The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-05
PERHAPSTHIRT
STEAMER SURF CIT CAPSIzES OFF
BEVERLY, MASS.

II was Caught in n Storm and the Passsn-
gers on tho Upper Decks Careened 1t
in Trying to Avoid Haiistones-An Those
in the Cabin of tho steamer Drowned
SALEM. Mass, July Am accident resulting
In the loss of probably thirty-fve lives occurred
of Beverly this evening when the excursion
steamer Surf City was capsizcd in a
thunderstorm. The steamer was filled with
about two hundred eXcursionists, and was on
the way from Salem Willows to Bakers Island.
She was of Beverly about q o'clock when the
storm struck her. The wind hit the steamer
square on the starboard side. and this side was
crowded with passengers on both the upper
and lower decks. and they all crowded over to
the port side TO escape the fierce drive Of hail
stones which poured on them.
This with the wind and the fact that the
Surf City was top heavy and practically unsea-
worthy careened the steamer on her side. cont
pletely submerging the lower deck and cabin.
The cabin was filed with women and children
who could not get out. A frightful panic en-
sued. To make matters worse the steamer ran
on a sandbar.
Those passengers not in the cabin crowded
on to the upper deck and awaited the boats
which were putting out from the shore. half a
mile away. All was still in the cabin where tho
helpless women had been drowned. but on the
upper deck the women were screaming and
crowding terror-stricken. Some crowded into
the pilot house. hemming in the Captain. H. c.
Daily. so that he had to burst open his window
to escape. gashing his arms in doing so.
When the boats arrived women fairly leaped
into them and nearly capsiEed them. All the
passengers on deck were finally taken away.
but the drowned in the cabin could not be
reached. A negro named Anderson did he
role work diving into the cabin. from
which he pulled three women and a baby
Life was nearly extinct and by the
time shore was reached it was too late. Ander-
son said he could see dimly into the cabin and
could see at least thirty women and children
and a few men who had been held in by the
door and drowned. Later at low tide seven
more bodies were recovered. The work was
difficult and high tide covered the ship before
more bodies could be reached.
The bodies were taken to the Jubilee club
house. All efforts to revive them were futile.
Among them were Miss Bertha Lovett of
North Beverly. Hazel Jersey. one year
old; an unidentified girl of two years,
Miss Grace Smell, and q boy named John
Kenney. Capt. Daily says he thought
he had time to reach Beverly before the storm
should break. but just before arriving at his
destination two squalls struck the boat from
the east and west. All he could see was the
lifting and tipping Of the deck.
The Surf City was a steam propeller OF 300
tons. owned by the Harbor and Bay Steamship
Company IF. W. Litchfield and G. p. Robinsonl.
She was licensed to carry 300 passengers. but
was not fit for that number. She was narrow
and top heavy. Mr.. Robinson of the firm places
the value of the Surf City at $500, partly in
sured.
1t will be impossible for any one to ascertain
A. --.A $3.50. 49, II -. .,-..I -
The ticket agency cannot tell how many
were aboard. as many who bought tickets
earlier in the day waited until this trip before
sailing.