Victoria, BC Bridge Collapse, May 1896

OVER FIFTY DROWNED.

Collapse of a Bridge at Victoria, B.C., with Fatal Results.

VICTORIA, B. C., May 27.--- A terrible accident occurred here yesterday by a bridge giving way, carrying a crowded street car with it. A sham fight and review was to take place at Macaulay Point, near Esquimault, in the afternoon, and crowds were making their way there. All the train cars were packed. Two cars left Government street with upwards of a hundred people. The first got over Point Ellic bridge safely, but when the other was about half way over the middle span of the bridge, about 150 feet in length, gave way and the car plunged into the water, 100 feet below. The car was completely submerged and all on board were drowned, with the exception of some of those on the platform, who managed to save themselves by swimming. There were certainly over fifty lives lost.

Numbers of the bodies have already been got up, and the work of identification is proceeding. It is a difficult matter, as a great many of the bodies are those of visitors.

So far as at present known the dead are:

MRS. ADAMS and her son, FREDERICK
E. B. CARMICHAEL and wife,
J. B. GORDON, of Vancouver, representatives of Bradstreets;
MR. EDMONDS,
MISS NATHAN,
MR. BOSSI, storekeeper;
ARTHUR FULLERTON,
MRS. HEATHERBEL,
GEORGE WILSON,
MISS ANNIE KEAST,
W. VAN BOKEIN,
CAPTAIN LEVERIDGE,
MRS. G. I. POST,
MRS. LOT,
MISS IDA GOODACRE,
JAMES McCURDY.

When the bridge broke there were several carriages on the bridge, and these also were precipitated into the water. Superintendent Wilson was driving one of these and had his five children with him. He succeeded in saving himself and four of the children, but the fifth, a little boy, was wedged between the iron bars and was drowned.

The sad affair has cast a deep gloom over the city. As soon as the news of the accident reached Macaulay Point the review was brought to a speedy termination, as under the circumstances it was impossible, and the sham fight was abandoned.

New Oxford Item, New Oxford, PA 29 May 1896
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!