FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2579, 27 June 1881, Page 2

FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

[By Teiegbaph.] (Per City of Sydney at Auckland). The Canadian excursion steamer Victoria collapsed on the Thames, near Ontario, on May 24, and nearly 200 persons were drowned. Many leading citizens of the town of London were among the lost. The excursion was in honor of the Queen’s birthday. The disaster was so sudden that but two-thirds of those on the overcrowded boat had a chance to escape. She collapsed almost in a minute, like an egg shell, and became a total wreck level to the water’s edge. The Victoria was an old boat, but her machinery had been, repaired during the present Spring and on her trial trip everything appeared to work satis factory. Her trip on the 24th was the first business one of the season. She had 600 passengers on board, and the accident is said to be due to the fact that when she heeled a little on leaving her landing place, the passengers grew alarmed, and rushed in a body to the side and so broke her up. At the official enquiry into the cause of the disaster, the evidence of Mr Minelley, Steamboat Inspector, was taken. He considered the boat’s machinery all right, and well manned by Engineer Roberts, a skilled man —one of the best of Ins class. W. F, Adams testified that he helped to rebuild the Victoria, and noticed parts in her upper planking not caulked. He considered that when she collapsed she was full of water from leakage.