The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-06-27
HUNDREDS DROWN
AS DOCK BREAKS
Buffalo Lodge Excursionists
Hurled Into Niagara River
Many Lives Lost
WOMEN AND BABIES PERISH
II Is Thought That 500 People Went
Down With Sinking Dock and
Only Few Were Saved
by Heroic Rescuers.

Buffalo, N. yam excursion dock at
Eagle Park, Grand Island, Niagara
river, collapsed under the weight OF a
crowd and over 800 persons were
thrown into the Niagara river.
Bodies few hours later were rush
ing over Niagara Falls.
The excursionists were preparing to
return to Buffalo after an outing at the
park, and between $50 and 400 per-
sons We're on the dock to take the
steamer. when the underpinning gave
way and hurled those nearest the boat
into the river.
The outing was under the auspices
Of Court Amherst Lodge No. 232, /. O.
F. of Black Rock, and was for the
benefit of sick brothers.
Women. with babies in their arms,
were among the great throng OF
shrieking victims, who were swept out
into midstream an instant after they
reached the water.
The party left Buffalo the same
morning on the steamer Henry Koer-
Der and the barge Lottie Koerber in
tow.
The first news OF the accident reach
ed this city when Mrs. Miller, wife Of
the proprietor of the hotel at Eagle
Park, telephoned.
The boats had carried one load back
to Buffalo and were at the dock taking
on the remainder when the accident
occurred.
The dock was V-shaped, with the
landing place at the apex. 1t is at the
foot of high embankment and its ap-
proach is by long flight of stairs.
The current in the river at this
point, which is IL miles above Niagara
Falls, moves at the rate of eight miles
an hour.
Dock is Crowded to the Limit.
The dock was crowded to the limit
with people and more were coming
down from the grove above.
The gangplanks were thrown out
and the section of the crowd nearest
to the steamer Henry Koerber began
to move forward
Capt Fix, on board. called TO them
to move slowly.
The words were no more than out
Of hfc, y,,ovYfb 80, AZ -
dock sank with crash.
The planking held fast to the tim
bers on both sides of the dock, form
ing pocket into which the struggling
mass of people was thrown.
Many were caught in the wreckage
of the dock, but fully 800 went into the
water, which, beneath the dock, was
12 feet in depth, with current OF at
least ten miles an hour.
RoWboats and motorboats were
pressed into service and several per-
sons were rescued. 1t is certain, how
ever, that in addition to the bodies
rescued in the vicinity Of the dock
many We're swept awav
The small boats were nseu aiso TO
release many jammed in the broken
timbers. and men who could swim
striped and went into the river to help
the women and children.
Boats of heroic rescuing parties
We're overturned in the current and
five occupants persisted.
Heart rending scenes were enacted,
men, women and children waiting to
step aboard the steamer and barge for
the return trip home after the days
outing were separated and thrown be-
tween twisted timbers and others
were precipitated into the swift low
ing Niagara.
Bodies were carried down stream in
a twinkHng. Women cried and chill
dren shrieked as they were pulled
from one another. Men grabbed the
women folk and made vain attempts
at rescue.
Members Of the crew of the steamer
Koerber did all they could at rescue
while others on the wharf and along
the banks Of the river dove into the
water.