The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-07
Caused by Collapse Of Gang
plank at Ferry Landing
While a Large Party Were Embark
ing on a Bay Steamer.
One Hundred and Fifty Persons Thrown
Into the Water = Twenty
Known Dead.

BAR HARBOR (Maine), Aug. Ga
score of persons We're killed to-day by
the collapse of the gangplank of the
Mount Desert ferry.
Among the bodies identified are:
Mrs William Murray of Brewer.
Irving Bridges, West Hancock.
Albert Colson, Levant
Mrs Alonzo Cakes, Bangor.
Joseph Murphy. Old Town.
Mrs Hollis Estey, Ellsworth.
Clifford Cushman. Corinth.
Miss Lizzie Wood, Bangor.
Miss Grace Sumner. Bangor.
Charles w. Downes. Elizabeth.
F. F. Sweetser, travelling salesman.
Portland.
Ora NJ Lark, Danforth.
G. R. Bennett of Brewer and woman
believed to be his wife.
Mrs. A. H. Billings, Bangor.
Mrs T. C. Slower. Ellsworth.
Mrs George Derwent. Bangor.
Mrs. G. R. Bennett. Brewer.
Miss Lewis Hampden, Maine.
Unknown woman. believed to be
saleswoman for a Boston publishing
house.
The Maine Central Railroad to-day
ran excursions to Bar Harbor from all
sections of it's line in Maine, the at.
traction being the war ships which were
expected to-day.
All the morning long trains packed
with excursionists were running to Bar
Harbor. The train which left Bangor
at S:25 o'clock consisted of twelve cars
damned with people. At Mount Desert
ferry, the terminus of the line, tha
train is left for the boat for an eigh.
teen mile sail to Bar Harbor. From
the wharf a slip or gangplank forty
feet long and ten feet wide ran out to
the boat. The slip was hinged at the
inner end, and was raised or lowered
to suit the tide. The wharf extenda
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 We're
crossed by two-inch planks. 1t is said
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
rush for the steamer Sappho. The first
few passengers had crossed the plank
safely. and it is estimated that 2OO
people were massed on the plank. Sud-
denly they felt the plank give way be-
meath them. The. long timber support
ing 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 pa-
low the wharf A few chung to the i:s-
clined sides of the plank, but at YEAST
$50 were struggling in the water. The
piling of the wharf partially penned
them on three sides. the boat lying at
the wharf closing the outer end of the
opening.
After the first moment of stupefac-
ton the work of rescue began hopes
crowd but in the panic in the water
clutched one another, and many thus
sank in groups in death grip. Many
were taken from the water unconscious,
and were revived with difficulty.
Doctors were summoned from all di-
rections, but it was half an hour be-
fore the first arrived. The freight
house at the ferry was turned into a
morgue, the bodies being taken snere
for Identification as fast as recovered.
BY noon seventeen had been recovered
Three other persons We're 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. as strong tide