Frederick Adams Jr. and his mother, Sarah, were two of the 55 holiday goers who died in the Point Ellice Bridge Disaster on May 26th, 1896. It was the long holiday weekend, and many Victorians had gathered to celebrate Queen Victoria's 76th birthday. The festivities included a mock naval battle that was scheduled to take place at Macauley Point in Esquimalt, a location best reached by street car.
That afternoon, the Consolidated Electric Railway Company's No. 16 street car attempted to cross the Point Ellice Bridge. The streetcar had a seating capacity of 60 but 143 people were onboard the No. 16 that day. As the No. 16 got part of the way across, the bridge suddenly gave way and the overloaded streetcar plunged into the tidal waters of the Gorge Waterway. Most of the victims were women and children. Dressed-up for the holiday, their clothes were a hindrance to survival and 55 children, women and men lost their lives.
There were many families that lost more than one member, including the Adams, and sadly, the Point Ellice disaster meant the end of the family line. Frederick's father, Frederick Adams Sr, had drowned the previous year, when the tug VELOS was caught in a gale near Trial Island.
A joint funeral was held for Sarah Adams, Frederick Adams Jr and another victim, Mrs Annie Heatherbell, on the afternoon of Friday, May 29th, first from the Adams' residence at 15 South Road in Spring Ridge (later renamed 1215 Pembroke St) and, later, Emmanuel Baptist Church. The funeral was largely attended, and the cortege extended for nearly a mile along the road to the Ross Bay Cemetery.
That afternoon, the Consolidated Electric Railway Company's No. 16 street car attempted to cross the Point Ellice Bridge. The streetcar had a seating capacity of 60 but 143 people were onboard the No. 16 that day. As the No. 16 got part of the way across, the bridge suddenly gave way and the overloaded streetcar plunged into the tidal waters of the Gorge Waterway. Most of the victims were women and children. Dressed-up for the holiday, their clothes were a hindrance to survival and 55 children, women and men lost their lives.
There were many families that lost more than one member, including the Adams, and sadly, the Point Ellice disaster meant the end of the family line. Frederick's father, Frederick Adams Sr, had drowned the previous year, when the tug VELOS was caught in a gale near Trial Island.
A joint funeral was held for Sarah Adams, Frederick Adams Jr and another victim, Mrs Annie Heatherbell, on the afternoon of Friday, May 29th, first from the Adams' residence at 15 South Road in Spring Ridge (later renamed 1215 Pembroke St) and, later, Emmanuel Baptist Church. The funeral was largely attended, and the cortege extended for nearly a mile along the road to the Ross Bay Cemetery.
Frederick Adams Jr. and his mother, Sarah, were two of the 55 holiday goers who died in the Point Ellice Bridge Disaster on May 26th, 1896. It was the long holiday weekend, and many Victorians had gathered to celebrate Queen Victoria's 76th birthday. The festivities included a mock naval battle that was scheduled to take place at Macauley Point in Esquimalt, a location best reached by street car.
That afternoon, the Consolidated Electric Railway Company's No. 16 street car attempted to cross the Point Ellice Bridge. The streetcar had a seating capacity of 60 but 143 people were onboard the No. 16 that day. As the No. 16 got part of the way across, the bridge suddenly gave way and the overloaded streetcar plunged into the tidal waters of the Gorge Waterway. Most of the victims were women and children. Dressed-up for the holiday, their clothes were a hindrance to survival and 55 children, women and men lost their lives.
There were many families that lost more than one member, including the Adams, and sadly, the Point Ellice disaster meant the end of the family line. Frederick's father, Frederick Adams Sr, had drowned the previous year, when the tug VELOS was caught in a gale near Trial Island.
A joint funeral was held for Sarah Adams, Frederick Adams Jr and another victim, Mrs Annie Heatherbell, on the afternoon of Friday, May 29th, first from the Adams' residence at 15 South Road in Spring Ridge (later renamed 1215 Pembroke St) and, later, Emmanuel Baptist Church. The funeral was largely attended, and the cortege extended for nearly a mile along the road to the Ross Bay Cemetery.
That afternoon, the Consolidated Electric Railway Company's No. 16 street car attempted to cross the Point Ellice Bridge. The streetcar had a seating capacity of 60 but 143 people were onboard the No. 16 that day. As the No. 16 got part of the way across, the bridge suddenly gave way and the overloaded streetcar plunged into the tidal waters of the Gorge Waterway. Most of the victims were women and children. Dressed-up for the holiday, their clothes were a hindrance to survival and 55 children, women and men lost their lives.
There were many families that lost more than one member, including the Adams, and sadly, the Point Ellice disaster meant the end of the family line. Frederick's father, Frederick Adams Sr, had drowned the previous year, when the tug VELOS was caught in a gale near Trial Island.
A joint funeral was held for Sarah Adams, Frederick Adams Jr and another victim, Mrs Annie Heatherbell, on the afternoon of Friday, May 29th, first from the Adams' residence at 15 South Road in Spring Ridge (later renamed 1215 Pembroke St) and, later, Emmanuel Baptist Church. The funeral was largely attended, and the cortege extended for nearly a mile along the road to the Ross Bay Cemetery.
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
