STEAMBOAT DISASTER ON LAKE ONTARIO.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 155, 6 July 1881, Page 2

STEAMBOAT DISASTER ON LAKE ONTARIO.

London, Ontario, May 26. The story of the wreck of the Victoria, as told by competent witnesses who were on board, shows that the ill-fated vessel was on her last trip, on Queen's birthday, and that on setting out from Spring Bank to return to the city she had nearly $11 her passengers on the way down, and, m addition, a large number who were waiting on the wharf to be conveyed home. The number on board on the return trip is estimated at 700, a burden out of all proportion to the strength and capacity of the vessel. Shortly after passing Woodland Cemetery, the boat began to rock, and the crowd surged from one side to the other with each oscillation, rather enjoying the fun than being m any way alarmed. One passenger stated that a number of youths on the upper deck took delight m keeping up the rocking motion by moving fro n one side to the other, while others shouted gleefully, <% Let her Bink ; we'll only have to wade ashore." It is said by some, though denied by others, that the officer m charge endeavored to induce the passengers to remain quiet, but their efforts were unavailing. The crowd surged from side to side, and with each movement the vessel took an increasing quantity of water m the lower deck, to the terror of some, and the delight of many more. No one seemed to foresee danger. Suddenly the position became alarming. When nearly opposite Coverbridge the water to a depth of a foot or more, rushed m on the south side of the boat, and the crowd surged again to the north, the boat slowly following the movement, listing over to that side. This time the vessel almost turned on her edge, and the deck floor became elevated to an angle not far from perpendicular. All at once the supports of the upper deck gave way with a terriffic crash, on account of the unnatural position and great weight imposed over the railings, and the people tumbled m hundreds headlong m deep water, and to make the situation more terrible, the whole of the upper deck and supports went crashing down on the people below.

The scene that followed beggars description. Between the wreck and the shore could be Been scores of human beings, who had become liberated from the mass of debris, and were battling with the element into whose cruel grasp they were so suddenly thrown, and slowly yielding to its power. Many who were so stunned by the crash as to be unconscious, sank without an effort. The work of recovering the bodies was then bagun, and has continued unremittingly ever since. It is said, on good authority, that the steamer's boiler was not properly secured, and it shifted with the rocking boat. Ths captain of the boat has made a statement of the disaster, but it throws no additional light on the catastrophe. He says, however, that he ordered a number of people to leave the boat before she started, but they failed to obey.

B. C. Montgomery, leather merchant, of Toronto, was on board, bat escaped, and succeeded m saving many others. He states that on the passage tip the captain went among the passengers urging them to keep on the other side, saying : "For God's sake keep on the other side ; if you don't you'll bave to swim for it." A little later on he saw the water pass m over deck, and the boiler go by thi! board, when a crash immediately took place. He could feel the drowning little children, as they swept past him, clutohing his legs m their dying struggles, and drowning mothers giasped him frantically, and piteously implored help. Up to 10 '30 o'clock to-night 238 bodies have been recovered from the wreck of the Victoria.

A field-battery waa called oat this afternoon for (ho pnrpo3e of blowing up the boiler, under « lil ii s.venl mote bodies are supposed i> bo. A -urge number of remains are taken to ihe drill-shed, there to await farther action. People throughout the city feel stupefied by the blow. Almost all business is at a standstill, and crowds line the streets, discussing the sad calamity. The burial of the victims began yesterday afternoon. A solemn stillness prevailed. The city flags were half-mast, and bells tolled a knell.