The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-13
A ROTTEN BARGE
loaded With a Thousand Brook
lyn Exourslonlsts
r0LLBPSES AND KILLS FOURTEEN
,na Injuries Fifty Morc---A Horrible
TrOrcdy Caused by squnl Striking
\ pleasure Party in Long Island
couud.-.Heartrending Scenes Under
the Broken Deck.

avenue, BrOoKlyhi went vi az
,oIourcIton Grove, Cold Spring Har-
5or, to-day on the steamer Crystal
Stream and the barge Republic. There
were 500 persons crowded together on
tbe upper deck OF the barge.
suddenly heavy squaIl struck the
barge and the upper deck gave way
pnioning about so persons.
Fourteen persons were instantly
,jJled and twenty or more wounded.
The The injured we're taken to Oyster Bay
for treatment. c. .;., A..
borre Republic in tow, and having
SSoyt S 500 adults and as many children
on the excursion of the employees OF
Theodore Kaiser, dry goods dealer, OF
M NJ Graham avenue, Brooklyn,
a, arrived at the Cold Stream Grove dock
nbout . o'clock, having left South Sixth
street, Brooklyn, at lO:3O o'clock this
morning. ,,.,
for all 10 get aboard were blown by the
81. steamer and at 3:45 p. IN. everybody
WAS ready to start. The larger portion
ci the excurslonists wero on the barge
where the younger people were dancing.
Just then some heavy clouds covered
the sky; then came squall, the wind
driving everything before It.
The boat hands anticipating q shower
had let down the canvass curtains
which arc attached to the hurricane
deck OF the barge and fastened them
down to the port side. This prevented
the wind from blowing through, and as
one strong gust struck the barge 1t lifted
the starboard side OF the hurricane
deck clear from its fastenings and sup
ports and forced it and tho posts and
partitions in the centre over to the port
side.
As it pushed over, the end of the
deck nearest the dock to which the
barge was fastened dropped down upon
the hundreds Of women and children
who had crowded over to that side of
the barge in an effort 10 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.
It was in the midst OF terrible
thunder storm and the waves ran high.
Some persons think that the mast of the
barge on which the people woro killed
was struck by lightning, but this Is not
known.
All was excitement and confusion.
Women and children became panic
stricken and we're running about the
boat screaming wildly. The sky was
dark and threatening. The sea was
drepdiully wild. Tho scene was heart
renuIng in the extreme and the excite
mcnt caused by the relatives and
friends Of those on the barge who
were in the steamer only added to the
pandemonium which prevailed. 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, Willing hands from the grove
and ncighboring places were also soon
at work, and in fifteen minutes the
fallen deck was raised sufficiently to al
low all those who were alive and unin-
lured to crawl out and the injured to
be assisted from the barge.
II had been hoped that none had been
killed, but the lifeless bodies of four
teen were seen to be lying near the
gunwalo. All had their lives crushed
out OF them by being caught between
the edge Of the fallen deck and the
guard rails.
Those who know friends OF theirs
were missing hurried away to make
room for the hundreds who saw friend
or relative dead, or injured. Women
and children and even strong men wept
piteonsIy as they looked upon the dead
or dying, OF tho dead bodies those
who were recognized were as follows:
LIZZIE ScnAMANT,9 0 years, No. PA
briggs street.
Mrs. PAULINE PRlNz, 35 years, OF
briggs street.
HGSRY HOFFMAN, q man Of 35, resid-
Ing ut Graham avenue and Scholes
street.
=, MlSSlE GoETS, 1e years, Of stagg and
MRs. LIPESINGER, 10G Graham avenue.
MATTE kAuTzE, 4 years, 1902 Graham
The pilot OF the barge, whose name
could not be learned, was also killed.
lie was in the pilot house when the
wind threw the deck over. He was
blown over and fell between the deck
and the boat.
Among the injured are:
Charles Held, 23l johnson avenue,
arm broken and other bruises; Mrs.
Henry lsselman, 100 Skillman avenue.
loot broken and other injuries; Mrs,
German, tifty-six years old, No. ITO
Jackson Si street, seriously hurt in the
Tho wounded were carefully carried
aboard OF the Crystal Stream, which con-
,yeyed them around to OYSTER Bay vii
lage, distance Of six miles, where they
received medical aid.
Inc steamer then returned here and
carried another toad to Oyster Bay and
ssal9 third load. The place where
LlS u disaster occurred is at the head OF
told Spring Harbor, not far from laurel
No non, and is favorite picnic ground.
me falling OF the deck Of the barge and
sle sad results that followed Are, It IN
Si'd, Y due entirely to the rotten condition
o. Tue supports, Many Of the excursion
,iss y, carried home with them pieces OF
IN, me centre posts. which show that they
s"ii wSfe rotten to the core. The barge IL
culars, S ;" 0s''sA Pa4s''