The Meeker herald., 1899-08-12
DROWNED AT THE FERRY.
Collapse of Gang Plank Precipitates TIVE
Hundred People Into the Waters OF
the fhrAAu.

Bar HarbOr, Me-, Aug. ga score
of persons were killed to-day by the
collapse of the gang plank Of the
Mount Desert ferry.
Seventeen were drowned and three
died from the terrible exposure OF Inn
mersion in the water and injuries
while struggling for life.
The Maine Central railroad to-day
ran excursions to Bar Harbor from all
section OF its line In Maine, the at
traction being the wnrships which
were expected to-day.
All the morning long trains packed
with excursionists were rushing to Bar
Harbor The train which left Bangor
Mt S:25 consisted of twelve cars
jammed with people.
At Mount Desert ferry, the terminus
of the line, the train Is left for the
boat. for an eighteen-mile sail to Bar
Harbor From the wharf a slip, or
gang plank, forty feet long and ten
feet wide, ran out to the boat. The
slip is hinged at the inner end and was
raised or lowered to suit the tide. The
wharf extends on both sides flush with
the end of the wooden gang plank. Five
timbers, 4X12 inches. set vertically.
ran the length of the plank, and these
were crossed by two-inch planks. 1t Is
plank between the hinges Mt the outer
edge.
When the excursion train from Ban
xor arrived at the ferry there was n
rush for the steamer Sappho. The first
few passengers had crossed the gang
plank safely and 1t is estimated that
200 people were massed on the plank.
Suddenly they felt the plank give way
beneath them. The long timber sup
porting the plank broke in the middle.
The hinges held up one end and the
chain the other. while the broken ends
of the plank dropped and struggling.
screaming mass OF humanity was
plunged into the water, fifteen feet be
low the wharf.
A few clung to the inclined sides of
the plank. hut mt least $50 were strus-
Cling in the water. The piling of the
wharf partially penned them on three
sides, the boat lying at the wharf clos
ing the outer end of the opening.
After the first moment of stupefac-
ton the work of rescue began. Ropes
and life preservers were thOwn to the
crowd, but in the terrific panic the peo-
pie In the water clutched one another
and many sank thus in groups in Il
death grip.
Many were taken from the water un-
conscious and We're revived with DIFF
ficulty. Doctors We're summoned from
NIL directions. but 1t 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 Identification as fast rs recovered.
BY noon seventeen had been recovered
Three other persons were taken on
board the Sappho and died on the way
TO Bar Harbor.
The exact number of dead will not
be known for some time yet as n
strong tide sweeps under the pier and
some bodies may have been carried
away by 1t. A diver, who was set to
work without delay. was engaged in
his work until : o'clock. but only sew
enteen bodies were found.
The coroner impaneled a jury and
the inquest will begin in the morning.
The awful nature of the accident
was not comprehended for at least a
minute by those who were the last to
leave the train. although the scene
changed instantly from one Of holiday
Gaiety to a death struggle. When the
Arst moment Of the calamity had
passed IL panic seemed to seize those
who We're snfe, and they drew back
from the edge of the water. but for
only n minute, as the cooler heads in
the crowd. more especially the officers
and crew Of the steamer, asserted
themselves and the work of rescue be-
gan.
Eyc-witnesses differ in their estimate
of the number of people who were car
ried down when the plank broke. but
1t 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 II few were got
ten out by boats which We're immedi-
ately manned.