The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-28


The parade and many people sought to
lake passage on it, but were crowded off,
aud others missed getting seats simply |
because they were little late. These
could be seen on every hand yesterday, |
each other and being con-
graduated upon their escape.
A wonderful escape was that of party |
of Mr.. and Mrs. G. A. Jordan of |
Vancouver and Mr.. and Mrs. A S. Potts. |
They were driving in buggy on the bridge
at the time of the accident. Mr.. Potts
drew up to allow the first tramcar to pass,
and then followed it. The tramcar behind
came along, and when just opposite the
bridge gave way. Down went the buggy into
the water with the other wreckage. Potts
managed to drag his wife to the bottom of
the submerged car, ard Jordan rescued
his wife in the same way. None of the
party knew just how it was done. as the
whole thing seemed over in minute.
Then they were picked up by boat and
carried ashore. The horse was drowned
and the buggy was tangled up in the sub
merged car.
James Wilson was in another buggy
with his four children. They, too, went
down in the wreck, but all were saved with
the exception of one little boy, who was
crushed in the broken ironwork of the
bridge and was probably almost instantly
killed.
There were many sad episodes III the
recognition of the dead. Arthur Keast
came across the body of his daughter, Miss
Ann Keast, lying on the green bank dead.
Eyes, that is my daughter" he said
quietly, as sympathetic friends came
around him. His great self-control in this
moment of horror was more pathetic than
outspoken grief.
j. Trout of Seattle, engineer of the
steamer Filler, who had escaped, but with
a terrible cash on his temples from which
the blood streamed freely, walked around
in dazed way. He could not account for
his escape, but kept repeating in broken
accents; "My wife is down there yet"
pointing to the place where the car had
gone down.
James Mel. Muir was in the car sitting
beside his friend R. S. Holmes. When the
crash came they realized the danger and
babe each other farewell.
81 don't exactly know how it was" said
Muir in relating his experience afterward,
"but the car seemed to settle down on the
bottom, and as I knew how to swim
opened my eyes and made out the window
opening. I managed to crawl out, getting
blow on the head as did so, but then
swan upward. getting free of the wreck
age, and was picked up"
Mr.. Muir has only bruised arm and
head, and was about again as soon as he
had changed clothes. His friend Holmes
was among the victims of the drowning.
Or. John Lang was standing on the
back platform at the time of The accident,
and, though he was badly hurt about the
head, it is expected he will recover.
Another man who was standing on the
back platform was ]. E. Phillips. he
chung to the rear railing as the car went
down, and though he received heavy
blow on the head he saved himself by his
knowledge of swimming. Twice he tried to
rise to the surface, but finding himself be-
meath the wreckage dived and swan under
water until he was clear. When he got his
head above water he chung to a piece of
timber and was on the point of fainting
when Justice Drake came along in a skiff
and saved him.
The surgeons of the warships in port
responded quickly to the call for medical
assistance and worked energetically in
the effort to save life.
John Cameron OFF, Score shy street was
another of those who escaped. He was on
the rear platform at the time of the ac-
cident, and was hit on the head in the
terrible drop from the bridge. He was
completely dazed by the accident and had
n o idea of how he was saved.
Chief Deasy and the fire brigage did
good service in recovering the bodies of
the victims of the disaster.
The Provincial police launch was
taken to the spot very shortly after the
accident and did good work Diver Cook
and the diver of the Royal Arthur worked
all the afternoon, as well as Diver Nc
Hardy. Captain Hunter was of great as
sistance in recovering the bodies and so
was Captain John Stael of the steamer
! Rainbow.
Fred Hunter, son of NJ. Hunter, was on
| the front of the car when it went down,
and received a heavy blow on the head.
He managed to swim to shore, where he
was picked up by his father unconscious.
A younger son of Mr.. Hunter was hang
ing on to the crowded back platform, and
by some wonderfully lucky chance his
foot slipped and be fell off just in time to
save himself from following the car into
the water.
| Eliza Woodil, girl of IA, was in the
center of the car when it went down. She
was picked up clutching in her arms two
young children. All three were. saved
f. NJ. Yorke, the stevedore, was loading
vessel with lumber close to the scene of
| the accident. He az once took his whole
crew to the rescue, and they did much to-
ward saving the victims by breaking open
the top of the wrecked car.
A man who escaped from death was
Henry Twyman, the barkeeper on the
Empress of India, who had come over
to attend the celebration here. Twyman
crawied through the window and swan
ashore.
The Provincial police launch picked up
large quantity of clothing belonging to
the victims of the accident
The bridge where the accident took
place was little more than a mile from
the Postoffice. 1t was about twenty-five
feet above high tide, and the water there