The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-07
Mt. DESERT HORROR
Score Of Persons Drowned by the
Breaking Of a Gang Plank.
A HUNDRED AND PIPTY PEOPLE

Precipitated Into thewater, and Many
SINK Beneath tho Waves While
ClutchinR Each Other In a Death
Grapple-All Were Excursionists.
Bar Harbor, Me-, Aug. IA score
of persons were killed yesterday by
the collapse Of gangplank of the
Mount Desert ferry. Seventeen were
drowned and three died from the ter
rible experience of immersion in the
water and injuries while struggling for
life.
Following is a list of the dead SO far
as now known: Mrs. William MUIR
ray, Of Brewer; Irving Bridges, West
Hancock; Albert Colson, Levant; Mrs.
Alonzo P. Cakes, Bangor; Miss Grace
Summer, Bangor: Joseph Murphy Old
town; Mrs. Hollis W. Estey, Ellis
worth; Clifford Cushman, Corinth;
Miss Lizzie Ward, Bangor; Charles w.
Downes, Ellsworth; F. e. Stweetser,
travelling salesman, Portland; Ora M.
Lank, Danforth; Mr.. and Mrs. G. H.
Bennett, Brewer; Mrs. Charles Slower,
Ellsworth; Melvin McCard, Corinth;
Mrs. A. H. Billings, Bangor; Mrs.
George Derwent, Bangor; Miss Lewis,
Hampden; unknown woman, believed
to be saleswoman for q Boston pub
fishing house.
The Maine Central railroad ran ex-
cursions to Bar Harbor from all Sec
lions of its line in Maine, the >attrac-
ton being the warships, which we're
expected yesterday,
All the morning long trains packed
with excursionists were rushing to Bar
Harbor. The train which left Bangor
with people. At 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 gangplank, 40 feet long and
10 feet wide, led up to the boat. The
slip was hinged at the inner end, the
outer end being supported by chains,
by which 1t was raised or lowered to
suit the tide. The wharf extends on
both sides flush with the end of the
wooden gangplank. Five timbers, four
by twelve inches set vertically ran the
length of the plank, and these were
said that there was no support for the
plank between the hinges at the outer
end.
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
gangplank safely, and it is estimated
that 200 people were massed on the
plank. Suddenly they fell, the plank
giving away beneath them. The long
timber supporting 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
a struggling, screaming mass of hui
manity was plunged into the water Is
feet below the wharf A few clung to
the inclined sides of the plank, but at
least $50 were struggling in the water.
The piling of the wharf practically
penned them In on three sides, and the
boat lying at the wharf closed the
outer end of the opening.
Ropes and life preservers were thrown
to the crowd. but in the panic the peo-
pie in the water clutched one another,
and many sank thus in groups in a
death struggle. Many taken from the
water were unconscious and were re-
vived with difficulty. The freight
house at the ferry was turned into a
morgue, the bodies being taken there
for identification as fast as recovered.
BY noon II 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 strong
tide sweeps under the pier and some
bodies may have been carried away
by it. A diver, who was set to work
without delay, was engaged in his
search until o'clock, but only II
bodies were found.