1915 Vancouver bridge arson attack
Part of World War One
A section of the bridge collapsed into False Creek after the fire
LocationGranville Street Bridge, Connaught Bridge
DateApril 29 1915
4:29 for Connaught Bridge (PST)
Attack type
Sabotage, state-sponsored terrorism
Deaths0
Injured0
PerpetratorsImperial German agents
Motivesabotage

The Vancouver bridge arson attack took place on April 29, 1915, when two key bridges in the West Coast Canadian city of Vancouver, Granville Street Bridge and Connaught Bridge, were set on fire.

Background

The Connaught Bridge was completed in 1911 for $740,000, opening to traffic on May 24, 1911.[1] The following year, Canada's Governor General, the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, accompanied by the Duchess and their daughter, Princess Patricia, visited Vancouver to officiate at a ceremony renaming the new crossing as the "Connaught Bridge" on September 20, 1912. The name "Connaught" never caught on, and most people continued to call it simply the "Cambie Street Bridge", after the street that runs across it, Cambie Street, named for pioneer Vancouver resident Henry John Cambie.

Fire

The fires happened on April 29, 1915. The American media widely reported that the fires were set by German immigrants celebrating the Imperial German victory over the Canadians at Ypres, Belgium.[2] [3] The fire on the caused a 24.4 metres (80 ft) span of the Connaught Bridge to collapse and caused about $90,000 in damage.[4]

Arrests

Four Germans were arrested and interned Baron von Luttowitz (related to the Imperial German Kaiser), Dr. Otto Grumert, Paul Koop and Frederich Spritzel.[5]

See also

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ↑ West 1985, p. 6.
  2. ↑ The Tacoma Times, May 3, 1915, p. 1.
  3. ↑ Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 29, 1915, p. 1.
  4. ↑ Davis 1997, p. 214.
  5. ↑ The Omineca Miner, May 1, 1915, p. 1.

References

  • Davis, Chuck (1997). The Greater Vancouver Book: An Urban Encyclopedia. Linkman Press. ISBN 9781896846002. - Total pages: 882
  • "Flames Break Out On Two Bridges; Four Germans Are Arrested; War Reports Vary". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii: P.T. Gialanella. April 29, 1915. pp. 1–16. ISSN 2326-1137. OCLC 8807359. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  • "Alien Enemies Burn Bridge in Vancouver". The Omineca Miner. Hazelton, BC. May 1, 1915. pp. 1–4.
  • "Bridge Fire Make Vancouver Dangerous Place For Germans". The Tacoma Times. Tacoma, Pierce, Washington. May 3, 1915. pp. 1–8. ISSN 2158-4729. OCLC 17347623. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  • West, E.A. (1985). "Cambie Bridge: The Official Opening – December 8, 1985" (PDF). City of Vancouver. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2021.

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