Rotten to its Core: Lessons from the Long Beach Pier Collapse of 1913
This May 24th will mark the 111th anniversary (1913) of the Long Beach Pier Collapse (also called the Municipal Auditorium Empire Day) Disaster that left more than 37 dead, injuries to hundreds more and led to the City of Long Beach enacting a special tax on assessed property value in order to pay for the resulting lawsuits against the city.
The morning of May 24 was sunny and calm in Long Beach, California as final preparations were being made for the first of its kind parade that celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday in United States (The Birmingham Post Herald, 1913).
In attendance were more than 25,000 spectators (New York Times, 1913) and thousands more participants, the majority of which were British expats (The Searchlight, 1913). The parade route began near Pacific Avenue (The San Francisco Call and Post, 1913) and ended near the so called “Rainbow Pier” which was located on Ocean Blvd. and Pine Ave., where the current Long Beach Convention Center stands. The pier, which has been refurnished in 1904 following storm damage (Jones, 2021), was about 3,800 feet long (Masters, 2013), consisted of two stories, and was home to numerous attractions and shops. On the top deck sat the Long Beach Auditorium with a seating capacity of around 6,000 persons (Gobatry, 2022), that had been used for numerous events in the past such as concerts (Los Angeles Evening Express, 1906; Los Angeles Herald, 1910).
As the celebration was entering its final phase near the end of the parade route, thousands of spectators began crowding along the pier decks to watch it go by. The auditorium, which was destined to be the host of an ending ceremony had delayed opening its pier-facing doors (San Francisco Call & Past, 1913; New York Times, 1913) causing a crowd to pile up behind it. Without warning at around noon a subsection of this upper deck collapsed, sending hundreds down onto those below on the second deck, which then also collapsed, fatally impaling, and crushing dozens (Fresno Morning Republican, 1913; The Searchlight, 1913; The Birmingham Post Herald, 1913).
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Had the tide not been out during the time of the disaster, countless more would have likely perished from drowning (The Birmingham Post Herald, 1913). As thousands made their way to the scene of the collapse, their presence began impeding ongoing rescue efforts, which forced the Long Beach Police and Fire Departments to send mutual aid requests to agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department (The Birmingham Post Herald, 1913) for personnel and equipment assistance; many of which arrived shortly thereafter (New York Times, 1913) to help cordon off and secure the area, assist with patient rescue and transport victims to hospitals (The Birmingham Post Herald, 1913; Los Angeles Evening Express, 1913).
A broken-hearted father carried the limp and almost lifeless form of his fourteen-month-old baby to the steps to hunt for a doctor. His wife lay on the beach with her life crushed out (Burnett, 2009).
The mayor of Long Beach, Ira S. Hatch, only escaped death by just a few feet. About 6 policemen who had been patrolling the pier also fell victim during the collapse of the pier, all of whom were among the injured (Birmingham Post Herald, 1913).
In the hours, days and weeks following the calamity, an expert board began its investigation into the incident. They would ultimately find that the root cause was twofold:
The pier had been built to incorrect specifications and its safety factor was a measly 2 to 1 instead of the standard and expected 6 to 1 (Martin et al., 1913).
Significant rot and decay had occurred in the wood that supported the girders upon which the floor lay. Because it was underneath, it remained hidden from both view and inspection (Engineering News, 1913; Martin et al., 1913).
“The pier was absolutely rotten and the door to the auditorium from the pier was closed and locked. An enormous crowd of people stood on the bridge in front of that door waiting for it to open when the pier fell. How anybody escaped death will always be a marvel to me.” (New York Times, 1913).
“It would have been a simple matter to have detected this decay, if proper minute inspection had been made by one familiar with such work.” (The Fresno Morning Republican, 1913)
After the lawsuits began rolling in, the City of Long Beach attempted to remove themselves from liability by claiming that the auditorium was built as a private structure that they were simply maintaining, but the local court reaffirmed their responsibility by ruling that the infrastructure (the pier and auditorium) was now municipally owned and therefore under their purview of responsibility (McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 1914). After much back in forth that saw the City of Long Beach successfully appealing this case in appellate court and then the State Supreme Court initially reaffirming this decision but later reversing it (Burnett, 2009), the city was faced with more than 200 lawsuits totaling an estimated $3.75 million (~$118.3 million adjusted for inflation) (Los Angeles Times, 1914; US Inflation Calculator, n.d.). City attorneys were ultimately able to settle all of the claims for less than $400,000 ($12.7 million adjusted for inflation) (Burnett, 2009; US Inflation Calculator, n.d.).
There was only one problem though. The City of Long Beach did not that kind of money in reserves. Desperate, the City levied a special property assessment tax (26.8 cents for every 100 dollars of property value) (Long Beach Press-Telegram, 1917) on its residents that commenced June 30th, 1918.
