Press enter after choosing selection

The London Horror

The London Horror image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
June
Year
1881
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In our last issue we referreil to a terrible accident which occurred at Lonilon, Ont. Canada, on the occasion of the queen's birthday. It was one of the most horrible accidenta ttiat ever linppened in America ( Below will be found a complete description : STATEMENT OK SDKVIVORS. One of the deck hand-, N'ick Porke, ni found by a reporter, and madehe fbllowlns st:itiiiiciit : I Uia sailor of seven year.-' experience on botb ftwah and salt water. At time ot' the disaster I was WorViDt on the lower deck. As soon as the bout had left tlie wlmrf passengen eom menecd tu go lroin one side to another. Wlien we mn approaehing Cove bridge tome one slimited, ¦' there's a boat race," and wben the crowd rushed to the starbomrd idi', I hcard the captain, who was at the wheel, shout: " Try to trim her in, boys." Seeinjj that sömethlng serloua mild bappen did the pasaengers nol keep still I shiiuiol to tln-in : " For God's sake, make for the stde of thé bont or we will all go down." The rsply cante. "Ifwego down you'll g with Dg." The boat bogan to Uil, and whi-n there wna a aboal twe feet of water on tlie lower deck on the starboard side, the crowd made ii ru-h for the ¦¦ amsnea alter ttiem, and the boal lurched over. 1 m;ln,. or tnt, 1 1 1 . 1 . - deck ainl saw tlic passengen go OTKRBOABO IN A IirciK Ml". .lust tin-a the boller became loosened, and went over with a Ircmendoiis QOÍMODtothe atrugglins people in the water. A momenl after the trurrtcane deck i ui otf, and was about to follow the boiler. As tbe boat was abont to go in the center, i jumped off f rom thestarboard side. 1 seicil bold of a lady and two children, and brought thetn saiely to ihore. I Uien KI te werk and rendered all the imnintnnorj In my power, and bêing a good iwlmmer suceeeded in saving quite a mimber. My opinión is that the boat was not ovcrloaded, hut that the truc cause of the disaster was the recklsasneag of sume of those on board, for had they 1 stoned to us it woukl never have happened. CATT. RANKIN'S ACCOUNT. I do not think we had more than 450 on board, because there is not standing room on the boat for that niuubcr at eight inches space to each paroon. Tlie boiler left the seck befóte I left the wheel. The atañenons (rom the maln deck were the maiii supports of the upper deck. Slie was well staiichioned, hut there were no bracea. Had life-saving apparstns for -100 persons. The boat was going up slowly and the j pTiuu r.,i pinj f ,i aure boili workinif. 1 attribute the disaster to the.fact that Because, when I sent a boy ubw !i, .._ neer said there was halfan anus Leflgth of water in the hold. I was praying earnestly that we niight reach a sand bar, where 1 intended to bcach her until we conld get help. I spoke to the people on the upper deck to keep quiet, and they were tolerably agreeable. On the lower deck the purser, a son of Manager Parten, had the greatest difflculty. lie carne up and told me there was a lot ff young fellows below whoru it was impossible to keep quiet. I could have run on shore, only. the bank was so steep, and I knew it was useless, because she wotild have turnod outwards on Itriking the bank. The boat was managed bv myself, au engiueer, lircman, two deck hands and purser. She made two trips on Saturday, two on Monday. and three yestcrday previous to the disaster. She now lies In the river with her top works all broken up. I never was asked to run the boat ashore, as was stated by Parish. The people standing forward of the pUot-house were obedient to my ordei-s, luit those on the lower deck would not niiud whatwe said. They were a pretty bad crowd. Mr. Paneh, manager of the Mntpany, states the accident waa the rcsult ot overloading the vesel. 1 Ie has not been able to ascertain froni the number of tickets aold about the number of passengere who wery on board, but lie estimated thuin "' 'h...,. „w . ,.