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About the Book
CITY IN MOURNING
On May 26, 1896, in Victoria, British Columbia, hundreds of residents and visitors headed out to a grand military display, the culmination of days of celebration surrounding Queen Victoria’s birthday. As a packed electric streetcar crossed the Point Ellice Bridge, passengers heard a loud crack and felt a sharp jolt. A moment later, the car, its occupants and the entire span of the bridge crashed into the water below, resulting in fifty-six deaths and overwhelming the city with grief.
Who was to blame? The province, which had built the bridge? The tramway company, which had dangerously overloaded it? Or the city, which had failed to maintain it? The legal wrangling would drag on for years, while a political battle played out over plans for the bridge’s replacement.
In City in Mourning: Victoria’s Point Ellice Bridge Disaster, Robert James Clark delivers a gripping investigation of North America’s deadliest streetcar accident. Through meticulous research, he explores the disaster’s repercussions, the political and social tensions of the era, and the poignant stories of those who lived—and died—on that fateful day.
About the Author
Robert James Clark holds a BA from the University of Saskatchewan and a certificate in French translation from the Université de Saint-Boniface. He has worked for many years as a French–English translator and has published numerous articles on food, arts, and culture.
Since one of his first jobs as a student—researching local history—his passion for the past has never waned. This enthusiasm inspired his first book, Fiendish Crime: A True Story of Shell Shock and Murder (FriesenPress, 2023) and continues to drive his historical research and writing. Robert lives on Vancouver Island and is an active volunteer at the Qualicum Beach Museum.
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