The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-07
1 Heavy Steamer Bumps Into ! fraIIl
wharf and Il coIlapses
with Fatal Re.
suits.
GRAND JURY CASE
"a panic Stricken Pleasure Seekers,
Largely Women and Children
Thrown into Eight
Feet Of Water.

NEW ORLEANS, June Z. Nineteen
people are reported killed as result
of the collapse OF the wlarf at Mande-
Vile. resort on the north shore OF
lie Lake Pontchartrain Sunday even
ng. Ten bodies have already been
recovered.
"A party OF 15D excursionists gath
ered on the pier waiting to board the
steamer Margaret for the return trip
70 New Orleans. In landing, the yes
sci bumped into the pier. It was a frail
structure and when the heavy steamer
struck 1t, 1t collapsed, throwing tie
crowd into eight feet of water, most OF
them being women and children. Most
I Of the fatalities were due to the crowd
becoming panic-stricken.
Ten bodies were recovered from the
wreckare OF the wharf which collaps-
bd when the excursion steamer land
d Nine victims are still In the wa
Il Fifteen were seriously injured.
orty others we're slightly hurt.
I, The grand jury will hold a special
kssion tod0 to consider indicting
he New Orleans and st. Tammany
ilroad, which owned the wharf.
Indictments may also be asked
1fainst tae owners Of the steamer Mar
Earet Persons who witnessed the col
lapse declare the steamer was coming
suIl speed and struck the wharf ter
4ble blow.
-FOUR hundred were on the wharf
when the accident happened. When
the steamer approached, they crowded
down the flimsy platform on the wharf
waiting for chance to board the yes
sell Those at the back csscd for
ward and when the steamer struck, It
forced those on the edge into the wa
ter. The crowd behind scarcely un
derstood what had occurred and crowd
ed forward on those who were still
on the part OF the wharf which had
not collapsed.
AS soon as the nature of the acci
dent was realized, the work of rescue
began. Those standing on the wreck
ed wharf were helped first. More thai
a hundred were IL. the water. Lif'
boats were lowered from the steame
and others sent out from shore. Tel
minutes later the work Of rescue wa
Nhearly over.
h Seventy-five of those who had fallel
Nh the water were taken out and FEY
pthers managed to save themselves
II bat so many we're drowned is belle,
due to the fact that many wer
unned when the ship crashed int
e wharf. -Four little girls and on
by were crushed to death in the co
pse of the wharf. Their bodies wer
ut on the Margaret and sent to Ne
Drleans. The other victims were
rowned.
Many acts of heroism were pc
prmed. Six men, standing on til
| eek of the Margaret jumped owe
pard witaout removing their coats {
hoes swan out to the helpless vi
ms and returned with one of II
ruggling girls. OF the dead, MAJ
oiden, aged is years and Kathlee
oiden, aged 20, were to have bee
larried next week. Their fiances We
ith them. The young men jumped
Pe water, struggling to save the girl
10th were caught in the wreckal
kWiNm tae wharf and were unable to
( Ntling except to save themselve
NlFeen of the severely injured a
ykt is declared that all the bodi
Nll not be recovered until the debl
NJ the wharf is cleared. as 1T is belle
ca some are pinioned beneath t
wreckage,