The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-13
FOURTEEN INSTANTLY KILLED.
A Squall Strikes Barge Carrying 800
Brooklynites.

Brooklynites.
MINoLA, LONG ISLAND, N. Y, Aug.
12.-The employees of Theodore Kaiser Of
Graham avenue, Brooklyn. went on an ex-
cursion to Laurelton grove, Cold Spring
harbor, Long Island, to-day, on
the steamer Crystal Stream aud
Barge Republic. There were 800
persons crowded together on the upper
deck of the barge. Suddenly a heavy sdnall
struck the barge, and the upper deck gave
way, pinloning about fifty persons. Four
teen persons were instantly killed and
twenty or more wounded. The injured
were taken to Oyster Bay for treatment
OF the dead eight are women, four chill
dren and two men. The boat hands, au-
ticipating q shower, had let down the
canvas curtains which are attached to the
hurricane deck of the barge, and fastened
them down to the port side
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
This prevented the wind from blowing
through, and as one strong gust struck the
barge it lifted the starboard side Of the
hurricane deok clear from its fastening and
supports and forced it and the posts and
partitions In the center over to the port side.
AS it pushed over the end Of the deck
nearest the dock to which the barge
was fastened, it dropped down upon hun
dreds of women and children who had
crowded over to that side OF the barge in
an effort to escape. In moment the air
was rent with screams and agonizing cries
of the poor victims whose lives
were being crushed out and limbs
broken. The scene was heartrendinF
in the extreme, and the excitement caused
by the friends and relatives of those on the
barge who we're on the steamer only added
to the pandemonium.
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
The officers, deck hands and other men
on the steamer lost no time in reaching the
barge and doing all in their power to rescue
all whom they could from the wreck. Will
ing hands from the grove and Ieighboring
places were soon at work, and
In fifteen minutes the fallen deck was
alive and uninjured to crawl out, aud the
injursd to be assisted from the barge. AL
of the dead had their lives crushed out Of
them by being caught between the edge of
the fallen deck and the guard rails.
INA THUNDBR-sTORM.
The excursion barge was just clearing the
dock on its return to Brooklyn, when the
vessel was struck by heavy squall and was
dashed with great force against the dock.
10 was in the midst of a terrible thunder
storm and the waves ran high. Some per-
sons think that the mast Of the barge on
which the people we're killed was struck by
lightning, but this is not known. All was
excitement and confusion; women and
children became pantc-stricken, and
were running about the boat screaming
wildly. The sky was dark and threatening.
The sea was fearfulIy wild. Before the un-
fortunate people could realize their great
danger the upper deck Of the barge came
down with frightful crash upon the surg.
ingserowd beneath.
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
When the rescuers set to work and the
wreckage was cleared away a terrible sight
met the gaze of those who were laboring
with desperate energy to save the un-
fortunate people. Fourteen persons lay
dead on the lower deck and upward OF
1ured, and their heartrending means and
calls for assistance lent additional horror to
the terrible scene. Some of those on the
barge are supposed to have fallen into the
water, but up to o'clock tonight nc
bodies had beon washed ashore or recov.
cred.
The names of the killed and injured have
not been learned. Most of them were
strangers to each other and had no friends
with them by whom they could be at once
identified.
@hO OASuA SAOu Wdo ooub OlIb Wy bH6 AhL kc
dry goods house of Kaiser of Brooklyn for
the benefit of its employees, but many other
persons took advantage of the excursion to
go along.
NEARLY ALL FROM BROOKLYN.
Nearly all are residents of Brooklyn and
Williamsburg. There we're two barges, and
they were towed by large tug called the
Crystal Spring. They left Brooklyn early
this morning and arrived at Cold Spring
harbor about noon. The barges were
moored to Dennison's dock, and the excur-
sionists had picnic at Cold Spring grove.
The boats had barely left the dock when the
accident took place.
Among those killed was the pilot of the
barge. When the confusion had somewhat
subsided, the superintendent of Kaiser's
large establishment made arrangements for
sending the killed aud injured to their
homes in Brooklyn. He telegraphed for a
special train Of the Long Island railroad,
and 1t left Cold Spring Harbor at 1880 p. NJ.