The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-27

registers of the two cars which fen
through the bridge showed that there were
2.5 people on board. The first car was
one of very large size, and was followed
by a trailer. The heavier car was either
struck by falling timbers from the bridge
or burst by the fall. for 1t was completely
in fragments. The other held more togeth-
err. The point on the bridge where the
accident occurred was near the center.
where tho water was deepest. and both
cars went completely out OF sight. Had
IL occurred nearer shore on either side
there would have been nothing IKE the
mortality AS II was. the hair-hreacth
escapes which occurred among the large
number who took the plunge. and yet es-
caped with their lives, Is one or the
amazing features of the accident Few
of them seemed TO have any idea now tney
got away. The breaking open OF the
large car accounts for the escape In some
Instances.
one man with whom Mr.. Campan
talked, said that he was sitting In the
very center of that car. talking with a
friend. and wedged into his seat by the
crowd. so that he could scarcely move.
and with the aisles packed with people
hanging on by the straps. He heard the
crash, felt the shock, and all IN the car
were thrown into o tangled mass OF hu-
How he got out he has not single idea
From the first shock all consciousness
seemed to leave him, and yet. beyond
few minor bruises. he was uninjured. his
experience was the same as that Oh scores
OF others.
One fact developed in working over tho
bodies. in which Mr.. Campau. In common
with most Of the Seattle people present
zealousiy engaged, was that In few IN
n Vuf
The faces, especially the lips. were black
ened. and the appearance OF the bodies
was more as though they had died OF
srfYocation Cuts and bruises were conf
mon. alike among the dead and those VINO
escaped with their lives. but serious IN
juries, ehort OF death itself, were Few.
The bodies OF the dead. after all known
remedies for r,suscItation had been tried
for hours without avail. were removed
to a large market house, which was con-
verted into temporary morsue. ana
there they were lying side by side when
the Seattle visitors left. 1t was CHASTITY
and pitiful sight. and one which those
who beheld 1t will not soon forget. There
we're old men and women, young men
and girls, and, sad6est OF all. a number
of little children OF all ages Here the
visitors who were looking for missing
friends went about the sad work Of iden-
tification. and many sorrowful scenes
were witnessed.
Mr. Campau says that the feeling OF In
dignation In Victoria against the civil
authorities Of that city is profound In It's
intensity. 1t now appears that the bridge
has long been notoriously unsafe. and
time after time in the public prints and
elsewhere attention has been called to its
alarming condition. One particular alder
man has frequently brought the matter to
the attention Of the council. but without
success in securing the necessary appro-
priations TO render it safe. Only last
week he called the matter up. with special
reference to the then approaching fes-
tivlties.
The inquest over the dead win DO held
today.