The Lamar register., 1899-08-09
pRowNgp an TAg FERRv.
Collapse OF Gang Plank Precipi;ates Two
Hundred People Into the Waters of
the Ocean

Bar Harbor. Ne. Aug. Ga score
OF persons were killed today by the
collapse of the gang plank OF the
Mount Desert ferry,
Seventeen were drowned and three
died from the terrible exposure ~ 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 It's line in Maine, the at
traction being the warships which
were expected to-day.
An the morning long trains packed
with excursionIs;s were rushing to Bar
Harbor. The train which left Bangor
at S;2s5 consisted of Iweiye cars
jammed with people.
At Mount Desert ferry. the terminus
OF the line. the train Is left for the
boat. for an eiIhtecn-mile sail to Bar
Harbor. From the wharf slip, or
gang plank. forty feet long and ten
feet wide. ran out 10 the boat. The
slip Is hinged at the inner end and was
raised or lowered To suit the Hide, The
wharf extends on bssh sides iush with
the end of the wooden gang plank. Five
iimtserS ixl2 inches. set vertically,
ran the length OF the plank. and these
Were crossed by two-Inch pianks, Ii Is
said that there WAS no suppnrT for the
plank between the hinges At the outer
edge.
When the excursion train from Ban
ror arrived Mt the ferry there was a
rush for the STEAMER Sappho. The tirst
few passengers had crossed the gang
plank safely and Il il estimated that
30 people were masScd on the plank.
suddenly they felt the plank give way
,-neath them. The long timber sup
porting the plank broke In the middle.
The hinges held mp one end and the
chain the other while. the broken ends
OF the plank dropped and struggling.
sssreatninE mass Of humanity wus
plunged into the water. fifteen feet be-
low the wharf
A few eiunE to the inclined sides Of
the plank. but NJ least 100 wep, strsfE
Cling in the water The piline OF the
wharf partially penned them on thrse
sides, the boat lying at the wharf clos-
Ing the ontsr end Of the opening
After the first moment OF stupelae-
tion the work of r.-Ssn,. hcgnn. Ropes
and life preSery.rs wcrc thuwu to the
crowd but In the terrific panic the I-so-
pie In the water elntched one another
and many sank thus In groups ia a
death grip.
Many were taken from the water un-
conscious and were revived with ,iff.
fculty. Doctors wcre summoned from
al directions. but IL was half an hour
before the first arrived. TlI.- freight
house nj the ferry was turned Into
morgue. the bodies being tnken there
for Identification as fast a. recovered.
BY noon seventeen had BEEN recovered
Threc other persons were taken on
board the Sappho and died on the way
10 Bar Harbor
The exact number 81 dead will not
~, known for some time yet aS a
strong tide sweeps under th.. t,i.-- and
some bodies may have been carried
away by u. \ diver. who was se; TO
work without delay. was engaged In
his work until ; O'Clock. bur only sew
enteeu bodies were found.
The coroner 'lpaneIe,i a Jury and
the inquest win begin IN the morning.
The awful nature Of the accident
was not comprehcnded for nj least &
minute by those who were th. last 10
leave the train. although the seen.
changed instantly from one Of holiday
gaiety TO a death struggle. When the
hrst moment OF the calamity had
passed pnuic seemed TO seize ihose
who We're safe. and they drew hack
from the edge Of the water. but for
only minute. as the cooler heals In
the crowd. more especially the officers
and crew OF the steamer asserted
themselves and the work OF rescue b..
gan.
Eyc-witnesses differ In their estimate
of the number Of people who wpr,. ear.
ried down when the plank broke. hut
u was the vanguard af the crowd
which was rushing from the train 10
the steamer. Those who fell into tbs.
water last were mostly pulled out by
main force, hut not a few wrr.. got.
ten out by boats which were ilnmesIi-
ateiy manned