The Disaster
As queues began to form, people became impatient and pushed their way on to the boat before those already onboard had a chance to disembark. Heavily overloaded, the ferry set off with more than 70 people on board.
After several days of rain, the river was swollen and fast flowing. The boat started to list as it moved into mid-stream. The tension on the ropes was too great and they were cast off, causing the boat to drift towards the sea.
As she capsized, over half the passengers were able to swim to safety but 32 people – most of whom were from Aberdeen – lost their lives.
Read more about this topic: River Dee Ferry Boat Disaster
Famous quotes containing the word disaster:
“When disaster waves, I try not to wave back.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)