The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-17
And Ten Men Met Death
by Drowning.
Swell From a PasSingSIeamer
Caused the Accident.
An Alarm Followed Which Soon
Resulted In Disaster.

Cleveland, July 17.-As a result of the
overturning OF a ferryboat last night. 10
men are lying dead in the morgue, and
II is possible that that number will be
augmented before the rescuers cease
work. The accident occurred on the Old
river bed. near the ore docks OF the
Cleveland and Pittsburg Railway COM
pany. The ore handlers had just quit
work for the day. and were waiting turns
10 cross the branch OF the river on the
iat-bottomed ferryboat which they had
provided for their use. A number of the
men had crossed When the ferry
reached the dock, the last time. at least
20 men crowded uponit. The boat, which
is about 30 feet long. and not more than
four feet wide. would carry safely not
more than dozen persons. The stream
Is not wide. however. and the hurrying
ore handlers had no thought of danger.
The boat was pushed from the shore.
and was being propelled across the
stream. When IL was about half way
over 1t capsized. All the occupants were
thrown into the water. Those who re-
NAMED on shore, alarmed at the capsiz
ing Of the little craft. at once threw life
men. but most of them sank like lead.
A few, however managed to swim
ashore. while one or two were picked up
by tug. The first report of the acci-
dent placed the number of dead at %,
but that proved to have been an exag-
seration. The life saving crew. whoss
station is near the scene of the acci-
dent, was summoned at once, and the
Of he ha1fao ba
river was begun. Within an hour 10
corpses had been laid side by side upon
the dock. but the life savers continued
the work.
After the 10 bodies had been taken
from the water they were conveyed to
the morgue for identification. Follow
ing is the list Of the dead at the morgue:
William Saunders, married, one child;
August Hasten. married, several chill
dren; Michael Lynch. married; Frita
Bartel. single; Chris Gerlack, married,
two children; - Prokup. married;
Carl Bohrmeister. married; Julius Erke,
married, several children; Christ
Gehpen. married. several children:
Charles Kraus. widower. several chill
drcn.
There were many pathetic scenes
about the morgue while relatives of the
dead men were Identifying them. 1t is
believed that all the bodies have been
recovered. though II is possible that one
or two more victims may be added to the
list.
Richard Masten, chief engineer OF the
steamer Bessemer. which the men had
been unloading, was on the ferry when
1t overturned. He thinks there must
have been 30 or more men on the craft.
The boat was floating all right, he says.
until the steamer Aragon. big ore car
rier. came down the river The swell
from that vessel caused II to rock, and
the men became alarmed. Many of
them rushed TO the side and jumped
over before the boat capszed. The wash
from the Aragon carried them under
the water, and several OF them were
drowned before help could reach them
THE men struggled frantically," said
Masten, ito save themselves, but they
seemed powerless. When l saw that tho
boat was going over, / decided TO stay
with it. That is what saved my life.
let the boat turn over on me, and by
putting my head over over the water,
underneath IL, escaped the swell from
'he steamer and came out all right"