The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-22
APPALLING ACCIDENT
Hundreds of People Were Submerged
at Blackwell, England.
CAUSED BY DISPLACEMENT or WAFER
The Occasion Was the Launching Of
. New liattlcsnip.
THIRTY BODIES RECOVERED
Sixty Spectators Were Injured and
Received Medical Treatment.
A DEFECTIVE STAGING COLLAPSED
THIRTY BODIES RECOVERED
A DETECTIVE STAGING COLLAPSED
ItcnrtrcNdina scenes Witnessed
Throughout the Evening ns the
Identification Proceeded.

London, June 2l.--During the launching
Of the new first class battleship Albion of
1880 tons at Blackwell today by the
Duchess OF York, ceremony at which tho
United States ambassador. Colonel John
Hay. aud Mrs Hay and lieutenant Colonel
Wells, the United States naval attache. as
sisted. the displacement of water caused an
immense mass Of water to rise on all sides,
completely suhmerging one of the lower
stages OF the yard and immersing hundreds
of people.
The Duchess OF York and Colonel and
Mrs, Hay and the remainder OF the distln-
gushed guests did not zee the accident.
which occurred at the moment when three
cheers were called for tho successful
launching. aud the screams OF tho victims
were drowned by the outbursts Of hurrahs
aud the whistles OF the steamers.
Thirty bodies have been recovered
The victims were mostly working people
on a holiday, who had trespassed on the
ship building 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 made
quate to control the immense crowd
About 200 persons were thrown into tho
water when the staging was demolished by
the back wash of the huge battloship when
she plunged into the water
Most of these wore rescued by means OF
the numerous rowboats in the vicinity. but
many were swept away by tho food Tide
which was running and sark before assist.
ance could reach them
About sixty OF the spectators were In
tured and received surgical treatment.
Many plucky rescues OF drowning people
were made by onlookers,
Heart -rending scenes were Witnessed
when the bodies OF children and other rela-
tiyes OF those who escaped the disaster
were recovered
Latcr.-The bodies OF five men, eighteen
women and eleven children have been re-
covered at Blackwell, the scene OF the dis
aster that followed the launching.
The Duke and Duchess OF York have
telegraphed assurances Of their profound
regret and sympathy. Thousands who wit
messed the launching. including the royal
party. left the scene quite ignorant Of the
disaster
The staging that was erected near an
obsolete cruiser was defective. It was
light structure. fifty feet long, and notices
had been posted warning the public that
X was dangerous. Despite the policies ef
forts 200 people ivaded the staging for q
view Of the launching.
Two great waves completely demolished
II and on receding carried most OF its oc-
cupants into deep water. The water was
alive with struggling people and floating
debris The shrlcks OF the unfortunate
people mingled with the cheers over the
successful launching
Fortunately there was plenty Of help near
In the shape Of police boats and odd craft
The ship builders. with drags, and the iire-
men who participated In the ceremony were
all prompt in affording succor
number OF nurses who had come TO
witness the launching we're among those
engulfed. Some OF these and many others
were revived by artificial respiration. Some
were injured by coiliding with the debris.
Heartrending scenes have been witnessed
throughout the evening as the Identified
ton OF the dead slowly proceeded