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Lessons for Pier Maintenance in a Changing Environment
Piers and other similar structures have faced increased structural damage such as erosion and corrosion along the coastal United States in recent years (Valdez et al., 2016). Berkley Municipal Pier, for example, was closed for public use in 2015 following inspections that showed “Extensive corrosion has occurred, with many bars snapped, some separated from the concrete, and some completely corroded away” (City of Berkely, 2017). Unfortunately, the Berkley Pier is not alone in this manner; within the last 10 years many famous municipal piers along the Coast of California have either been closed to the public after serious structural safety issues were uncovered, or the extent of these issues would soon force authorities to do so.
A select few summaries from damage and maintenance reports:
Pacifica Pier – Report from 2018: Underside of the pier was spalling badly and the reinforcing was rusting away; at multiple locations the steel support ledges had rusted through and the hatches had collapsed into the chambers (NFWF, 2018.).
Ocean Beach Pier – Report from 2019: Reinforcement steel is corroding and will continue to degrade; 25% of piles are cracked (Moffatt & Nichol, 2019).
Avalon Green Pleasure Pier – Report from 2022: Many piles in desperate need of repair; some of which were sheared below the waterline; decking and additional hardware needing of replacement (California Coastal Commission, 2022).
While thankfully it appears that the vast majority of pier structural issues have been caught before a collapse could occur, it is clear that many enacted municipal pier maintenance programs are insufficient to detecting and fixing structural concerns before they become serious problems that affect structural integrity. One reason for this seemingly revolves around the challenges posed to properly access and visualize structural damage to a pier’s underbelly since these processes often require specialized equipment (such as a Snooper truck), making it a timely and costly pursuit.
“High over a continuously moving ocean, it is very difficult to get to the underside for maintenance. This project (Pacifica pier) made it possible to bring in a contractor with specialized equipment that provided access to the underside of the pier, allowing the badly needed repairs to be performed” (NFWF, 2018).
But the question still must be asked: Why now? The two most likely suspects are structural age (often intended for around 50 years) and the increased burden that climate change is forcing on coastal structures via rising seas and more frequent storms (Clark, 2011; AP News, 2024).
It seems that we are currently in the sweet-spot with ocean-exposed infrastructure reaching its intended lifespan while the environment in which they reside becomes more ferocious. Within the last couple of years alone multiple municipal piers in California have been either totally or partially destroyed by storms.
Examples include:
Ventura Pier [2023]: Damage involved a total of 34 damaged and 20 dislodged piles, with recent inspection revealing 19 missing or damaged timber piles, 20 dislodged piles, and 62 damaged or missing braces (City of Ventura, 2023).
Capitola Wharf Pier [2023]: Significant storm damage and partial collapse of structure. Repairs and replacement of 148 piles; new decks, and new railings (City of Capitola, 2023).
Cayucos Pier [2024]: Storm caused several pilings to detach from pier, swept away pilings and left the far tip dangling over the ocean (Zappeli, 2024).
But this is not just a California problem. Climate change knows no bounds and increased wear and tear is a threat to every pier in the United States. Coastal piers across the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico have continued to face off with increased storm surges - with fewer and fewer remaining victorious against mother nature each time.
It is not just piers either. One month to the day after to the 108th anniversary of the 1913 Long Beach Pier Collapse, corrosion and structural degradation would once again strike, this time in Florida when the Surfside Condominium collapsed, taking with it 98 lives.
Additional Disaster Source Material
Cemetery Guide – The Stories Behind the Stones: https://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-empireday.html
Long Beach Municipal Auditorium Pictures Through the Ages: http://scottymoore.net/longbeach.html
Los Angeles Theatres – Long Beach Municipal Auditorium: https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2020/10/long-beach-auditorium-1905.html
Municipal Auditorium Empire Day Disaster Video: https://archive.org/details/clob_000015
Picture of Pile of Collapsed Pier Victims: https://cdm16855.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/LBFiremen/id/2008
A historical marker for this disaster does not appear to exist.
In Memorium
Edith Chafor, Margaret Reed, Earnest Eales, Annie Eales, Fannie McGehee, Alice Lett, Dorothy Lett, Harold Lett, Alexis Dowle, Virgil Bayless, Bertha Bartz, Thomas Beck, David Black, Martha Burnette, Isabelle Bush, Sarah Cheshire, Mary Gates, Ada Helps, Amanda Hill, Lillie Holme, Clarissa Hoskins, Ada Ingraham, Ira Killborne, Mary Lawrence, Annie Longfellow, Malinda MacDonald, Frances Matthews, Eliza McSparron, Fraces Newell, Agnes Nicol, Emma Prigmore, Elizabeth Richardson, Hannah Shaw, Anna Stone, Abby Thomas, Emma Valentine, Diana Wallace, Jane Wyvell & those who remain unidentified.
References
AP News. (2024). Rising Seas and Frequent Storms are Battering California’s Piers, Threatening the Iconic Landmarks. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rising-seas-frequent-storms-are-battering-californias-piers-threatenin-rcna136903
Burnett, C. (2009). Murderous Intent: Long Beach, CA: 1880’s -1920 . Authorhouse.
