The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-04
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN PARIS.
THE FETE NAPoLEoN-AN OvERORowDED BRIDGE
MANY LIVES LOST.

THE FETE NAPoLEoN-AN 0VERORoWDED BRIDGE
MANY LIVES LOST.
The NapoeOnic fete in Paris, ON the 10Th of
August, was kept as a strict holiday, but was sad
dened by dreadful disaster At the conclusion
of the display of fireworks on the POut deS In
valides, the crowd which had been standing
watching them on both sides of the Seine began
to break. large number of persons who
were on the left bank OF the river made their way
to the Pont de la Concorde, in order to cross TO
the right bank, at the moment when an equally
large numb Der OF persons were about 10 pass in
the opposite direction. The two crowds met in
the middle OF the bridge, and despite the utmost
efforts of the sergents-de-vllle, it soon became
impossible to prevent a complete stoppage of
all circulation either way: Every moment fresh
arrivals kept pouring in, ignorant of what had
taken place, until at last the pressure became
so overwhelming that men, women, and emil
dren were forced down ana trampled upon,
some being killed and large number severely
injured. For short time the scene is said to
have been one Of wild confusion and terror.
one woman climbed over the parapet and ran
along it in kind OF frenzy, which blinded her
to the danger she was incurring. When the
bridge became somewhat clear, 1t was found
to be strewn with fragments of clothing which
had been literally torn off the backs of the
wearers in the desperate struggle that had taken
place.
The wounded we're at once conveyed to the
Palace OF the Corps Legislatif, close at hand and
the dead taken to the Morgue. The numOer of
the former is stated to be very large, but no ac-
curate information on the subject has been pub
lished. With regard to the latter, the AUenir
National says that an eyewitness counted next
day. at the Morgue, the bodies OF eight women
and one young man, who had been sulfooated in
the crowd. "While we write" adds the same
paper, thousands OF persons, controlled by the
police agents, form line at the doors OF the
Morgue. and are waiting their turn to penetrate
into the interior, and ascertain whether tue rela-
tive or friend OF whom they are in search is
among the number OF the Victims" The Temps
mentions a rumor, according to which the dis
order that led to this terrible tragedy was occa.
stoned, or at all events increased by gang of
pickpoCkets, who proited by 1t TO rifle the crowd
in all directions, and who were arrested in large
numbers.
Aninouiry has been instituted by the Govern
ment and the MOnuem contains the following
PARTICULARS
"Eieht persons were picked up; some were
already suhocated, and the rest soon sue
cumbed. Another was seriously wounded, and
others more or less seriously, though without
| danger. The Minister of the Interior imme-
| diately repaired to the spot; the Pretect OF
| Police also arrived. The victims had already
| been taken away and conveyed to the inner
court of the Corps LegislatIf, or to neighb0r-
ing CHEMISTS; others had been admitted into tue
little canteen attached 10 the works in the angle
| of the QUAY. The Minister of the Interior re-
| mained until 2 o'clock in the morning at the
| scene of the disaster: san that the necessary
| attention was given to the injured, and himself
| distributed assistance in the name OF their Ma
| iesties. An hour afterwards the majority OF the
| persons who had been attended to were able to
| reach their homes on foot; the others were inn
| mediately conveyed in carriages or on ltters to
| their own dwellings, or to the nearest hospital,
| An inquiry has been ordered respecting the
| cause and the circumstances of this melancholy
| event, and in accordance with the wish of the
| Empress, the Prefect OF Police has already been
| engaged in obtaining the names of the victims
| and information with regard TO the position of
their families, so as to relieve their misfortune"