The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-29
forfy-one Of the Corpses Were Taken
Out Of the Fatal Car.
Exprssions Of sympathy Pouring In
Tho City Authorities Had Been
Repeatedly Warned. the Last Time
Only Few Hours Before the Wreck,
That the Bridge Was Unsafe.

Their bodies were recovered late yester-
day afternoon. making fifty-five In all. 1t
is thought there are no more bodies in tie
water
All this afternoon the streets leading
from Victoria to Ross Bay cemetery were
trapersed by continuotA procession of
hearses and carriages bearing 70 their last
resting place the bodies OF those who lest
their lives in Tuesdays accident AT Point
Eiiics bridge Fur tomorrow sixteen 9TH
er funerals are arranged. and for the week
TO come each day will echo the voice Of
the mourners others of the drowned
are committed TO the grave.
Spring Ridge has contributed Q terrible
percentage Of the victims. fifteen homes
within one crowded block being desolated.
while nine OF the dead were from Seattle.
Two each from Tacoma and Vancouver.
ard one each from Port Townsend and
Providence. r. l. OF the s5 bodies re-
covered, 81 were taken out If the fatal
car, from which also Is escaped through
windows. AS the seating capacity OF the
car was given by the tranway Officials a.
20. its crowded condition at ths lime of
the disaster may be in a measure realized
fropl these figures
Expressions of the deepest sympathy
and concern continue to be received from
other cities. from public bodies and from
private individuals. Amorg these a tele-
gram of confidence was received today
by Lieut.. Gov. Dewdney from the govern
or general. as follows: We are greatly
distressed concerning the terrible accident
Piease telegraph as TO recovery of bodies.
and perhaps you could kindly express the
sorrow and deep sympathy Of Lady Abcr-
deem and myself toward the bereayed-
Aberdeen"
This telegram was dispatched from Que
bee on "Wednesday morning. out owing to
the ineffic.ency OF the teiegraphic service
did not get through until today. Winni-
pegs Board OF Trade also wired an express
sion Of sympathy for the people of VIC
toria, while from cities nearer home SIM
liar kilograms CT regret fairly rained upon
Mayor Beayen and other representative
citizens. Mayor b. w. Shiles, OF New
Westminster. in his telegram said: The
appalling disaster which has wrapped Vic
toria In a mantle OF mourning has cast its
shadow over New Westminster. The peo-
pie OF this city deeply lament the awful
occurrence and extend their warmest SYM
pathy to the relatives OF those whose Ives
were lost"
The coroner's inquiry during the after
noon received the testimony OF several Of
those who escaped. and adjourned until to-
morrow, when a view Will be had OF the
Nreck, and evidence will be begun as to
the condition Of the bridge before the catas-
trophe and the knowledge the civic author
tiles had of its frailty, though they took
no measures TO inspect or strengthen it.
In this connection William Grant who
lives at the end of the structure and whose
house and grounds were converted into a
temporary receiving hospital on Tuesday.
says that on Tuesday morning. well as
on several occasions lefore. he warned the
city that the bridge was going, and that
unless proper precautions were taken there
would be frightful accident. No regular
and systematic Inspection has It is said,
taken place since the bridge was trans
ferred 10 the city by the provincial govern
nent several years ago.
Yesterday and today, even more than
on Tuesday. Victoria experienced the full
horror OF the calamity that has come upon
the city. In the hour of emergency, when
help of every kind was needed and all
the attention was concentrated upon the
work OF saving those in whom the vital
spark still fiickered. men and women could
not find time for sorrow. Emotion was
sternly repressed, and with calm. quiet,
courage men and women together faced
the terrible ordeal. Twenty-four hours
later, however. when hope of saving life
was no more, the overwronght nerves
gave way and the same brave workers
who had SO calmly and heroically laborei
TO resuscitate the dripping victims of the
disaster as they were taken from the
water and laid upon Capt. Grants green
lawn. were themselves weak and III, to-
tally unstrung by the distressing scenes
through which they had so recently pass
ed. and with the full extent OF the disas.
ter before their eyes.
Many examples OF conspicuous heroism
were recorded in the hour os danger other
than that afforded by the two daughters
OF Judge Drake. OF the supreme court
who were the srst 10 launch rescue boat
and who at the risk OF their own lives
saved seven OF those struggling in the wa
ter
William Scott, well known as a rowing
member OF the James RAy Athletic Asso-
ciat,on. does not know how he got out OF
the car. but. as he found fragments Of
glass In his clothing. supposes ne came
through one OF the windows Finding
himself IN the free air, he felt some one
seize him by the leg. ard this some one
proving to be woman. he placed her In a
position Of safety. then aided another
young lady 10 escape. and, beng. a strong
swimmer. devoted his attention TO break
ing into the coating car ard helping sew
eral others before going 20 shore al all
Miss Eliza Woodruff broke through the
window nearest 20 her. while the car was
rnder water. and. keeping hold of two
children who were with her. held them
and herself aroat until all three we're
picked up by one Of the feet OF rescue
boats She then devoted herself to NE
assistance % Others uufl the arrival ~
volunteers eush'sd her 70 leave the work
cf mercy in willing and ready hands
Although the bodies OF many Of the dead
by Tuesdays fatality hear evidence OF
terrible injuries received from falling TIM
hsTs aud crashing iron work. injuries
which sn themselves must have proved
fatal none Of those who were son bscis
70 life hy the medical men ard their Will
ing volunteer assistants hsve as vet
shown signs of relapse. In fact, all zo-
pear fc be OF The road to recovery, ard
the natority may be ciasseE rs out Of
danger with the exceufiau % Or John
Lang and Mrs. Jacks<- whose daughter
Frinssse w@@ among the drowned
Harry Tslbat conductor % car fs. whose
body was recovered yesterday. xas motor
man az the tsme os ts= bridge sinking
three years axo. when a disaster Was
ave-eed through bis turning on ;hs fuli
current and driving al fslil SSs=-9 ahead
Through All me day TIE schools acre
cicsse and business IN tie city to = great
sxteat suspended. 50 much was fae atrea-
ton % all classes ef the community arect-
I'd 20 the coz mon sorroE- All fS< tram
way Officials and employees appeared dur
lng re day sil5 badges OF mourning Gpon
the.r arms.