„;, rw, ¦ t aooui $17,000, is a total wreek, and good Coi notblng, and as the insurance pollcy covers tire only, it is not appÜcable In thli ANuTirr.H vi:i;siiin. R. O. Montgomery. ¦ leading jnerchant ot Ihis city, who was one ot tlie passengers whoesaapéd trom the wreek, rei Torsión of the disaster that differs in some important particular from those alreudy pabllshed. Montgomery says the steamer was greatly onnbaded. ll' was on the promenade deck; does not know what mijilit have been íí'"rí "" down on the maiii deck. bul WW Mire all tlie people he saw were thorooghty li'l and orderly. There was no eJnsblg about the boat nor pranks of anv kind. As soon U the l)oat starled, howe'ver, she provcd to be dec-ph hstcd on the starboard, and the pataengera on tbe promenade deck were requested to move over to the port side. Some of tin m did so, imt the Bteamer did not straightea up to any p'receptlble extent. Again the passengen were rwjuested to move over to port si4e,thoufh a large majority of those ou the promenade deck were airead; over there. At this time Ue looked down tlie eompiuiion waj ami saw a eonshternble depth ot water oñ the maln deck, which, as Uien leared, accountetl for the eIraordinary llsting of the steamer to the star board. A very short time after this, only a moment or so before the dtaaster, the captain I through the crowd recnarking : " It you don't keep over to that. (the porti side, you'll have to swim for it." At this several more of the passengen moved to the port side and the boat suddenly righted and the listed heavily to the port side, which vaj nol more than forty feet from the bank. Down slie went with astoniliiiiK' rapldity, and to save themselves thoseoo the promenade deck dutched the stanchions that supported the awning overheaO, but they snapped like pipe stcnis. and s second later the supports of the promenade decks gave way and the whole wreek slid down to the port or shore side of the huil into the water. Montgomery caught hold of an ron rod or bracket of some kind in the awning, and holding to this managed to keep bis head ftboTe the water for some secondsafterthfcol':'lislll""'menade deck beneath Ma feet bad go6 illt( ""' ":lterIli- position .lt this time was terrible. Below the deck which ad sunk from under him , e knew scores were probably drownin "like ratg iu a hole, while the awnin . llic), he was dmgtag vvas rapid'y 8inkin" and burying beneath it meo, women and children whose piteous shrie" "'.''.theaironeverv side. Mothers wi (l" ren clineing about their necks would beat the water madly jslth their hands, and Wlth eves starting "from the socket utter shriek after shriek until at last a half-smothered cry that ended in a sickening gurgle told that they had gone down beneath the wave But even this was not the -I horrible of Montgomery's experlencee. While b still held bis head alwve water he could feel drowning eMMfM, whose little heads were swept under water some secheforehlN own, clntehtajrat hls legsin what he Mtü knew were their dying struggles. DBOWKIKO VOTHÏRS OHASPED HIM FRAN, TICA1XT And pitcously mplored hl help. Montgomery asserts that there was no tertering or rollinjr of the steamer f rom side to side. She was listed to the starbonrd all the way up the river till just at the time of the accident, and then she rolled suddenly tothe port and went to pieces just as one would sweep a house of canls off n table. Montgomery is of the opinión that the up-, ( woukl not have been attended with half as íatal resulte had the steamer heen properly constructed. Many or perhaps all mifjht have been saved had it not been that they works"an;i' b'ürïed n dft" w'VM'RÏ MÜN stroiig men and prattling children were allke helpiess. A passenger says he was one of the upper deck passenger, and in considering the causes of the disaster feels tliat not one of I the least was the ettbrts put forth by a I number of men, some of whom were 1 toxicated, to créate excitement among the I women and children before the dluutyef by I cries of "get to the other side,'' "get on I lifepreservers," "thore she Roes," etc, and I feelfng well able to take care of themaelvea I seeiued to get gome gratitication In the 1 vousness and excitement they were 1 daclnjr among those who are iilmost 1 laM lien disaster comes. Could the 1 Beat have been keptdown nntil the I er got above. the bridge and Into ghallow I water, the loss of Ufe would have assuredly I been TUK LAST SAD RITES. I.Ondon, May 26. - Under a sky of brass I and a piereing sun, with the dust flying In I clmiils through the sultry and negleeted I st reets, tba iimial it' the of the I Thanies disaster pmeeeded. Froin So'olock I tbis morning unt.il thedusk of evenln I bells have been inecssantly tolling and the I strcctM tillcd withtrappinñol we. IVnplel imin the nrroonding digtriett Oocked In I by train and oonteyance to expnss thelr I ympalhy and take part In the funerala. I -Vvwiil who livcil :it I di-lanee and had I friendi in u,,, vicinity of the city, u won I M the neus w.i r..'