Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-22
LAUNCHING TRAGEDY
Fifty Persons Drowned at
Blackwell, Eng.
DETAILS OFTHE ACCIDENT
. .BacksFash - OF the Huge Rattleship A
bion De1nollshes Plat form, Thro W.
/. Ing About Two Hundred People
- Into the Water.
SBy TeleSraph.l

\. LONDON. June 2l.-During the
launching 2 OF the new British hrst class
3Sbattleship Albion. of 1850 tons. a,
sesiackwall today. and her christening
3by the Duchess of York, a ceremony
at which the United States Ambassador
Colonel John Hay and Mrs Hay and
lieutenant Colwel1. the United States
naval attache, assisted. the displace-
Sament OF water caused an immense mass
OF water to raise on all sides. com
pietely subnerging one of the lower
stages OF the yard and immersiny
hundreds of people.
1t. IS estimated that fifty persons were.
drowned. 80
y. Another. but discredited report, says
the warshlp sank
AS this dispatch is sent the bodies
OF twenty-seNen men. women and
children have been recovered.
me Duchess of York and Colonel and
Mrs Hay and the remainder of the
distinguished guests did not see the
accident. which occurred at the mo-
sment when three cheers were called for
& tor the successful launch and the cries
and screams OF the victims were
drowned by the outbursts OF hurrah;
and the steamers sirens.
& The victims were mostly working
people on holiday who had trespassed
on the shipbuilding yard where the
launching took place. They crowded
upon staging from which they had
been warned off. but the force OF police
/ on the spot was inadequate to contro,
the immense crowd.
@as About two hundred persons were
thrown into the water when the stag
ing was demolished by the backwash
of the huge battleship when she plung-
&c into the water. Most of these we're
Y rescued by means of the numerous row
Y boats in the vicinity, but many were.
z swept away by the flood tide which
u was running and sank before assist
ance could reach them
About sixty of the spectators were
injured and had to receive surgical
treatment
Many plucky rescucs nr drowning
persons were made by on-lookers.
E Heartrendring scenes were witness
ed when the bodies or children AMI
ether relatives of those who escaped
A the disaster We're recovered and
Fl brought to the land
The bodies OF five men. eighteen
Il women and eleven children have beer,
recovered at Blackwell.
The Duke and Duchess of York hnvc
telerraphed assurances Of their pro-
& found regret and sympathy.
$ Thousands who witnessed the launch
\ ing. including the royal party. left the
scene quite ignorant Of the disaster.
The staging that was destroyed had
Y been erected for workmen near th7
s stern OF the Japanese cruiser in course
! OF construction in the Blackwell yards
1t was A light structure. about nrt,
A feet long. and notices had been poste,
/ warning the public that it was danger
Y olfS.
a Despite the efforts Of the police SOM
Z 200 people invaded the staging. which
II commanded n good view of the launch
S ing ceremony. Two great waves com
4 rletely demolished it. and on reccdin
carried most of it's occupa ntS into dee
water. The water was alive Will
q struggling people and floating debris.
Fortunately there was plenty OF
help near, in the shane of police boa Is
ss=1rf -uef,er-+f rritft. I'he shipbuilders
I with drags and the firemen who par
u ticipated in the ceremony We're all
prompt in affording succor. A number
4 OF nurses who had come TO witness the
4 Launching were among those engulfcd
Some Of these and MANY others were
Z. revived by artificial respiration. Some
were injured by colliding with the de-
\ bris.
There was an annie supply of restor-
Y attves soon available. and everything
possible was done for tho rescued
s. many of whom were In 4 state of com
plete collapse.