The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-22
DIRE DISASTER
AZ tho Launching OF n British warih,p.
Fifty People Drownsd-Heartrsndln
Scenes OH Recovery OF HodIes. 20

Af tho Launching OF n Britiah Warihip.
Fifty People Drownsd-HeartrsndIn
Scenes ON Recovery OF Bodies.
LONDON, June 81. = During the
launching OF the new British flrst-class
battleship Albion, OF 1880 tons. nt
Blackwell to-day, By the Duchess OF
York. q ceremony at which the United
States ambassador, Colonel John Hay
and Mrs. Hay and Lieutenant Colwell,
the United States naval attache, assist
ed. the displacement OF water caused an
immense mass OF water to rise on all
sides, completely submerging one OF the
lower stages OF the yard and immersing
hundreds OF people. 1t is estimated that
fifty persons were drowned.
Another but discredted report says
the warship sank. 10
AS this dispatch is sent. the bodies
of.twentH:seven men, women and chii-'
dren have been recovered from the
scene OF the Blackwell disaster.
The Duchess OF York and Colonel and
Mrs. Hay and the remainder Of the dis
tlnguished guests did not see the acci-
dent, which occurred at the moment
when three cheers was called for for
the successful launching. and the cries
and screams OF the Victims were drown
ed by the outburst Of tnurrahs and the
steamer sirens.
The bodies OF five men. eighteen wo-
men and eleven children have been re-.
covered at Blackwell, the scene OF the
disaster that followed the launching OF
the British frst-class battlesh!p Albion
to-day by the Duchess OF York.
Thousands who witnessed the launch
Ing, Including the royal party, left the
scene quite ignorant OF the disaster.
The staging that was destroyed has
been erected for workmen near the
stern OF n Japanese cruiser in course of
construction In the Blackwnll yards. 1t
was light structure about fifty fee,
long and notices had been posted warn
Ing the public that It was dangerous.
Despite the efforts OF the police some
two hundred people invaded the stag
ing. which commanded good view OF
the launching ceremony. Two great
waves completely demolished 1t and on
receding carried most Of Its occupants
Into the deep water. The water was
alive whit struggling people and float
Ing debris. 1t was scene OF terrible
confusion. The shrieks OF the unfortu-
nate people mingled with the cheers
over the successful launching.
Fortunately there was plenty OF help
near In the shape OF police boats and
other craft. The shipbuIlders with
drags and the hremen who participated
In the ceremony. were oil prominent In
nffordlng succor. A number of nurses
who had come to witness the launching
were among those engulfed. Some OF
these, and many others were resuscita-
ted by artificial respiration. Some were
Injured by coll!ding with the debris.
At last reports thirty bodies had been
recovered. The victims were mostly
working people on holiday who had
trcspassed on the shipbuildinS yard
where the launching took place. They
crowded upon n staging from which
they had been warned or, but the force
of police on the spot was Inadequate 10
control the immense crowd
About two hundred persons were
thrown Into the water when the staging
was demolished by the back wash of the
huge battleship when she plunged into
tho water. Most of these were rescued
by means Of the numerous rowboats In
the vicinity. but many were swept away
by the flood tide which was running and
sank before assistance could reach
them.
yAbout sixty Of the spectators were in
Jured and had to receive surgical treat
mcnt.
Many plucky rescues OF drowning per-
sons were made by onlookcrs. ,,.
Hcartrcnding scenes were witnessed
when the bodies OF the children and
other relatives OF those who escaped the
disaster were recovered and brought to
the land.
No Extension or Stamp Tax.
WASHINGTON, June 2l.-Relatlve to
the statement by the secretary OF the
treasury that 1t 10 desirable 10 have the
stamp tax portion OF the war revenue
bill 30 into effect July 18th. It is STATED
that the senate finance committee Is
unanimously Of the opinion that the. ox-i
tension should not be made. A member
OF tho committee says the date fixed
was suggested by the internal roynnucs