....;.,...i ,...,„.1 „ k-.,., I tlieirs were among the lost. From early 1 iu the niorning tSe roada leadlng tothei city Wrre emwded it li m hieles. (roiips of people were seen all along the I streets with sad vfeages, discusslog the 1 aster and eommenting on the varlous scènes I in connection with the wreek. Whcrevei I anyone could be found who had been on I the Victoria there was an Increaaed crowdB giithered around to hearthegraphic details! of the accident, ('uses were mentioncdl where whole families have been blottedl out and the honses remained locked up.l with the keys in the dead nien's poekets.B until they recognlzed r.t the deadl liouse. There was nothing hut wailingsl and lamentations and unutterable wne.B The sympatliy was infectious, and sa.l andl downcast looks were everywhere observ-l able. As the day wore on the (leep frcliugl ofgloom became, 1f anythiug, intensitied.B Men passed each other on the streets seem -I ing to wear an oppressive buiden, andl coukl hardly trust thenisclves to talk iipoiifl the dreadful happening. A very affectfug sight was the funeral oflj Willie Ota and Miss Fannie Cooper, twoBJ who were to have been married nl fortnight They wen: bcitb born on tliel i se, families with one or twolj excep'flbnhave .o entirely wiped out.BJ An instaure is that of Mr. John Cougblin.lJ whose children and grandchildren, num-H berinji live, are lying dead in the house .¦ Il is daughter Jennie was nninied to aH young man named öwazzie the day bel'oreB the accident. The young couple were bot liB ilrowned. The family of W. Huil lose-flj five in one house. Every kind of coffin is in use, and the dead are being conveyed tflj the burying places by every class of vehi-BJ cle. Men eau hardly speak to each otheiflj without breaking down. A rilOVIDBNTIAI. ESCAPE Was that of Miss Frazer, of this city. ThiM young lady had sunk twice, and as -nm carne tothe surface for third time. Mr. lM 0. McFie, who was laboring gallantly M bring to shore all who carne within hi.S reach, tossed a board in thedirectionwherd he saw her disappear. The nails fasteneiJJ in her hair, and in a condition of uttcM exhaustion she was borae to her homeH where loving hands ministercd to heilj wants. Mr. Frank Strong had A KI-'.MAKKAHI.K ESCAPE, Doe to the ;pprchcpsion.(fftl'-%:j;:t;r:;i-vl Mr; .VÜbTiik, but the little fellow be-1 Süne resiless and said before the boat let'tB the wliarf : " í'apa, I am going to get off :¦ 1 know we will be drownod if we go on i hisBJ boat." " Oh, nonesense," responded his father.BJ "yon be a good boy and do not be af raid. ¦ We will have a nice ride." " Well," replied the lad, " you and mal can go ir you like, but J have two eoppi rsH and I am going to get off und buy soinelj candy." AUeffortswcrefutiletoallay the younr-B sters fears, and Mr. Strouf; with bis familyfl disembarked, and.no doubt feel thaukfufl that they did so. A SINGULAR INCIDENT. A book of Dr. Holland's "gold t'oil, '" bearl iiiii the inseription in lead pencil, Kale Wooühull, Arkona, was thrown on the bank. A reporter picked it up, and strangely, but aptly, it opened at ¦ page on which the lirst proverb was " man proposes but God disposes.1' A TOÜCHINO INCIDENT [ n lated of the self devotion of one young man fttr a frienil : The one had, alter hard stniííling, reached the land, but looking back saw the other about to perish and went to the recue. This e.xtra effort so exhausted liim that befoi-e lonjr lie dropped off and sank beneatli the water. He eaved the life of his triend at the exof his own. The act of a hem LATER DETAILS. London, May 27, 1 a. m.