The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-11
Twenty PEOPLE DROWNED
Sad Ending of a Sunday
Excursion.
A ROTTEN GANG PLANK

h Gaugway-The Struggling Thronx
IN the vatcr-Many sink Ciutchius
Each Other aud 90 Perish-The Work
OF nescuc-People Dared by the
Horror.
Bar Harbor, Ne, August Ga score
OF persons were killed today by the
collapse OF the gang plank Of the Mount
Desert ferry. Fully $50 persons were
suddenly thrown into the water. and FOR
a few moments it appeared as IL half
OF them would be drowned. The work
of rescue was promptly begun, how
ever, and 1t is now believed that not
more than twenty persisted.
PLUNGE OF FIFTEEN FEET.
The Maine Central railroad today
ran excursions TO Bar Harbor from all
sections of its line in Maine. the attrac-
ton being the warships, which were
expected today. The train which left
Bangor at S:25 O'Clock consisted OF
twelve cars damned with people. Al
Mount Desert ferry. the terminus Of the
line, the train is left for the boat, for
an eight-mile sail to Bar Harbor.
From the wharf a slip, or gang
plank, forty feet long and ten feet
wide. led up 10 the boat. The slip was
hinged at the inner end, the outer end
being supported by chains, by which
ii was raised or lowered to suit the
tide. Five timbers. four by twelve
inches, set vertically, ran the length
OF the plank, and these were crossed
by two-inch planking.
When the excursion train from Ban
gor arrived at the ferry there was a
rush for the steamer Sappho. The first
few passengers had crossed the gang
plank safely, and it is estimated that
200 people were massed upon the plank.
Suddenly they felt the plank give way
beneath them. The long timbers sup
porting the plank broke in the middle.
The hinges held up n end and the
chain the other, while the broken ends
Of the plank dropped, and a struggling.
screaming a Of humanity was
plunged into the water. fifteen feet be-
low the wharf.
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
A few chung to the inclined sides OF
the plank, but at least $50 were strug-
Cling in the water. The piling of the
wharf partially penned them in on
three sides and the boat lying at the
wharf closed the outer end of the
opening.
After the first moment OF stupefac-
ton, the work Of rescue began. Ropes
and life preservers were thrown to the
crowd, but in the panic the people in
the water clutched one another. and
many sank thus in groups in a death
grapple. Many taken from the water
We're unconscious and were revived
wi difficulty.
Doctors were summoned from all d.
rections, but it was half an hour before
the first arrived. The freight house at
the ferry was turned into a morgue, the
bodies being taken there for identiica-
ton as fast as recovered. By moo
seventeen had been recovered. Three
other persons were taken on board the
Sappho. and died on the way to Bar
Harbor.
The awf | nature Of The accident
was not c~omprehended for at least a
minute by those who were the last TO
leave the train, although the scene
changed instantly from n OF holiday
g. ETY. to a death struggle. When tho
first moment Of the calamity had pass
ed, a panic seemed to seize those who
We're safe, and they drew back from tho
edge Of the water, but for only a min
ute, as then the cooler heads in the
crowd, more especially among the OFF,
GERS and crew of the steamer, asserted
themselves, and the work OF rescue
began.
Bar Harbor, Me-, August IA care
full examination by divers and On shore
in the vicinity of the Mount Desert
ferry slip. the e of the terrible
accident yesterday, indicate that the
twenty victims reported In last night'e
Associated Press dispatches are all who
persisted as a result OF the catas.
trophe.
A Mr.. Southland, OF Bangor, who wa
seriously injured, Is not likely 10 re
cover and two other persons are suffer.
ing from pneumonia. Others who were
hurt yesterday were reported today a!
being in a favorable condition.