Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26
ROTTEN WHARF COLLAPSED
An Unexpected Bath Given Excursionists
" at Motley Hall.
The Accident Caused Great Excite
ment and the Scene Indcscribable-
Return of Many Delayed.

caused the accident. Following the break
ing OF the wharf there was an exciting
scene, lasting for several minutes. and the
screams of the women and children were
described as something terrible.
When the excitement was over many of
the excursionists boarded the steamer Mat
tano and came home. Others about sixty
IN number, refused TO return in the crowd.
This necessitated another trip, and the
last of the excursionists did not reach
home until after o'clock this morning.
When the boat which made next to the
last trip reached here. between 10 and IL
O'Clock, the news of the accident spread
about the city, and caused much anxiety.
Several policemen were at the wharf when
the boat arrived, and TO them the indig-
nant excursionsts related the story of
their sad mishap.
The Uncertainty.
At that time it was not certain that all
those who had fallen overheard had been
saved, and many of them were still very
much excited.
During the day nearly five hundred peo-
pie went to Motley Hall on the steamer
Mattano, the occasion being the annual
excursion of the Fifteenth Street Presby-
terian Church, and it was intended that
the steamer should leave the wharf on its
last return trip from the resort about .
o'clock.
1t was a few minutes after o o'clock
when the boat pulled in toward the wharf
from the channel, and Capt. Mistead whis-
tied for those on the grounds to start to-
ward the boat. About three hundred peo-
pie had already collected to take passage,
for they had seen the boat coming, and
others were on their way down from the
grounds. The steamers lines were cast and
Robert Baker, the pilot, and one of the col
ored deck hands had gone on the wharf
to arrange the double gang plank. Pilot
poly ha.I h41l -. a.
ranging the plank. He had just motioned
to the crowd not to press forward and
just as he said, PLEASE step back" the
crash came, and the pilot went into the
water along with two dozen or more 9TH
-----.
Those on the wharf did not know what
members of their particular little gath err
lngs had gone down. The depth of the wa
ter was not known, either, and of course
tney imagined the worst. Some of them
could see their friends struggling for help
but they were unable to render much as
siStance.
Thought They Were Drowned.
Imagination revealed dozens of dead
bodies and while they could give
personal aid. they were able to offer up
prayers for the safety of those who had
been given so unexpected a bath.
1t was fortunate thing for some of the
females In the water that the pilot and
deck hand went overheard, for they were
valuable in the work of rescufng those who
were unable to swim. Four women were
holding to the pilot at one time, and the
shallow water was all that saved the five
OF them from drowning. These few min
utes seemed as hours, both to those in the
water and those on the wharf, ani it was
long time before the excursionists We're
fully satisfied that none of their number
had been drowned.
Finally the crowd Of water-soaked ones
al M m, fha hoat &l,z,-u
tunate friends provided them with dry
garments as far as possible. When all was
In readiness to start for home Capt. Mil
stead was told that a number of excursion
lists were still on the pavilion, and they
had refused 10 get on the boat because they
thought 1t was too crowded and they fear
ed there would be another accident The
captain pleaded with them, stating that the
number Of passengers was far below the
lawful limit. but his pleadings were In
vain, and another trip had to be made.
Timbcrs Were Decnyed.
Before the boat started the wharf was
examined by members of the church. and
they found that the accident was due en-
tirely to rotten timbers.
While the excitement was so great, and
the people were interested only in the mat
ter of saving life, two colored men in
boat were seen moving about the river
picking up hats and bonnets as well as
other articles of wearing apparel, and it is
stated these men disappeared in the dark
ness when their work was finished. They
went IN the direction of Alexandria, SO it
is stated, and many of those who got wet
had to return home bareheaded.
capt. MilStead went on the wharf soon
after the crash came, and did his best to
quiet the crowd and make them believe
that there was no further dagger. His ef-
forts IN this direction were not IN vain, and
nothing serious happened after the first
There in n.
party, 1t is said, who was actually hurt.
and his injury, inflicted by nail, was
only slight.
The affair caused considerable talk
among the members of the church. but
there was nothing that could be done last
night for the accident was not found to be
que to negligence on part of the officers of
the boat. This was SO well understood tba.
no complaint was made ag INST the Officers
but, on the contrary, they were praised for
doing all In their power to assist those who
we're in trouble. o
The steamer Mattano, it is said. ha,onps
to the estate of the late George T. Sherief
ana has been leased by an excursion com
pany, of which Mr.. L. J. woollen is man
ager. Mr.. Woollen was not in his Office
today when a Star reporter called hut
persons connected with the companv said
rotten wharf had caused the accident.
The Captain's Statement.
Captain Milstead. speaking to Star re-
porter, said the chute of the wharf was
what gave way. and a rotten timber caused
1t. He saw Pilot Baker and one of the
deck hands go down with others. The
accident. he said, was due to the crowdfne
OF the people on the extreme end of the
wharf. 1t is the duty Of the watchman TO
keep them away from that point but
Watchman Smithson is an easy-going man.
and the captain said he supposed he was
not very particular about where they went
The tide, he said. was extremely low at
the time of the accident, and the water
was only about four feet Deep
1t was reported today that a young man
named Dodson had been drowned but the
report proved to be untrue.
Personal Mention.
Lieut.. II. ]. Hunt, 18th Infantry, is at
2015 N street on leave Of absence
Lieut.. J. R NJ. Taylor. 23d Infantry. is
at the Metropolitan Club for a few DAYS.
Lieut.. w. p. Richardson, United States
army, spent two days with friends in the
city. en- route to his regiment, stationed at
Fort d. A. Russell, Wwoming.
Gov. McLaurin Of Mississippi is In the
city.
DIR. and Mrs. W. A. Croffutt leave on
Monday. 2Sth. for California, Alaska ana
British Columbia
Naval Orders.