- To-night was the same as all day. The sad scènes were ¦meted and eorpse aller ooipie was taken to Ui lat resting place. The scènes at the oametery were bearUWMlig. Men who had never shed a tear from thcir boyhood turncd away to wipe their cyes when they saw strong men bewailing and cryingover their families who were being lowered into the ground. No women were to be seen at any of the fuuerals, with the exoeptioD of the Homau Catholic cemetery. Here the ceremonies were of the most distressing nature, so miich so that the priests severa! times had to stop In the services. Women Bcreaining and crying and going into hysin the midst of the .sen neuted iiin-iderable excitement, and even those who were not Immedlately interested telt so much moved that they could not stand it and had to leave. TELEORAHS OF SYMPATIIY. Telegrams have been receivcd by the mayor to-day whlch show that every pcrson far and nearare in sympatliy with this city on account of the sad calamity. To the Mayor of London .- Draw upou Dun, Wyman & Co., 3U Broadway, for CAJO to ald In helplog those Iu dlitres from the fearful culaiuliy whicli bas overtaken voor city. (Hoed) ERASTUS WYMAN, New York. To Mayor Campbell, London : Draw on me at Federal Bank for 50. Dlstrlbate wliere moot needed. (ölgaed) JAMES WATSON, Si. Mary's. It is proponed to reara costlv monument to the depurted at public expense in the public park. Il having baea alleged in the leislature that our liquor laws were not obeyed in the upper península, and ls freely MMrted that they never would be obeyed, the mayor of Negaunee has taken unto himself the taak of enforcing thetn at that place. He has got a mountain of prodigious dimensions on his shoulders, but still he iniy posibly budge it if properly aided ¦ The farmers pretty have ha to re-plant their corn. Tlie school house in district No. 5, burn-l ed down a year ago, is being rebuilt. Mr. Fellows has commenced building al new house on Sharon liill, and Mr. Kerlerj II DUktOg many improvements on iiial farm - the Anuabil farm. Il on. John .1. Robison, Sharon's superJ visor, roports 11 deaths and M tiirtlis, ml cluding 4 twins, in this townsuip, diirinj the year 1880; and he fbrwarda U tlaj county clerk 202 nanies of persons liable tl porforni military luty. utm "A portion of the humt district will soorl be rebullí. Nieboli Bros. will at om-J oommence erectioD of a brick buildinjl on the corner; Bherman Hlnkley will puï np two brick stores, If a fire limit is c-talil luhed. E. W.fWaUaee laya he will put m four pnafl buidinjrü if allowed to build M wood.' Dr. Chandier will nbulld bU I .lener, and Kred Deríadlnger talks stron M ly of putting up a siilt:intial Store on lul lot." The Obsorver tin - Items : '-Ajrooi example of the i':iilhlulncs of a duinl bruto to its master, was shown at the tira A llttle dog belonging to one of the mei staid riffht at his m wliile hc was carryinB nodl trom one of the stores, and whini hl thoaght luí inaster was goine too nc:ir tlil tbnnt-s, would frab liim bf his paiitaloonï and whinini; pull liini towarus the dood Not until the hair was nearly inged I'roil his body, would he (U Chip Basket. - Visitors flookod in by til Score to ne the rnins. 11 Hniinard speiB last week in SUnUm. A number of ne shlewalks are to be built about town. Mi Hand Uw' rwmlni have baea tukeB from the vault and Interred in the SaliiS cemetery. Mrs. Daniel Keeves has returiH ed from a visit to the northern part of til state. Geo. E. Schainr is improvine; hl palnt shop, the Crane building, w I Heller talks ot building on the lot ncxt tl his shop, and is tilling the same in. Til peonle are calling for the establishment I tire limit.s - aflreenglae nul plenty of watl woulcl he better. C. ('. Siiliirree. soutli l this plaea has mAtl hb fana tor f uo 1 lo a mu trom Elgiu, 111. Mrs. I llauser is now living in a part of the ol American housp Prof. J. )!. Stoere Utlkifl tcmperance at Union school baÜUstfl I day evening. Qeo. H. Cobb bas ritunul from liis risit to New York. The saté m Niehols Bros. was opened and contenH found U be all right,though aleather wraH per around a bundie of papers was tiearfl meUed. W. H. Dell, brother of N. C. DeB died at Cineinnati on ÜM.19ttl uit., of partB ysis oí the heait

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News