FEARFUL CALAMITY IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1347, 25 August 1883, Page 4

FEARFUL CALAMITY IN AMERICA.

A telegram from Baltimore in the San Francisco Chronicle of July 25, gives the following particulars of the catastrophe on the Patapsco Biver, briefly reported in our cable news at the time of its occurrence :—A terrible calamity occurred at North point Tivoli on an excursion on the Patapsco, ten miles from this city, about ten o’clock last night, by which many lives were lost, the number being estimated at between 60 and 70. The accident was occasioned by the giving way of the outer portion of a pier on which several hundred persons were congregated, awaiting a boat to return to the city. The locality is on a small bay, distant about two miles from North Point lighthouse. It was formerly known as Holy Grove, and was fitted up as excursion place fifteen years ago. It was a most popular resort at that time, and for several years afterwards. Yesterday an excursion was given under the management of the Mount Royal Beneficial Society of Corpus Christi, of which Father Starr is pastor. The Mount Royal Avenue and Washington street excursionists went down on the barge Cockade City, which was towed by the tug Amanda Howell. The barge was formerly an old canal boat, refitted with double decks for excursion purposes and used for such for several years. During the day she had taken about 500 persons and on her last trip about 100. A large number of those who went down during the day had remained, intending to return on the last trip. When the barge approached all these made a rush for the end of the wharf, and were closely packed at the gate, about twenty-five feet from the end, impatiently waiting. As the barge came alongside and struck the wharf, it suddenly and without warning gave way and a large portion fell into the water, which was about ten feet deep. Many were able to save themselves by fleeing towards the shore as the outer end of the pier crumbled and fell. The darkness ad ded to the confusion, and little could be done at once to rescue the drowning, most of whom were women and children.