Year: 1877

Terrible Disaster at Chester, Pa, Seven


men killed and three wounded.


A shocking disaster occurred at the
shipyard Of John Roach & Sons, Ches-
ter, Pa, on Tuesday morning, during
the launching Of new iron steamship
the Saratoga-just built for james E.
Ward 4 Sons, Of New York. by which
seven men were killed and three we're
somewhat badly but not dangerously
injured. Six Of the deceased we're
married. and ssme of them left large
families. All the killed and wounded
were workmen employed in the yard.
having formed part of gang of about
fifty men who knocked the blocks from
under the keel of the vessel, prepara-
tory to the cutting assunder Of the fast
enings at the bow. by which act the
vessel was liberated and sent sliding
down her greasy way into the river.
When the order was given for the work
men to get from under the ship, just
before this cutting, all but ten Of the
men obeyed Immediately These, how
ever, following what Mr. Roach and
bis master carpenter say is the custom
Of many workmen on such occasions,
crouched or stood to one side Of the
base blocks while the vessel was NOV
ing over them. But seeing that the
chains connecting the sides Of the slid
ing cradle were dragging the blocks
from above, three of the men, realizing
their danger, darted from under the
ship and escaped without dangerous in
jury. but the other seven men we're
caught and fatally mangled by the
rolling blocks Mr. John Roach says
that during the launching be stood on
the ground about thirty feet from the
spot where the bodies we're discovered
According to Mr. Roach's statement,
none of the spectators appeared to know
that anything was wrong until after the
successful launching Of the ship, when
the scene of death was presented in all
its horrid reality. Mr.. Fountain says
that those on board were equally igno-
rant


The bodies of the dead we're horribly
mangled, one being literally cut iD
halves, and others with their legs and
arms torn of. The shipyard was throng-
ed with the friends aud relatives of the
victims, and presented very distressing
scene. This is the first accident that
has ever happened at a launch since
Roach took the yard, and be has
launched some forty vessels.


The scene during the time the ship
was going off was heartrending, the
men being seen struggling to escape,
while the huge blocks which rolled by
the ship crushed them to jelly. No
assistance could possibly be rendered by
those who we're standing by. Instead
Of cheer, as usually greets launch,
a wall of anguish went up and shrieks
of pain rent the air. As soon as posi-
bic the dead and wounded we're carried
to the yard office, and physicians sum-
moned. About fifteen bundled men
are employed at the yard, and the
friends Of nearly all Of them rushed to
inquire for them. Flags are at half
mast throughout the town, and work
at the yard has been stopped. John
Roach has ordered money to be fur
nished to the families of the killed and
wounded.


The vessel was christened by Miss
Fountain. who was, of course, all una
ware at the moment Of the horrible fate
Of the men beneath her After the
vessel passed into the water the killed
and wounded we're all lying in space
not more than 20 feet iu length. No
injury whatever was dO1e to the Sara
toga.