The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-22
THE ALBION HORROR
Fifty Persons Drowned at her
Christening.
HUGE MASS OF WATER
CAUSED BY THE DISPLACEMENT
OF THE WATER.
SWEPT OVER A LIGHT PLATFORM
Carrying Men Women and Children into the
Enguphing Depths--ManY were Res
cued and Revived by Arii-
fetal Respiration
fetal Respiration.

London, June 21.-During the launch
ing of the new British frst-class battle
ship Albion. of 1880 tons, at Black
wall to-day, and her christening by the
Duchess Of York, ceremony at which
the United States ambassador, Col
John Hay and Mrs. Hay and Lieut..
Col Well, the United States naval at
tachee assisted, the displacement of
water caused an immense mass of
water to rise on all sides. completely
submergng one of the lower stages Of
the yard. and immersing hundreds OF
people 1t is estimated that fifty per
sons were drowned.
Another but discreditcd report says
the warship sank.
As this dispatch is sent. the bodies OF
twenty-seven men, women and children
have been recovered.
The Duchess of York and Col and
Mrs. Hay. and the remainder of the dis
tinguishcd guests, did not see the acct
dent. which occurred at the moment
when three cheers were called for the
successful launch. and the cries and
screams Of the victims were drowned
by the outburst of hurrahs and the
shrieking of the steamers sirens
The victims were mostly working
people on holiday. who had trespass
ed on the shipbuilding yard where the
launching took place. They crowded
upon q staging. from which they had
been warned off, but the force of police
was not adequate to control the i'm
mense crowd.
About 200 persons were thrown into
the water when the staging was de-
molished by the backwash of the huge
battleship when she plunged into the
water. Most of these were rescued by
means of the numerous row boats in the
vicinity, but many We're swept away by
the flood tide, which was running and
sank before assistance cOuld reach them
About sixty of the spectators were
injured and had to receive surgical
treatment
DEAD BODIES RECOVERED.
London. June 21.-The bodies Of five
men. eighteen women and eleven chill
dren have been recovered ut Blackwell
The Duke and Duchess of York have
telegraphed assurances of their profound
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
been erected for workmen near the
stern of the Japanese cruiser i'll the
course of construction in the Blackwell
yards. 1t was a light structure, about
80 feet long and notices had been posted
warning the public that it was danger
Gus.
Despite the efforts of the police, some
200 people invaded the staging, which
commanded a good view of the launch
ing ceremony. Two great waves com
pletely demolished it, and on recedina
carried most of its occupants into deep
water. The water was alive with strug-
Cling people and floating debris.
Fortunately there was plenty of helT
near in the shape of police boats. The
shipbuilders with drags and the tiremen
who participated in the ceremony were
all prompt in affording succor A number
of nurses who had come to witness
the launching were among those en-
quilted. Some of these and many others
were revived by artificial respiratioM
Some were injured by colliding with the
debris. There was an ample supply OF
restoratives soon available, and every
thing possible was done for the res
cued, many of whom were in state
Of cOmplete collapse,