Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-29
List of Dead at Long Beach,
CAL, Expected to BE Fur
Their Increased.
CITY FACES DAMAGE SUITS
Claims of S1,OOO,OOO Likely to
Be Pressed and Grand Jury
to Probe Reason for
Accident.

Long Beach, Cal, May 25.-ProSpec-
tive damage suits, aggregating probably
100000 or more. and a grand jury in
We litigation engaged the attention of city
officials to-day as the most imminent
outcome OF the disaster yesterday when
S5 persons lost their lives in the collapse
of a section of the municipal pier just
after the close Of the British Empire
day" pageant
The list of dead, which numbered 80
last night, was added TO by the death of
Mrs. f. g. Bush. 70 years old of Long
Beach, and Mrs. NJ. p. Mcdonald of
Compton. Cal. who succumbed to their
injuries this afternoon. The list Is ex-
pected to be further increased before to-
morrow. Miss Marguerite Reed. aged Il,
of Long Beach, whose back was broken,
and of VIM. Cooper of Pasadena, one of
the two veterans of the Crimean War
who were In the van of the Empire day
parade, are not expected to live.
Rectifcation of errors made yesterday
in the list of dead brought out the fol-
lowing names: Miss Frances Harriet
Newell, Kenosha. Wis; Mrs Mollie
Gates. Oak Park, Ill; Miss Lilly NJ Hol-
ines, Denver, Colo; Ernest g. Eales, Los
Angeles; Mrs. Eales, his wife; Mrs. NJ.
y. Mcdonald. Compton Cal
Eaes was the only man killed and his
body remained unidentified until late to-
day as we'll as that of his wife.
The list Of dead last night partially
compiled was: Mrs. Frank Matthews,
David Black, aged seven Mrs. Dan
Thomas, Mrs D. d. McSparron, Mrs. Au-
gust Bartz, Mrs. Richard George Dowle
Mrs Cheshire, Mrs. Arthur c. Helps,
Mrs A. X. Hill. Fannie Mckee, Scott
Black, aged 10 years. Mrs. d. S. Holmes,
Martha J. Bennett, D. McSpears, A. j..
HILL Mrs D. ]. Tomas. Mrs. D.. e Wal
lace. Mrs C. H. Lawrence.
City officials to-day conferred with Dis
trict Attorney John D. Fredericks with
reference to the grand jury inquiry which
will be started probably Tuesday. The
object of the inquiry is to fix responsible
ity for the condition of the pier. section
Of which in front of the municipal audi
torium went down under a weight of hu-
man beings which has been estimated at
less than 80 tons.
| On the order Of the district attorney
two officers are on guard over the ruined
section of the pier. They were instruct
of the structure that collapsed. Several
broken tlmbers which are expected to
show the general condition of the pier
were taken out to-day and locked up un-
der official seal.
! The weakness of the pier which was
built eight years ago and never repair
ed in that particular portion, is be-
lieved to have been due to decay caused
10 -; n
it's Iron fastenings and supports
Military men pointed out that the
rythmetic vibration created by the
measures tread of thousands of feet
caused tremendous strain upon the
supports which already had been
heavily burdened by the crowd throng-
ed about the auditorium doors awaiting
admittance.
The grand jury investigation was de
manded by the officers of the United
Societies Of British born residents ant
visitors whose celebration of Queer
lVictoria's birthday anniversary was in
|terrupted by the accident.
City Attorney Long answered reports
of the prospective damage suit witt
the statement that in his opinion tn,
city could not be held responsible FOL
deaths and injuries because no charge
had been made by the city for thu
Use of the municipal amusement prop
lerty. The celebrators he said had useC
lit at their own risk.
All but the most seriously injured
were removed to their homes in Lo
lAngeles and neighboring cities to-day
The total number of injured probabl.
never will be known accurately. Abou
lG5, however were seriously hurt.