Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-05-26
TIMBERS WERE ROTTEN
THIS CAUSED MUNICIPAL PIER
TO FALL WITH HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE.
THIRTY SIX PEOPLE PERISHED
THE NUMBER WHO WERE SER
loUsLY INJURED WILL
REACH slxTY-FlVE.

Long Beach, Cal, May 26.-Evi-
dence to be presented Thursday at
the inquest over the SO persons who
lost their lives in the collapse Satur-
day of a portion of the municipal
pier, will bear directly on the ques-
ton Of who was responsible for the
condition of the structure, which
proved too weak to Withstand the
weight of several thousand women
and children who had gathered to
celebrate the birth anniversary Of the
late Queen Victoria.
Broken timbers, showing evidence
OF decay and the corrosive action of
salt air from the ocean, were unoer
guard today awaiting the requlsition
Of the coroner's jury. Several con-
struction engineers, among them Lu-
ther Munson and j. P. Kennedy, VINO
were appointed on behalf of the city
of Long Beach, began an official in
spection and investigation. One Of
the principal witnesses before the
coroner's jury will be James Twom-
ley, member Of the Long Beach board
Of public works, who, according TO
Mayor Hatch and his colleagues on
the works board, was charged with
the duty of inspecting buildings.
Coroner Hartwell said that he was
working in accord with District At
torney John D. Fredericks, who per
sonally inspected the scene Of the dis
aster yesterday.
Daughters of the Empire and Sons
OF st. George, the two rincipa! or
ganizations which had charge Of TIRE
Empire Day celebration which ended
SO tragically, started a campaign TO-
day for the relief of the victims.
While those seriously hurt number
ed not more than s., nearly 200 were
injured sufficiently to partially dis
able them, and ala will be given
them as wen as to their more unfor-
tunate companions and friends.
Graft Charge Hung over Building.
Coroner Calvin Hartwell and DIS
trict Attorney John D. Fredericks
conferred today with reference to
handling the inquiry into the pier ans
aster Saturday at Long Beach, which
cost SO lives, and it was decided that
there would be no grand jury investl-
cation.
The coroner, it was said, was vest
ed with powers sufficient to cover the
case and had the right too btain pros
ecutions for manslaughter if the evi-
dence developed at the inquest,
which begins Thursday warrants
such actions
The coroner Will go into all phases
Of the disaster and will delve into the
history of the municipal pier and the
city auditorium, the construction Of
which was accompanied by charges
of graft The structures were COM
pleted in 1905 and 1906. J. B. Losse,
a member Of the city council at tiat
time, ana Mayor Emo, were charged
with having accepted bribes from the
contractor. Losse was the only man
brought to trial. The jury disagreed
and without going to trial a second
time Losee turned $1,000 into the city
treasury. No action was taken
against the contractor, John Baird,
and the structures as built were ac-
cepted.
The allegation that since the build
ing of the pier it never has been sys-
tematically inspected will also be
probed by the coroners jury. ok
perts viii be appointed to examine
the damaged pier and report on It's
condition. one expert will be named
by Mayor Hatch OF Long Beach, an
other by the British societies which
we're celebrating Empire Day when
the disaster occurred, and the third