California Coastal Commission. (2022). California Coastal Commission Staff Report and Recommendation for Coastal Development: City of Avalon Pier (5-22–0674). https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2023/8/w7a/w7a-8-2023-report.pdf
City of Berkeley. (2017). Berkeley Municipal Pier Structural Assessment & Ferry Terminal Feasibility Study. Water Emergency Transportation Authority. https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Berkeley%20Municipal%20Pier%20with%20Attachments.pdf
City of Capitola. (2023). Capitola Wharf Resiliency Project. https://www.cityofcapitola.org/publicworks/page/capitola-wharf-resiliency-project
City of Ventura. (2023). Ventura Pier . City of Ventura Public Works - Ventura Pier. https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/2519/32968/Ventura-Pier
Clark, R. (2011). Fishing Pier Design Guidance Part 2: Methodologies for Design and Construction . Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems . https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/FishingPierDesignGuidance-Part2_0.pdf
Engineering News. (1913). Fatal Failure of Overloaded Wooden Floor at Long Beach, Cal. McGraw Hill Publishing Company, Vol. 69, 1136. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=ZTRKAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA1144
Fresno Morning Republican. (1913, May 25). Long Beach Pier Collapses; Hundreds Plunge Through; 33 Die; Scores are Injured. Freson Morning Republican , 1 & 6. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607264269/ & https://www.newspapers.com/image/607264307/
Grobaty, T. (2022). Local History: The Empire Day Disaster. Long Beach Post News. https://lbpost.com/news/local-history-the-empire-day-disaster-may-24-1913/
Jones, K. (2021). Rainbow Pier—Long Beach—Gone But Not Frgotten. Pier Fishing in California. https://www.pierfishing.com/rainbow-pier-long-beach-gone-but-not-forgotten/
Long Beach Press-Telegram. (1917, August 31). Top Tax Rate Long Beach is $1.34. Long Beach Press-Telegram, 14. https://www.newspapers.com/image/605440847/
Los Angeles Evening Express. (1906, May 18). Popular Week End Trips. Los Angeles Evening Express, 6. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607754750
Los Angeles Evening Express. (1913, May 24). 28 on Corrected List of Dead: Inquest Monday in Beach Disaster; & Wild Scenes Follow Auditorium Floor Crash as Families Seek Their Loved Ones . Los Angeles Evening Express, 1 & 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607902601 & https://www.newspapers.com/image/607902608
Los Angeles Herald. (1910, August 7). Ellen Beach Yaw Concert Thursday. Los Angeles Herald, 22. https://www.newspapers.com/image/78719006/
Los Angeles Times. (1914, July 6). Musical Note Death’s Cause? Los Angeles Times, 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380269082/
Martin, A. C., Austin, W. H., & Richards, C. E. (1913). Further Data on the Long Beach Pier Floor Collapse. Engineering News-Record , Vol. 69; No.25, 1288. https://books.google.com/books?id=qj5IAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA5-PA59-IA5&lpg=RA5-PA59-IA5&dq=1913+long+beach+pier+collapse
Masters, N. (2013). When Long Beach Built a Rainbow-Shaped Pier. PBS SoCal. https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/lost-la/when-long-beach-built-a-rainbow-shaped-pier
McGraw Hill Publishing. (1914). Jury Blames Long Beach for Auditorium Collapse. Engineering Record, Vol. 70; No. 3, 32. https://books.google.com/books?id=FWE-AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA57&lpg=RA1-PA57
Moffatt & Nichol. (2019). Ocean Beach Fishing Pier Draft Evaluation Report. Moffatt & Nichol. https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/sites/default/files/d7/user1/draft_ob_pier_structural_evaluation_v3.pdf
NFWF. (2018). Pacifica Pier Restoration Project: Final Programmatic Report (AMENDED) (#8006.12.033220/33220). https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=164997&inline=true
The Birmingham Post Herald. (1913, May 25). 34 Dashed to Death in California When Big Pier Collapses. The Birmingham Post Herald, 1 & 10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/873193898/ & https://www.newspapers.com/image/873193909/
The Fresno Morning Republican. (1913, May 30). Loss of Life Due to Rotten Girder. The Fresno Morning Republican, 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607266214/
The New York Times. (1913, May 25). 400 Fall as Pier Crashes; 33 Die; California Crowd Plunges Forty Feet to Ground as Beach Structure Collapses. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1913/05/25/archives/400-fall-as-pier-crashes-33-die-california-crowd-plunges-forty-feet.html
The San Francisco Call and Post. (1913, May 25). Long Beach Pier Collapses; 33 Dead, 200 Hurt. The San Francisco Call and Post, 25 & 26. https://www.newspapers.com/image/82713844
The Searchlight. (1913, May 25). Thirty-Five are Killed at Long Beach Celebration . The Searchlight, 1. https://www.newspapers.com/image/797907257
US Inflation Calculator . (n.d.). Inflation Calculator . https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
Valdez, B., Ramirez, J., Eliezer, A., Schorr, M., Ramos, R., & Salinas, R. (2016). Corrosion assessment of infrastructure assets in coastal seas. Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology, 15(3), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/20464177.2016.1247635
Zappeli, S. (2024). SLO County Pier Closes After Storm Knocks Pilings Looses—Leaving End Dangling Over Ocean. San Luis Obispo Tribune ; San Luis Obispo Tribune. https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/weather-news/article285702616.html