The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-26
Believed Damage Suits To-
falling S1,000,000 or More
Will Result
TOTAL NUMBER DEAD
REACHES THIRTY SIX
Weakness of Pier Is Believed to Have
Been Due to Decay Caused by the
Action of Salt Atmosphere
on the Wood

Long Beach, Cal, May 25.-Prospect-
I've damage suits aggregating probably
81 100000 or more and grand jury
Investigation engaged the attention of
city officials today as the most immi-
nent outcome OF the disaster yesterday
when 80 persons lost their lives in the
collapse of a portion of the municipal
pier Just after the close of the British
Empire Day" pageant
The death list which numbered SO
last night. was added to by the death
of Mrs. e. c. Bush, 20 years old. Of
Long Reach this afternoon and that of
Mrs Mcdonald an aged woman late
today. The list is expected to be fur
ther increased before tomorrow by the
death of Marguerite Reed, aged ~, Of
Long Beach whose back was broken.
and of William Cooper of Pasadena, one
of the two veterans of the Crimean war
who were in the van of the Empire Day
parade.
Rectification of errors made yester-
day in the list of dead brought out the
following names:
Miss Francis Harriet Newell, Keno
sha, Wis
Miss Lilly NJ. Home, Denver. Col
Ernest G. Eales, Los Angeles.
Mrs. Earles, his wife
Mrs. M. p, Mcdonald, Compton, Cal.
Miss Ethel Wyvel. 16. died at her
home near Los Angeles, today. Her
mother was among those instantly
killed.
Eales was the only man killed and
his body remained unidentified until
late today well as that of his wife.
Public officers conferred today with
District Attorney John ID. F'redericks
with reference to the grand jury in
quiry to be started either on or Just
before the coroner's inquest Tuesday
The object of the inquiry is to fix re-
| sponsibility for the condition of the
pier, a section of which went down un-
| der weight of human beings estima ted
at less than $50 tons.
Officers Guard Ruined Pier
| on the order of the district attorney,
officers were placed guard this
morning over the ruined sections of
| the pier, instructed to keep watch con-
stantly in 12-hour shifts until relieved
and 10 allow no tampering with any
| part of the structure Several broken
timbers which are expected to show the
/
taken out of the pier today and lock ed
up under official seal
The weakness of the pier which was
built eight years ago and never re-
paired in that particular portion, is
believed to have been due to decay
caused by the action of salt atmos-
phere on wood and its iron fasteners
and supports. However ii was declared
that much stronger structure might
have been wrecked in the same cir
cumstances as the participants in the
big parade marched upon the pier in
step Military men pointed out that
the rhythmetic vibration created by
the measured tread of thousands of
feet caused a tremendous strain upon
the supports which already had been
heavily burdened by the crowd about
the auditorium doors awaiting admit
tance.
Britons Demand Investigation
The grand jury investigation was de-
manded by the officers of the United
Societies of British born residents and
visitors whose celebration of Queen
Victoria's birthday anniversary was in
terrupted by the accident. City Attor-
ney Long answered reports of the pros
pective damage suits with the state
ment that in his opinion the city could
not be held responsible for the deaths
and injuries because no charge had
been made by the city for the use of
the municipal amusement property. Use
of the pier and auditorium had been
given without cost and the celebrators,
he said, had used il at their own risk.
All but the most seriously injured
were removed to their homes in Los
Angeles and neighboring cities today.
The total number of injured proba-
bly, will never be known accurately.
About IS, however, were seriously hurt.