Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1883 — DREADFUL ACCIDENT. [ARTICLE]

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

The Steamship Daphne Capsized Immediately After Leaving the Ways at Glasgow. A Large Number of People Drowned. A cable dispatch from Glasgow, Scotland, says the steamship Daphne tipped oyer on her side, capsized and sank in midstream while being launched in the Clyde. About 100 persons perished. The vesseL with upward of 200 workmen aboard, left the ways at a very rapid rate. Ab she gained the water she rolled from side to tide. When opposite Renfrew, about five miles above tills city, the human freight was seen rushing to and fra The ship gave a furious lurch, rose clear above the water and disappeared as if by magic. Those who had clung to floating pieces of ’ the wreck did their utmost to save their drowning comrades. Eye-witnesses saw a great number struggling and shrieking for help. Many were bruised and covered with blood, having been struck by the debris. Boats were , pulled hard to aid in rescuing the unfortunates; many were thus saved. A number of men at the ship's yard, on the opposite side of the river, witnessed the disaster, but were unable io render any assistance. They immediately set to work saving the people struggling in the water. They say some of the men on the steamer jumned overboard and others were thrown overboard and that a quantity of loose fittings fell from the deck and crushed many unfortunates struggling in the water. A number of swimmers were visible directly after the ship capsized, but many of them were afterward seen to sink. Six men were seen clinging together. Four endeavored to climb upon the steamer as she was sinking, but were forced to desist by rush of steam from the port-hole. Some climbed upon the keel just befqee the ship was submerged. Many who were dashed into the water swam ashore. Several of those picked up were so exhausted that it was found necessary to remove them to hospitals. e According to the stories of witnesses and survivors, the vessel left the slip too rapidly, causing her stem, which entered first, to sink deeply in the water. She was then caught by the strong current of the river, by which, as well as her topweight, she was caused to keel over so far that the water entered her port She had all her machinery aboard when launched. She is now completely under water. She was constructed for coast trading, and was of 500 tons burden Crowds of stricken relatives lined the quays all day. Whenever a dead body was taken out and recognized heartrending' cries drowned t)he splash of busy oar.?. A later despatch says: A diver reports that the bodies in the hold of the Daphne are so closely packed that he was unable to move them. Preparations are being made to raise the vesseL Fifty-two bodies have been recovered. It is now estimated that 159 pers ns were drowned by the s nking of the Daphne.