Year: 1879


bly, 200 of these climbed the rails
and up on the hurricane deck. That would
still leave 300 the regular freight which carried on
her excursion nearly doubles the limit laid down in
her charter papers If that be and this can be as
certaned In investigation of course the responsibility
will rest on the owner" There feeling that
the city was in measure to blame because there
was conspicuous absence of policemen at the
steamboat landing One spectator said that two po-
licemen could have averted the disaster.


MAYOR PRATr's STATEMENT


In order to get ut the bottom of the story and
how tar the city the owner of the boat or both
were liable. 1 drove direct from the lake
to Mayor Pratt's residence, at the south
side Of the city The Mayor had retired
on account OF indsposition. but he sent
invitation to come to his apartments. which
cepted. After discussing the calamity and the dis
tressing blow it inflicted on the community he
talked the question of liability. The Mayor
did not seem inclined to believe that the city
had been remiss at all. He said he had instructed
the City Marshal only the night before to
send extra policemen up to the lake to keep order.
aud authorized him, in he had not enough. to
call his specials. heard to-day" he continued,
THAT no policemen were present at the time. and
that in fact. none were on the ground as the people
in charge of the place had said that there was
need of any till after two o'clock"


.Well, Mr.. Mayor does not that throw some of
the blame the city,"


NO think not; for in the first place Mr.. Coburn
had no license to sail her. license given to his
brother, j. J. Coburn. who owns good slice Of the
land around the landing. He sold the boat to his
brother, and the latter tried to get renewal or
rather transfer of the license but failed Therefore
he had business to sail her at all.
He was entitled to privilege or protec-



guaranteed him any privileges protection" AS
to the prospects Of investigation the Mayor said
the disaster and all its results and bearing would be
thoroughly looked into after the receipt Of the
port of the medical examiners.


soRRowING AND WAITING FRIENDS.


AS the shade of night began to close down there
abatement in the excitement which
had prevailed during the afternoon in
the city. and at the scene of the dis
aster people seemed loath to return
to their homes, while it was yet in doubt whether
all the bodies had been recovered The HERALD cor
respondent, driving back to the scene at eight
O'Clock. found the road filed with carriages and
foot passengers their way to the lake,
all with anxious faces, In the
declining light; and at the steamboat landing large
crowd were standing about. waiting the result of
the search for the missing. At this time there
were many reported as not having returned TO
their homes. who known to have gone to
the lake. and who were believed to have
been on the steamer at the time of the accident
Numbers of those who stood about the landing
were women and young girls. who were doubtless
mothers and sisters Of the missing and their trou
bled. distressed faces formed sad picture.
At times they could scarcely suppress
their sobs and means. They remained
till far into the night. though the work
of dragging for the bodies had been given up till
morning. Now and then could be heard cry of re-
lief among the groups. which was caused by the
sudden appearance of some young man. son or
brother Of some of the anxious waters and their
friends.


A MOTHERS SORROWS.


Several of these instances occurred during the
evening and pleasant to behold. They ut the
same time brought comfort to the groups who were
in doubt as to the whereabouts of their friends.
One incident that OF a poor mother whose
son. young and wayward youth. had been
missing from his home since early morning. The
woman had gone to the at the drst alarm.
knowing that her had started with
companions for the lake. Just she had
given up hope and about returning heartsick
to bemoan her loss, the young man turned up. but
his coming up doubtful matter tor congratula-
ton. He had fallen victim to intoxcstion during
the day had quarrelled with his boon companions.
who very likely in the condition as himself.
and had evidently gotten the worst of the combat.
At all events both eyes were blackened.
tooth was missing, while his clothing
was q mass of muddy rags. He had been
found by some men carrying q lantern. lying
in neighboring field the banks of the lake, in
a drunken slumber. The youth was brought to his
sorrowing mother, q sobersr If not wiser 1t
was of the incipient return OF the prodigate.

ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON LAKE QUINsIGAMoND.


BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALI.


WORCESTER, July T. 1879.


As If there had not been sufficient fatality for the
OCCASION another and singular accident occurred 1t
Lake Quinsigamond not long after and within
short distance from the place of the steamboat
disaster. This the of young man named
James Byrne who drowned while in bathing.
1t is supposed that he taken with cramps aud
went down almost before he could cry out
for help. He had swan out . considerable distance
from the shore. and beyond the reach Of rescue


l.s.I II,a hnIx