Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-15
TERRIBLE ACCIDEST IN PARIS.
The Fefe NapOieOn-An OveTcrOwded
Bridge-Many Lives Lost.

The Napoleonic fete in Paris, on the
18th of August, was kept as strict
holiday, bat was saddened by dread
full disaster. At the conclusion OF the
display of fireworks on the Pont des
Invalides, the crowd, which had been
standing watching them on both sides
of the Seine, began to break up. A
large number of persons who were on
the left bank of the river made their
way to the Point de la COncorde, ia or
der to cross to the right bank, at the
moment when an equally large number
of persons were about to pass in the
opposite direction. The two crowds
met in the middle of the bridge, and
despite the utmost efforts of the ser
geants-de-Ville 1t soon became lmpos-
sible to prevent "A complete stoppage of
all circulation either way. Every mo-
ment fresh arrivals kept pouring in,
ignorant of what had taken place, until
at last the pressure became so over
whelming that men, women and child
rem were forced down and trampled
upon. some being killed and "A large
number seriously injured. For short
time the scene is said to have been one
man climbed over the paFapet and ran
along it IN a kind of frenzy which
blinded her to the risk she was incur
ring. When the bridge became some
what clear, it was found to be stTewu
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 were at once conveyed
to the Palace of the Corps Legislatif
close at hand, and the dead taken to
the Morgue. The number of the for
mer is stated to be very large, but no
accurate information on the subject
has been published. With regard to
the latter, the Avenir National says that
an eye witness counted next day at the
MOrgue the bodies of eight women and
one young man who had been sutfOcated
In the crowd. "While we write, adds
the same paper, thousands of per-
sons controlled by the police agents
form line at the doors of the Morgue,
and aIe waiting their turn to penetrate
into the interior aud ascertain whether
the relative or friend for whom they
are In search is among the number of
4
rumor, according to which the disorder
that led to this terrible tragedy was Oc-
easiOned, or at all events increased, by
gang of pickpockets, who prOfited by
it to rifle the crowd in all directions,
and who were arrested in large num-
beers.
An inquiry has been instituted by
the government, and the Moniteur con-
tains the following particulars:
Eight persons we've picked up; some
were already suffOcated, and the rest
soon succumbed. Another was serious
" wounded, and others more or less seri-
OusIy, though without danger. The
i Minister of the Interior Immediately
repaired to the spot; the Project OF
Police also arrived. The victims had
already been taken away and conveyed
to the inner court of the Corps Legis-
latif, or to a neighboring chemists
others had been admitted into the little
canteen attached to the works in the
angle of the quay. The Minister of the
Interior remained until two o'clock in
the morning at the scene of the disaster
saw that the necessary attention was
given to the injured, and himself dis
tributed assistance in the name of theil
maiesties. An hour afterwards the
majority of the persons who had beer
attended to were able to reach theil
homes on foot; the others were imme
diately conveyed in carriages or on lit
tiers 10 their own dwellings, or TO the
nearest hospital. An inquiry has beer
ordered respecting the cause and tn,
/ circumstances of this melancholy event
and in accordance with the wish of tn,
Empress. the Project of Police hal
already been engaged in obtaining th,
names of the victims and information
with regard to the position of thei
families, so as to relieve their misfor
tune"