The record-union., 1896-05-27
Claimed by Many That Over Hundred People
Lost Their Lives.
The Bridge Crowded With Vehicles
Containing Pleasure-Seekers All
Bound for McCauley's Point,
Where the Queens Birthday Cele-
bration Sports Were in Progress,
When the Accident Occurred.

street traffic bridge across NlclOfld
Arm gave way this afternoon, precipi-
tating loaded street car and several
private carriages into the bay, 100 feet
below.
The number of victims cannot at this
time be estimated. The bridge was
crowded with vehicles containing
pleasure-seekers bound for Macau-
ley's Point, where the Queens birth
day celebration sports were in pro-
gress.
The bodies of the following have been
recovered and Identified:
Mrs. Fred Adams, Victoria.
Frederick Adams, son of the above,
Victoria
E. B. Carmichael and wife, Victoria.
j. B. Gordon of Vancouver.
j. Edmonds, Victoria.
Miss Nathan, Victoria.
j. Bossi, Victoria.
Arthur Fullerton, Victoria.
Mrs. Heatherbell, Victoria
The infant son of Superintendent J.
Wilson of the Canadian Pacific Tele-
graph, Vancouver.
W. Van Bocklen. Port Townsend.
Miss Annie Keast, Victoria.
Captain Leveridge, Victoria
Mrs. G. l. Post, Victoria.
Mrs. Lout, Seattle
Miss Ida Goodacre, Victoria
A number of unidentified bodies have
also been recovered and more are being
brought to the surface hourly.
The sham fight and naval review
We're to take place at Macauley's Point,
near Esquimalt, this afternoon, and
crowds were making their way there
by every route. All the tram cars
We're packed with visitors AT = o'clock
a large and heavily laden car left Gov
eminent street, having upwards of 100
people on board. When the middle
span of the traffic bridge, about $50
feet in length, was reached it col
lapsed throwing the car and a number
OF carriages and foot passengers into
the water 100 feet beneath
The car was completely submerged,
"
platforms and roof were drowned. A
number We're killed by falling timbers
and few escaped by clinging to the
floating ruins of the bridge
Among the more fortunate escapes
are the following: Canon Paddon,
Victoria, bruised and suffocated by
water
Ex-Alderman W. A. Robertson, Vic
toria, head badly cut.
G. w. Biggar, Victoria, badly cut
about the head.
Mrs Biggar, Victoria, badly bruised
and strangled by water;
DR.. Lang, Victoria, badly bruised.
The number of carriages lost and the
foot passengers carried down in the
wreck cannot be learned. 1t is claimed
by many that fully two hundred per-
sons went down with the span, and that
more than half of them perished. The
accident occurred so quickly that no
body has a very clear recollection of
what transpired.
Superintendent ]. Wilson of the Cana
dian Pacific Telegraph was driving a
carriage containing his wife and five
children directly behind the illfated car.
His vehicle was swept down, and in a
moment the entire family were strug-
Cling in the water With rare presence
OF mind Mr.. Wilson succeeded in saw
ing his Wife and four of the children.
The fifth child. little boy, was wedged
beneath some wreckage and drowned.
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 Diving TO the fact that near
engaged for the day, boats were hard 10
procure. and the work of rescue was
somewhat slow. But steam and naphtha
launehes We're hurried TO the scene, and
in this particular the boats of the vari-
Gus warships were the most active
Scores of people who we're flounderins
in the water or clinging TO debris Were
picked up and taken to places of safety
but many sank before the eyes of the
rescuers ere they could be reached.
The sad affair has cast a deep gloom
over the city. The naval review and
sham battle Were cancelled, as were al
other sports planned for the afternoon
Thousands of sorrowing friends and
relatives are crowded around the ap-
proaehes of the bridge. eagerly scan
ming each body as it is brought to land
Many heartrending scenes are enacted
as the work of rescue progresses L
will probably be several days before tbs