The Enquirer

Glasgow, November 12.

Dreadful catastrophe at Paisley.

We grieve to relate the following most afflicting accident, which took place on Saturday last, the 10th ult. at Canal Basin, in the immediate vicinity of Paisley.

That part of the Glasgow, Paisley & Ardros-san Canal, which lies between Paisley & Johnstone, has been very recently opened, and a boat, constructed for the conveyance of passengers had begun to ply. As Saturday was one of the days of Paisley Martinmas Fair, convenience & curiosity had brought a great number of people to the basin, about noon, to take their passage to Johnstone, from which place the boat had just arrived. The passengers from Johnstone had scarcely landed on the breast of the basin when a crowd of people rushed into the boat: and, in place of going into the cabin (which extends the whole length of the vessel, and is the only place intended for passengers) they took possession of the cabin top. The boatmen did all in their power to keep off the crowd, and to induce those on board to go into the cabin, lest the top weight should overset the boat; but their warning voice was lost, amidst the noisy mirth and confusion which prevailed among the multitude, who now completely crowded the cabin roof. As people still continued to press into the boat, the boatmen were obliged to push the vessel a few feet from the breast, and soon after, by a movement of those on the cabin top (for very few had gone into the cabin) the vessel was suddenly keeled to one side, and upwards of an hundred people, men, women and children, were instantly plunged into the Canal Basin, in which the water was six feet deep.—The heart-breaking scene that ensued is beyond description: Owing to the active exertions which were made, many were speedily got out of the water, and carried to houses in the neighborhood, where animation was restored; and, as the vessel instantly righted, several were saved by being taken in at the cabin windows;—but we lament to state, that though the number of dead is not yet exactly ascertained, it is known to exceed sixty: and, among these, are instances of two, three, and four, belonging to single families, and a large proportion of children.

A subscription is immediately to take place for the relief of the poorer class of those who have suffered by the loss of their relations.