The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-30
Sad PROFESSIONS Moving in the
Streets Of Victoria.
NO MORE BODIES IN THE WATER
The Coroner's jury C,nducfinx
Searching Investigation.
shocking Rottenness o the Bridge Re-
veated NJ tie stAr.-The Provincial
Government Requested to Appoint
Commission TO Make . Thorough
Inquiry.

Victoria. B. c.. May s-specia,-Aps-t
from the proceedings OF the coroner's In
au.ry and the sad ceremonies incidental
TO interment Of the dead. today witnessed
no new scene. The divers and their as<o-
cfate workers continued .heir Labor Of
clearing away tire debris Of the broken
bridge. but did not bring 10 Light the bodies
OF any additional victims. Nor IS II be-
heysd that there are any such now N the
water. the Identification OF the fifty-tiss
bodies and the reporting alive OF eight
nx others. giving total OF iH known to
have been passengers on the death car.
Surely there could not have been more
than l4l passengers on tnat last awful trip
of No. lS
The first work OF the jury today was TO
view OF the bridge. Inspection of which con-
sunsed several hours. II was found that
one at least of the floor beams had broken
across. the break showing IL TO have been
SO thoroughly rotten that the wonder il
that Il did not give way long months ago.
On returning to the city haH the testi-
smony of several witnesses was taken. the
most important being that OF Inspector
Wilson. who swore that he had several
times advised q thorough INSPECTION of the
collapsed bridge. and the boring Of the tim
bers. TO ascertain their solidity or other
wise
&aft W Ali4alI L. whose GbtIEUCf on
q very similar point Is expected to prove
important. has not taken the stand. The
remainder OF the afternoon was devoted
to the filing up of connecting testimony as
10 the relative positions OF the passengers.
car and bridge at the time of the disaster.
The plans from which the hriage was
built In lss5 weye today reproduced by
Gore. deputy commissioner of lands and
works. showing the structure TO have been
n etn., a L.
ming Victoria arm at high tide at q depth
Of four fathoms- The two Whipple truss
through spans were each lss feet In
length. ana no: In any way connected by
strong metal. while leading to them were
two Pratt truss deck spans of 10 feet each
and los feet OF wooden approaches, making
the total length of the bridge CAS- feet.
The superstrueture was supported by five
Gushing piers. each pier being formed by
two clusters OF plies surrounded by an iron
cylinder OF quarter-inch plate, the inter-
tstices being filled in with broken stone and
grouted with cement mortar.
From early morning until well toward
evening funerals were taking place almost
hourly. while the medical men of the city
spent hours OF their time in the homes Of
the injured. all OF whom are reported pro-
crossing satisfactorily. In fact majority
OF the wounded are now able to be on the
streets again. tnelr panuaxeu Dcads OF
sin.3s and their pale faces festifying mute
ly to the severity of the experiences
through which they had passed.
A large number OF those who escaped
are now moving for thorough investiga-
ton. and in this connection a petition to
Premier Turner made its appearance to-
day and at once received numerous sigma
lures. The first of these are the names Of
the survivors, and the petition sets forth
that The. undersigned. residents Of the
city OF Victoria. respectfully memorable
you that YOU will cause an Official inquiry
10 be made by your government into the
circumstances surrounding the Point FL
lice bridge catastrophe. We would re-
spectfully point out that owing TO diverse
interests and sympathies II Will scarcely
be possible for 4 coroner's jury to go into
the details OF this matter as fully and
effectualiy as We believe they should be
gone into in the public interest. and We re-
speetfully suggest that public inquiry by
competent commissioners appointed by
your government VIII be in said public in
terests." II s altogether probable that
commission will be granted