The Portland daily press., 1896-05-27
THE VICTIMS MAY NUMBER
OVER A HUNDRED.
Span Of Bridge Over James Bay
Gives Way.
CROWDED ELECTRIC garland CAR
RIAGES PLUNGED INTO WATER.

The Fall Was Over Seventy Five Feet
Some Escape BY Clinging to Wreck of
Drowned Like Rats-Over 200 Thought
to Have Been On Bridge at the Time.
Victoria, B. c., May 26.-The most
terrible accident that ever took place in
this vicinity occurred about 2 this after
noon when an electric car fell through
Point Elllce bridge into an arm of James
Bay. A sham battle at McAuley Point
was on the programme today as part of
tho celebration Of the Queens birthday.
Nearly the whole population of the city
had gone to witness it. The car to which
the accident happened, contained about
so persons. In crossing the Point Ellice
bridge the car left the track, and crash
ing through the railings, fell into the
water rs feet below. All the passengers
were carried with it.
The car foated moment ana was then
carried down by the weight of metal
work attached to it. Those inside were
unable to escape and were drowned like
rats in a trap. Some of the outsiders
escaped by swimming. Many who were
stunned by the fall and unable to swim
were drowned.
1t is believed that so or go persons were
drowned. 1t is yet impossible to ascer-
tain the real number. 1t is difficult to
learn who were in the car when it took
the fatal plunge, and equally dffioult to
earn how many escaped.
1t will probably be several days before
the real extent of the disaster can be
learned.
AS soon as possible the work of recov-
ering the bodies was begun. 1t is now
being pushed with vigor.
Several private carriages were also pre-
cipitated into the bay. The bridge at one
time was crowded with vehicles. The
Eodies of seventeen have been recovered
and identified. A number of unidentified
bodies have been recovered and more
brought to the surface.
Later accounts say: "The sham fight
and naval review was scheduled to take
place at Maoauley's point near Esqua-
mault this evening. crowds were making
their way there by every route All the
tram cars were packed with visitors.
At p. m. large and heavily laden
car was on the bridge. When the middle
span, about 15O feet in length was
reached, it collapsed. throwing the car
and number of carriages and foot pas
sengers into the water beneath.
The car was completely submerged, and
all save few who were ON the platforms
and roof were drowned. A number were
killed by the falling timbers, and few
escaped by climbing to the floating ruins
of the bridge. A number of carriages
were lost and the foot passengers carried
down in the wreck cannot be learned. 1t
is claimed by many that fully two hun
dred persons went down with the span
and more than half persisted.
The accident occurred so quickly that
nobody has very clear recollection of
what transpired. A number of bodies
have been carried out of the harbor by
the outgoing tide which runs at not
less than seven knots an hour at the
point where the accident occurred. Ow-
ing to the fact that nearly every boat in
the city was engaged for the day. boats
were hard to get and the work of rescue
slow. Naphtha launches were hurried
to the scene and the various wal ships were
m ost active. Scores of people floundering
in the water, or clinging to debris were
picked up and taken to places of safety
Many sank before they could be reached.
The sad affair cast deep gloom over
the city. The naval review and sham
battle were cancelled, as were all the
the sports planned for the occasion.
Up to 10.3o p. M, 60 bodies were taken
from the bay. Twenty persons known to