The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-08
COLLAPSE OF WHARF
rNvEsTIGATToN INTO MANDEvrLLE
 ACCIDENT.
Eleven Pexsons were Killed and Scenes of Deep Pathos Are Re-
 corded-Man Tries to Save

Vaudeville, La. June Up to an early hour tonight eleven dead bodies had beeh recovered from Lake Pont- chartrain, the scene of yesterdays dis astrous collapse of a small pier, upon which scores of excursionists had crowded to board the steamer Marga- ret. about to return to New Orleans.
 As far as can be ascertained, no other persons are missing. but it Is possible that in the excitement and confusion following the catastrophe, others who may have been present without the knowledge of friends or relatives, have been overloowed. Such a possibility being feared. searching parties con- tinued to drag the lake until late hour tonight.
 A revised list of the dead compiled here tonight shows that all of the victims were residents of New Orleans. It Is as follows:
 Lizzie Lotz. aged 15.
 Marie Goitein. aged IS.
 Kathleen Gotten, aged 20.
 Laura Ray, aged IS.
 Alice Chopin. aged Is months
 Lizzie Everhardt. aged g.
 Eugene Pabst, aged l3.
 Mrs. c. F. Everhardt, aged 34.
 Mrs. Charles Bruno, aged 25.
 John T. Bruno. aged years and S months.
 Mamie Pazos, aged 3s.
 The responsibility for the catastro- phe has not been fixed. but a rigid in- quiry has been instituted by the au- thorities of St. Tammany Parish, in which Vaudeville is domiciled, and In New Orleans, where the company which owns the Margaret is domiciied. and where Captain William M. Neihysel. the boats master, took out his license as a pilot.
 The Pontchartrain Transportation Company, which owns the boat. denies all responsibility for the accident. They declare that 1t was not due to any strain put upon 1t by the Margaret, but that the wharf gave way under the weight of the large number of people upon 1t.
 There appears to be considerable doubt as to why the Margaret landed at this pier instead of going to the larger one, where 1t was accustomed to touch.
 Captain Neihysel stated that he was directed by the committee of the Ben- evolent Knights of America, in chargs of the excursion, to land at the smalies pier. This the committee denies.
 The youngest victim of the tragedy Alice Choppin, the l6-months-olc daughter of Samuel Chopin of New orleans. was twice rescued from the water by her father. After Mrs. Chop pin and little daughter had been brought from the water by Mir. Chop. pin, the child fell from his arms and dropped back into the lake. She was rescued a second time by her father hut died two hours afterward. Those who figured in the accident today told of the usual heart rendfng incidents that mark such catastrophes A young mother who was thrown into the lake with her baby in her arms was stunned when struck by piece of bling. When she was finally res cued the body of the infant could not be found and 1t required the efforts of several strong men to prevent the woman from throwing herself back into the lake.
 Miss Laura Rays, a young woman who lost her life in the accident, was to have been married within few months. When the crash came and she was carried down into the water under the wreckage, those near her calling pitIfuily, Save me, Jim; save me" :" Her hance followed her into | the water and worked heroicaily around | the wreckage until borne out .ex. hausted. A short time later the dead body of his sweetheart was recovered bearing deep gash above the right temple.
 When Misses Marie Goitein and Kath- Teen Goitein, aged IS and 20 years, re- spectively, bade their grandfather good bye yesterday morning, he begged them not to go on the lake. saying that he had a premonition that they would be drowned. As they had often gone be- fore and h. had made no objection, they soon persuaded him to let them again make the trip. Their bodies were among the first which were re- covered after the accident.