THE ROLL CALL OF DEATH
_________________________________
List of the Dead by Tuesday's Calamity Continues
to Grow.
_________________________________
The Bodies of All Save Three of the Victims
Now Recovered.
_________________________________
Rock Bay and James Bay Bridges Closed to
Vehicular Traffic.
_________________________________
Near By Cities Express Their Sympathy With
Victoria in Her Desolation.
_________________________________
Yesterday,
even more th
an
on Tuesday, Victorians experienced the full horror of the calamity that
has come upon the city. In the hour of emergency, when the help of every
hand was needed and all attention was concentrated upon the work of saving
those in whom the vital spark of life still flickered, men and women could
not find time to sorrow. Emotion was sternly repressed, and with calm,
quiet courage men and women together faced the terrible ordeal. Twenty-four
hours later, however, when the hope of saving life was no more, over-wrought
nerves gave way and the same brave workers who had so calmly and heroically
labored to resuscitate the dripping victims of the disaster as they were
taken from the water and laid upon Captain Grant's green lawns, were themselves
weak and ill—totally unstrung by the distressing scenes
through which they had so recently passed, and with the full extent of
the disaster before their eyes.
The work of recovering the bodies was resumed early yesterday morning, when the tide was at its most favorable stage, divers McHardy and Cook going down at ten o'clock but being unable to do effective service owing to the ebb having muddied the water so that inspection of the debris was extremely difficult. They suspended operations shortly before eleven, and soon after a force of thirty men or more under Chief Deasy, Stevedore F.M. Yorke, Street Inspector Wilson—whose own little boy was among the dead previously recovered—and Duncan Grieve, took in hand the work of clearing away the debris, with the aid of a derrick and steam power, the body of Motorman Farr being obtained in this operation pinioned between two pieces of ironwork. At five the city divers again went below, with George Vassel, King and Ballet of the Royal Arthur, their efforts then being successful as clearer water was obtained, and three additional bodies being located and removed. Three others only are now known to be in the water, and these are all those of women it is feared that some time may elapse before they are obtained, their clothing floating them much more readily than would the garments of a man. The majority, in fact all the bodies, were found close to the bridge, where there is about four fathoms of water at high tide.
Almost everyone who watched the work of rescue yesterday, and there were hundreds who remained on the spot all day long, paid more or less attention to the bridge and formed his own opinion as to its strength or weakness, in view of the fact that this will naturally be an important point at issue in the coroner's investigation.
During the evening a private telegram was received from San Francisco to the effect the President McMullens of the San Francisco Bridge Company, had stated in an interview that in 1891 he informed Deputy Commissioner Gore that the bridge was unsafe for traffic. This telegram was shown to Mr. Gore soon after, and he said:
"I have no recollection of any such conversation with Mr. McMullen and do not remember his ever telling me the bridge was unsafe. He was the man who built it, and it is not likely that he would make such a remark. Mr. McMullen's company built the bridge for the government in 1885 and in 1891 it was turned over to the city. During the time the government had charge of it, the structure was regularly inspected, an inspection being held at least once a year. It is our practice to examine all our bridges regularly and especially so before a celebration. Before this last celebration I sent an expert out to inspect the Gorge bridge and report on its safety. At the time the Point Ellice bridge was built there was no tram line to Esquimalt. The rails were laid afterwards but during the time the bridge was under government control."
"Was it safe for tramcar traffic at that time?" was asked.
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating; it has stood until now, but you must bear in mind that the life of timbers in a bridge is not more that eight or nine years, and even less that that where the timbers are exposed to the damp and shut off from the sun as, for instance, the floor beams in the Point Ellice bridge. They won't stand. They require regular inspection and renewing when it is found necessary."
During yesterday afternoon the city council held an emergency meeting in connection with the disaster, when it was decided to close Rock Bay and James Bay bridges to vehicular traffic until they had been thoroughly examined by an expert. The cemetery committee were at the same time authorized to assume the management and expense of the disposal of the bodies of the victims of the catastrophe unless their friends desire else. It was at first proposed that a public funeral be held, but owing to the desire of the friends of the dead to have the funeral services at their own churches it was decided that a public funeral was not practicable. The Mayor was empowered to make adequate provision for any children who by the accident have been deprived of their parents, and in consequence are in need of immediate assistance.
Through all the day the schools were closed and business in the city to a great extent suspended, so much was the attention of all classes of the community directed to the common sorrow. All the tramway officers and employees appeared during the day with the badge of mourning upon their arms, a badge which but insignificantly expresses the universal grief.
Cancellation of public and private engagements continues the order of the day, and in this connection the COLONIST is requested to state that there will be no meeting of the W.C.T.U today, that the special rehearsal of the choir of the Reformed Episcopal church has been abandoned, that the dance at Work Point barracks stands postponed until Friday, June 5, and that the examination of candidates for entrance to the high schools of the province has been postponed until the first prox.