The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-07

OF the opening. After the hrst moment
OF stupefaeton. the work OF rescue be-
gan. Ropes and Life prsaverB were
thrown TO the crowd. but IN the paHie
the people IN the water eiutehed one
another and many sank thus In groups
IN a death grapple.
Many taken from the wnter were un-
conscious and were revived with DIM
Guilty. Doctors were summoned from
all directions but It was half an hour
before the hrst arrived. The freight
house at the ferry was turned into q
morEue. the bodies being taken there
for Identification as fast as recovered
BY noon, seventeen had been recovered.
Three other psrsons were taken on
board the sappho and died on the way
to Bar Harbor.
The exact number OF dead win not be
known for some time yet as a strong
tide sweeps under the pier. and some
bodies may have been carried away By
Il. A diver. who was set to work with
out delay, was engaged in his search
until 5 o'clock. but only seventeen
bodies were found. The coroner i'm
paneled q jury and the inquest viii be-
gin IN the morning.
The awful nature Of the accident was
not comprehended for at least minute
BY those who were the last to leave the
train. although the scene changed In
stantly from one Of holiday gaiety to n
death struggle. When the hrst moment
OF the calamity had passed. 4 panic
seemed to seize those who were safe
and they drew back from the edge OF
the water, but for only a minute. as
then the cooler heads In the crowd.
more especially among the officers and
crew of the steamer, asserted them
selves and the work Of rescue began.
Story orEye Witnesses.
Eye witnesses dlfler in their esi-
mates OF the number OF people who
were carried 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
ont by main force, but not q few were
gotten out by boats which were imme-
dlately manned. There was wild e1-
element on the land. for each eTcur-
sIonist was rushing in and among his or
her friends in quest OF relatives and
friends. In the hurry and hustle OF
alighting from the train. husbands and
wives. parents and children had be-
come separated and separation at that
moment meant heart-breaklng sus-
pense. Mrs. Estey, one OF the victims,
was one OF those who. while only apart
from her husband a few feet. lost her
life. while Mr. Estey was saved, al
though thrown into the water.
In the course Of the next half hour
several bodies were recovered from the
water and these were taken to nearby
freight houses and laid out awaiting
Identification. 1t was gruesome sight
and pitlrul one as identihcatlons were
made.
The steamer Cymbria came rom Bar
Harbor With four physicians and a
special train was hurried from Bangor
with physicians and nurses. President
Wilson. OF the Maine Central railroad.
was near at hand when the disaster oe-
CURED and he gave orders to spare no
e1ertIon in relieving the distress. Many
persons had been injured In the strug-
gle on the edge OF the wharf and In the
water. and such OF these as needed i'm
mediate attention were taken TO the
high bluffs near the station and walt
ed upon by the physicians.
The sufferers from injuries Will not
be as numerous as those who suffered
from shock and exposure due TO the
immersion In the water. OF these sew
eraI were reported tonight to be In a
critical state.