The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-11
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT BAR
HARBOR. MAINE.
Breaking of Gang Plank of the
Mount Desert Ferry Cause of the
Disaster-Street Car Plunges from
Trestle at Bridgeport.
Awful Sunday Disnsters.

MRS. WILLIAM MURRAY, of Brewer.
IRVING BRIDGES. West Hancock.
ALBERT CoLsoN, Levant.
MRS; ALoNZo p: oAkEs, Bangor.
MRS. HOLLIS W. EsTY, Ellsworth.
CLIFFORD cUsHMAN, Corinth.
MISS LIZZIE WARD, Bangor.
f. E. SWEETZER. travelling salesman.
Portland.
ORA N LANK. Danforth.
MRS. S. H. BENNETT, Brewer.
MRS. c. r. sTovER, Ellsworth.
MELVIN M'CARD, Corinth.
MRS. A. H. BILLINGS, Bangor.
MRS. GEORGE DERWENT, Bangor.
UNKNoWN 'l i woMAN, {, pbeHt Believed ed to be a
saleswoman for q Boston publishing house.
JOHN CALVIN. %, Ansonia.
Went to See the wnrships.
The Maine Central railroad today ran
excursions to Bar Harbor from all sections
of it's line In Maine. the attractions being
The warships which were expected today.
The train which left Bangor at 3:25 con-
sisted of twelve coaches Jammed with peo-
pie. 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 slip or gang plank forty feet
long and ten feet wide led up to the boat.
The slip was hinged at the inner end so as
TO be raised or lowered to suit the tide. The
wharf extends on both sides flush with the
end of the wooden gang plank. Five tim
bers. by 12 inches. set vertically
ran the length OF the plank and these
were crossed by two-inch planking. 1t is
said there was no support for the plank
between the hinges and the outer end.
When the excursion from Bangor arrived
at the ferry there was rush for the steam
er Sappho. The first few passengers crossed
the plank safely and it is estimated that 200
people We're massed upon the plank. Sud-
denly they felt the plank give way be-
meath 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 struggling, screaming mass of hu-
manity was plunged into the water, fifteen
feet below the wharf A few clung to the
inclined sides of the plank, but about $50
were struggling in the water The piline
of the wharf partially penned them in on
closed the outer end of the opening.
A MoMentary Panic.
The awful horror was regarded for at
least minute by those who We're last to
leave the train, though the scene changed
Immediately from one of holiday gayety to
death struggle. When the first moment
OF the calamity had passed panic seemed
to seize those who were safe, but for only
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.
Those who fell into the water last were
mostly pulled out by main force, but not
few were gotten out by boats, which We're
Immediately manned. In the hurry and
hustle of alighting from the train. hus
bands and wives, parents and children, had
become separated. and separation at that
moment meant heartbreaking suspense.
Mrs. Esty, one OF the victims, was one of
those who, while only apart from her hus-
band few feet. lost her life, while Mr.
Esty was saved, although thrown into the
water.
In the course Of the next half hour sew
eraI bodies were recovered from the water
and those were taken to the nearby freight
house and laid out awaiting Identification.
me Cambria came from Bar Harbor
with tour 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 occurred, and he gave orders
tress.
Ihe sufferers from injuries will not be
as numerous as those who suffered from
shock and exposure due to the immersion
IN the water. Several were reported to-
night to be in critical state Miss
Sweezy, OF Bangor, was taken to the Hotel
Bluns. suffering from pneumonia; George
spaulding. of Orono, is also at the Bluffs,
and may not recover. Mrs. George Brooks,
OF Ellsworth, will recover, although her
case was once pronounced hopeless. After
the bodies in the freight house had been
1dentihed the coroner gave permission to
have them removed and relatives and
friends soon after took each in charge and
attended them to their respective homes.
The Work of Rescue.
After the first moment of stupefaction
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 sunk thus
In groups in a death grapple
Many taken from the water were uncon-
sc1ous and were revived with difficulty.
DOCTORS were summoned from all direc-
tlons, but 1t was half an hour before the
hrst arrived. The freight house at the
Terry was turned into a morgue, the bodies
being taken there for Identification as fast
as 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 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,
cut only seventeen bodies were found.
The coroner impaneled a jury and the
inquest will be held in the morning
PLUNGED FROM A TREsTLE.
street Car Turns Completely Over