New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-05
DROWNED ON BEVERLY BAR.
EXCURSION STEAMER SURF CITY CAP
SIZED IN A SQUALL ON SALEM BAY.
NEARLY A SCORE OF LIVES RELIEVED TO HAVE
BEEN LosT-sIx ROBES RECOVERED.

NEARLY A SCORE OF LIVES BELIEVED TO HAVE
BEEN LosT-sIx ROBES RECOVERED
Beverly. Mass. July 4-The small excursion
steamer Surf City. with about sixty passengers on
board. while halfway from Salem willows to her
wharf here. distance OF about two miles.
struck by a sudden but terrific squall about s
o'clock tto-ngh. and capszed. OF those on
board .arse majority believed to have been
rescued by boats from both the Sa.em and Beverly
shores but no less than six bodies had been recov
cred al dark and as It Is known that many rushed
into the cabin before the sGual II s thought mat
twice as many are still confined there. AS one or
two OF those taken ashore are in a critical
dltlon. 1t appears likely that the list OF dead may
reach
The following bodies were recovered from the
wreck:
KENNEY - age three. son Of John Kennsy OF Bev-
erly.
SMELL. Grace. age thirteen daughter Of Arthur
Smell. OF Beverly.
WEBER. Mrs Catherine D. age twenty-five. OF Beverly
Two women. not yet Identified. and boy Of about six
years. also unidentified.
or those rescued Miss Bertha Lovett. OF North
Beverly. Hazel Hersey. age one. OF Beverly. Miss
Emerson. OF Danvers. and an unknown two-year
Old girl still in critical condition. Otto Car
rs. the fireman Of the boat. badly scaded.
The Surf City is small screw steamer with two
decks. and has been making short trips In Massa-
chusetts Bay for a number OF years. This year she
put the Baker Island line making half
dozen trips la, from this city. stopping each
at Salem Willows. She came UP from Baker ISL
and about o'clock and left Salem willows at 500
Captain Daily. her commander signs OF
squall the boat left the willows. but thought
he could make his wharf here before It struck lie
had just reached the Beverly par. when the storm
struck the boat and at the same time a lightning
bolt struck the beacon AT the end OF the bar.
Amid the terrific din OF the thunder. which fol-
lowed the lightning flash and the fearful whlri-
wind. the little cAreened over to starboard
and went down. so suddenly that even the com
mander had the greatest difficulty in getting out Of
the boat Sh. sank in about nftsen lei u water.
her hurricane deck being loosened in the gale. while
all those ON board were either thrown into the
water OK the bay or struggled desperately 10 get
from under the decks or out OF the cabin OF the
boat
The steamer 10 go do~n by persons or.
both sides OF the bay and boats Immediately pat
out 10 the wreck. reaching her in a Few minut's.
some being taken 10 the beverly shore while
Others were taken to Salem. This scattering o. the
survivors led 10 great confusion AMI for long
time tonight II difficult. from the conflicting
stories - ascertain Just how many persons were
on the boat Notwithstanfing tn fact that the
rescuers worked hard and we'll there were those
20 whom aid came too late The young Yachts
men OF the Jubilee Yacht club saved more than
hnf Of those board. and every boat AZ the
ciub float WAS utilized other persons from the
wharvss worked fully as hard.
Tho scene Will" tho work OF rescue was going on
was fearful one. as over hall ~ those on board
long distances Many clung to the top Of the
hurricane DECK and supported themselves UNI tnse
even The snokestack. The suspense before the frst
Darkness cioscd down On the Inflated boat. with
the lido rapidly rising above her smokesiack, ana
~ IS a-dly probable that any more bodies VIII he
Weary all rose on hoard are believed 70 have
from this side ~ the ray. and tonight there
ca seq the missing were found but az late hour
n dozen or more Were unaccountef Tor. The disas-
ter was the most terrible that has ever occurred IN