euudy. colored boy.