The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-28
MANGLEO CORPSES LAID IN CHASTITY ROWS

back to life Miss Sophie Smith, while be-
side her, utterly unmindful of her soaking |
clothes, stood her sister, who had fortu- !
nately escaped unhurt.
All the doctors in the city fastened to
the scene of the accident as fast as pos
sible and did noble service in the cause OF
humanity.
A big gang of men was speedily put to
work clearing away the wreck. Mr.. Handy
and another diver as soon as hole could
be cleared went down and brought from
the death waters one body after another,
which were taken ashore.
1t was only, however, the people who had
been rescued few minutes after the acct
dent who were saved. All the others per-
ished
One of the first flags of Victoria to be
lowered to half-mast was that over the
consulate. It was lowered by Commodore
Sander and Captain Hatfield with the
Consuls permission. General Roberts said
he would not leave the scene of death as
long as there appeared to be anything he
could do to rescue those in peril or aid
those who were in search of missing friends.
On the North Side car line and at the
| city end of the fatal bridge are the beauti-
full grounds of Captain Grant, with rich
grassy lawn, beautiful grove sloping to
| the waters edge and bright parterres of
| flowers = an ideal home. Yesterday
afternoon it was a scene of woe and
| sorrow, which is deeply engraved in the
memory of all who looked upon it. A
mournful procession of boats brought their
loads of limp corpses to the grassy margin
of the sloping grove.
Lying cold in death in the middle of
beautiful grassy spot and beneath the
shadow of a tree lay the body Of girl.
| She could not have been more
than Is. Her face was covered. It
had been laid apart from others, for not
only had death come in her case instantly,
but there was not one among all the
thousands who looked upon her who
could ever recall having seen her face be-
fore.
Here was group OF people laboring
with all that skill and affection could do
to bring back life to another girIish form.
! At last the chest slowly heaved of its own
accord, the heart beat freely. The blue
eyes opened and gazed wonderingly upon
the eager faces above her. Then they
closed again. A gentle sigh escaped the pale
| lips, the heart ceased TO throb and the Joy
of those around her was turned into
sorrow.
Here lay woman in the pride of her
splendid physical beauty. Loving hands
labored with her, and then there was
heard hoarse whisper from one who had
his hand upon her heart, saying, Brandy.
brandy, for Gods sake, quick She is
alivep"
Here lay nother woman. Her face was
covered and besid e her knelt, in agony
which no WORDS can describe her husband.
pouring out his soul in tears. They led
him away later like man in dream.
Here lay a strong man, whose broad
barred chest. with its thick mat of hair
showed that he was giant in life, but
though they labored long with him he
was past all human help.
| And these scenes were repeated over and
over again, while here and there were
knots of weeping women, and through
the crowd rushed parents seeking for their
children, friends seeking for friends and
on every face look of dread.
1t was pitiful sight to see some poor
little child who had gone out short time
before with its parents to enjoy happy
afternoon laid still in death on the grass
There seemed to be so many little ones
among the victims. One pretty little girl
with golden hair lay with graceful look
upon her face, while close by was gray
haired old man, his hands clenched and a
set face as if he had fought hard against
death.
On the sloping bank near the landing
were whole row of corpses, among them
j. E. Gordon, Miss Nathan, young James
Tyack and four children, one of them a
little fellow of 6 or 7 with his wooden
| nj efil1 10
staring vacantly at the blue sky overhead.
Every now and then an undertaker's
wagon would draw up at the gate, and
body after body was covered up and car
ried away on stretchers to be placed in the
vehicle for removal to the city, which
had been turned into morgue for the oc-
casion.
) A sad sight was that when Mr.. Bigger
recognized the bodies OF his little son
Archie, aged 6, and his young daughter
Julia, aged 9. Mr.. Bigger, who had him
self escaped death, but had suffered severe
injuries, worked hard with others to bring
back the breath of life to his little ones.
J They were wrapped in blankets and taken
, into the house, but it was useless; their
J lives were ended and they were taken
! away with the other bodies.
'1 have been on many a battlefield, :"
! said Grand Army man as he scanned the
faces in a long row of dead to see If any
! one of them could be identified, "and
} have looked into the faces of dead men
often, but never have seen anything as
sad as this. Men go to the battlefield ex-
pecting death. To-day we all went out for
pleasure and this is the end of it."
Some of the bodies which were identified
were removed to their former homes.
Others were taken to undertaking estab-
} lishments, but most of them were placed
in long row in the city market, all care
!. fully enveloped in blankets and their
faces being covered. The crowd was kept
away as much as possible but the police
, permitted those who gave any reasonable
cause for desiring to inspect the bodies to
do so. Very many bodies here were OF
: children, both boys and girls. Some OF
the corpses were disfgured. All had a
/ look of stony horror on their faces.
; One vouno GIRL whosa Ypotbar ond two