The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-26
of March Caused
California Pier Disaster.
Military PrecautiOn Would
Have Saved 81 Lives.
SALT AIR DECAYED THE WOOD
Weakness of Pier Built Only
Eight Years Ago.
W. e. BayIess of Melvern, Kan,
Was a Victim.

| w dS a xCbl1As
Long Beach, Cal, May 26.-Evi-
dence to be presented Thursday at the
| inquest over the thirty-six persons who
| lost their lives in the collapse Satur-
day of a portion of the municipal pier,
will bear directly upon the question
of responsibility for the condition of
| the structure which proved too weak
| for the weight of several thousand
men, women and children who had
| gathered to celebrate the birth ami
| yersary of the late Queen Victoria.
Long Beach, Cal, May 26.-Military
precaution would have saved the thir-
ty-four persons killed Saturday when
section of the municipal pier col
lapsed while a thousand persons were
celebrating British Empire day"
When soldiers on a march cross a
bridge they break step. Saturday the
hundreds in the parade marched on
the pier in step Military men declare
that the vibration created by the
measured tread of the thousands of
feet caused such strain on the weak
ened pier that it was responsible, in a
large measure, for the collapse.
The weakness of the pier, which
was built eight years ago and never
repaired in that particular part, is be-
lieved to have been due to decay
caused by the action of salt air on
wood and its iron fasteners and sup
ports.
Immense Damage Suits.
Prospective damage suits aggregating
probably one million dollars or more
and a grand jury investigation en-
gagged the attention of city officials
today as the most imminent outcome
of the disaster.
The list of dead was augmented by
the death of Mrs. z. C. Bush, 10 years
old of Long Beach, who died of her
injuries today. The list is expected
to be increased further by the death
of Miss Marguerite Reed, IL years old,
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.
Long List of Dead.
Rectification of errors made in the
list of dead brought out the following
EMMA PRIGMoRE. Sweet Springs,
Mo.
MISS FRANCES NEWELL. Keno
W. E. Bayless, Melvern, Kan.
MRS. MOLLIE GATES. Oak Park,
Illinois.
ERNEST G. EALES. Los Angeles.
MRS. EALES. ihs wife.
MRS M. P. MCDONALD. Compton,
MRS. FRANK MATTHEW'S. Los An
geles.
DAVIS BLACK, aged 7, Long Beach.
MRS. DAN THOMAS, Long Beach.
MRS. L. D. McSPARRON. Long
Beach.
MRS RICHARD G. DOWLE, Pasa-
dena.
MRS. CHESHIRE, Los Angeles.
MRS. ARTHUR c. HELPS, Long
Beach.
MRS. A. K. HILL, Orange, Cal.
FANNIE MCGEE, Long Beach.
SCOTT BLACK, 10 years, Glendale.
MRS. d. L. HOLMES, Long Beach.
MARTHA ]. BENNETT, Long Beach.
D. M. SPEARS, Long Beach.
A ]. HILL, Orange.
MRS. D. J. TOMAS. Los Angeles.
MRS D. E. WALLACE, Long Beach.
les.
MRS. JANE wYvEL, Casa yerdugo.
Cal.
MRS. WARREN c. LETS, a daugh-
ter, Dorothy, Long Beach.
MRS. E. c. VALENTINE, Long
Beach.
MRS. FRANK SHAN, Los Angeles.
MRS. ELIZABETH HANNAH RICH
ARDSON, Orange.
MRS. PAULINE McGEHEE. Long
Beach.
THOMAS BECK, Long Beach.
YOUNG SON OF H. L. BAYLES, Los
Angeles.
MRS. ADA E. INGRAHAM, Pasa-
dena.
MRS. ANNA LONGFELLow, Pasa-
dena.
MRS. WILLIAMSON. Los Angeles
MRS. D. McPHARRON, Long Beach.
MISS ANNA STONE, Long Beach
MRS. JAMES NICOL. Long Beach.
A Grand Jury Inquiry.
While the city attorney, Stephen Long,
was occupied with the legal phase of the
disasters aftermath, Mayor 1. S. Hatch,
members of the city council and of the
board of public works conferred with the
district attorney, John D. Frederick, with
reference to the grand jury inquiry which
will be started before the coroner's in
quest Tuesday. The object of the inquiry
is to. fix responsibility for the condition
of the pier.
mended to show the general condition of
the pier and thus aid in developing evil
dence of negligence If there be any, were
taken out of the pier and locked up under
official seal.
The grand jury investigation was de-
manded of the officers of the United So
cieties of British Born Residents and Wis
itors, whose celebration OF Queen Vic
toria's birthday anniversary was inter-
rupted by the tragedy.
The total number of injured never will
be known accurately. About sixty-ftve,
however were injured severely, most OF
them still being in hospitals here and in
Los Angeles.
WATERS GETS DEGREES.
Aggie President Honored With Title
of LII. ID. by New Hampshire.