The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-07
DASHED TO DEATH.
Continued From First Page.)

bodies may have been carried away by
1t.
A diver, who was set at work, with
out delay, was engaged in his search
until o'clock, but only II bodies were
found.
Coroner D. L. Field of Ellsworth in
panelled a jury to hold an inquest. The
Jury will begin its session in the morn
ing.
The awful nature of the accident was
not comprehended for at least a min
ute by those who were the last to leave
the train, although the scene changed
Instantly from one of holiday gaiety to
death struggle. The drop between the
solid wharf and the steamer which was
high in the water, was so precipitate
that those who were on the wharf S
edge suPging forward to the 80 foot slip,
pressed on over the brink to the waters
beneath. Some of those whose bodies
were afterwards recovered, died quick
ly, for they were borne beneath the
waves by the weight of the living, who
fell after them, and who madly strug-
gled to reach life preservers and lines
thrown to them from both wharves and
steamers. When the first moment of the
calamity had passed panic seemed to
seize those who were safe and they
drew back from the edge of the water
But for only another minute, as then
the cooler heads in the crowd, more es-
pecially among the officers and crew of
the steamer, asserted themselves and
the work of rescue began.
Eye witnesses differ in their estimate
of the number of people who were car
ried down when the plank broke, but it
was the vanguard of the crowd which
was rushing from the train to the
steamer. Those who fell into the water
last were mostly pulled out by main
force but not few were gotten out by
the boats which were Immediately man
ned. But boats could not be handled in
the little space between the steamer and
the wharf, and in five minutes no living
thing was seen on the surface.
Those were moments fraught with
wild excitement on land for each ex-
cursionist was rushing in and out
among his or her neighbors in quest Of
relatives and friends. In the hurry and
hustle Of alighting from the train, hus-
bands and wives, parents and children
had become separated, and that sep
aration at that moment meant heart
breaking suspense. Mrs. Estey, one of
the victims, was one of those who, while
only apart from her husband few feet
lost her life While Mr.. Estey was saved
although thrown into the water.
In the course of the next half hour
several bodies were recovered from the
water and these were taken to the
nearby freighthouse and laid out
awaiting identification. 1t was a grue-
some sight and e most pitiful scene
as identif1cations were made. Steamer
Cymbria came from Bar Harbor with
four physicians and a special train
was hurried from Bangor, with physi-
clans and nurses.
President Wilson Of the Maine Cen
trial railroad was near at hand when
the disaster occurred, and he gave or
ders to expend the utmost exertion in
relieving the distress. Many persons
had been injured in the struggle on the
edge of the wharf, and in the water,
and such Of those as needed immediate
attention were taken to the high
bluffs near the station and waited upon
by the physicians.
The victims of the injuries will not
be as numerous as those who suffered
from shock and exposure due to the
immersion in the icy water Of these
several We're reported tonight to be in
critical state. Miss Sweeney of Ban
gor was taken to Hotel Bluffs. suffer
ing from pneumonia; George Spaulding
of Orono is also at the Bluffs. and may
not recover; Mrs. George Brooks of
Ellsworth will recover although her
case was once pronounced hopeless
After the bodies in the freight house
had been identified Coroner Fields of
Ellsworth gave the necessary permis-
sion to have them moved, and rela-
tives and friends soon after took each
In charge and returned to their re-
spective homes.
The occasion today which brought so
many people here was in part due to
the expected presence Of a portion Of
the North Atlantic squadron Rear
Admiral Sampson in command The
excursions were run from various
points in this section of the state, some
Of them having begun yesterday. In
addition Bar Harder is always an at
tractive place at this season Of the
year, and the rush Of excursionists is
large. But not all were on an excur-
sion alone. Irving Bridges OF North
Hancock, who lost his life in the ac-
cident was on his way to Bar Harbor
70 see his affianced wife, Miss Marshall.
Ihey were to have been married the
coming autumn. Bridges Is well known
IN Bar Harbor having been In the en-
ploy OF DR.. Fremont Smith for several
years.