The New York herald., 1871-03-13


east OF kast =. Louis had been visited by the same
storm and large amount OF property destroyed.
Some property also In or near Venice Is reported to
have been destroyed
among the unfortunate families in East ST. Louis Is
really pitable. About thirty families rendered
homeless, and many poor people had their little all
IN ae y fs 1acn I IaRpy meme wee
TO alleviate the sunerngs OF the wounded ana home.
less The ierryboats up 70 late hour were thronged
to learn The fate OF their friends. Some action on
the OF ctizens on this side of the river looking
toward assistance to the sufferers VIII doubtless be
| looked for and we hope not IN vain.
THE WRECK AT TIE EAST ABUTMENr.
One OF the most extraordinary results OF the
storm was shown at the east abutment pier. At the
time OF the outburst about twenty-five men were at
work in the airchamber, and over one hundred
others were dispersed about the works, some on tho
masonry and some alot In the purchase boxes and
otherpoints The heavy rain which preceded the ter
nado had driven some OF the men 10 shelter, but
stil very nearly the regular number were at work
appearance Of the size OF the pier, as the WORK Of
| laying the caisson progresses The frame work or
the derncks, with the wlreways OF the "travelersn
and other beams crossing and recrossng each other
strongest character. Tie timbers employed are
are Of IRON High High upon @ the the southeast
corner Of this maze Of timbers is the aerial
| rest which superintendent McComas calls his Of
| nee. This was the scene where It seems the very
heart OF the tempest struck. The crossing tlmbers
too compact Tor 1t to resist It struck the frame
work ike rushing sea. There was moment OF
|
splrlI was assaling the whoe-tne workmen looked
| up aghast; hardly moment was there Tor man TO
& Change his place before tne dreadful downfall came
gathered up and piled like lot OF dry twigs INTO
| chaotic heap, and dashed down and stamped upon
by the storm, the great mass incniny III q north
| eastwardly direction.
The noise at first was positively deafening, and
men were bewidered ana hardly knew wnat had
happened. But the storm passed as swiftly as 1t
came, and then came the terrible realization or the
calamity. Cries OF wounded men came from the
| awful wreck peadng for assistance.
Superintendent McComas, VINO escaped unhurt,
although his ONCE badly rocked and strained
quickly recovered himself, and calling his men to-
| gether, all that were able TO 60 TO work directed
their united energies to the business OF exticating
| SINGULAR ESCAPES.
So tar az was possible for them TO ascertain last
| evening only one Killed a. this pier, which
| is one OF the most extraordinary events In connec-
ton with the storm. When one looks at the mass OF
| timber splintered and packed together over the
scene OF the mems labors it seemed almost incredi
| bic tnat single one escaped.
| TIE MAN KILLED.
His name was james halpn, sheet iron worker
by trade. He was killed close by the ONCE OF Mr.:
upper part Of his body. He was on the platform
east OF the Office at the time he received his death
| blow.
THE BRIDGE LABoRERs INJURED.
The following are all that were ascertamed to have
Joseph Clarke, shoulder and arm shattered. This
man. VINO has wife and family, was sent to st.
Jamineu, who, III view of the condition OF the pa
/ tient, postponed amputatlon until this morning.
The case Is q bad one, ana fears were entertained
that he would not live through the night.
William CROWN, seriously hurt.
P. Cannon, resides at l, AS broadway, seriously.
G. w. Smith, resides at g33 North Second street,
seriously injured, but not considered in immediate
| danger.
d. Collins. This man was employed on the bridge
| but was on shore at the time OF the aud was
| injured by falling house.
| These are all the wounded and they were oil
promptly attended to by Dr. Jaminet who was
either at the scene OF the calamity the houses
OF the injured men all the afternoon and up to a
| late hour ut night.
1t is stated by the Superintendent that the actual
loss TO The bridge Is between $15 900 ana $50 00 1t
Is doubtful, however, II the framework will be re-
stored In the same shape as before the storm.
! ADVENTURES OF THE TUGS.
The bridge company tug Hewett was lying near
the east abrtment when the storm struck IT, The
was torn of, and Captain Montgomery went into
the river with the wreck, but succeeded in getting
out safe. Two or three men employed on the tug
were also thrown overheard, but all managed to es-
| cape watery grave.
either by fan or blow from piece OF flying tim
ber As soon as matters had reganed some degree
this side and left near the bridge landing an
object Of no small interest to large crowd Of spec
IN THE AIR-oHAMBER.
There were some twenty-five men In the air.cham-
Der at the Time OF the catastrophe above The
smashing Of the timbers ana interruption OF the ma
cnnery quickly apprlsed them something was
wrong, and as soon as practicable they were got
out Not one OF them sustained any injury and, in
fact a, things turned out, they were i'll the safest
place on the pier. Mr.. De Courcy was In charge Of
! the air-chamber gang at the time. Thomas Malvin
VINO has charge OF The alr-chamDer work, was IN the
main shalt at the time OF the general smash-up
! saw the collapse. He wisely retreated down the
shaft distance, and no tlmbers falling down
on him, escaped without any INJURY.
DISTRESSING SCENES.
| AS the news spread OF the tornado across the
river the attention OF people at first was concen-
trated on the bridge works. 1t was reported that a
most terrible accident had occurred, and the widest
rumors prevailed to loss of lite. Soon the wives
and other relatives and the friends OF men
ployed at the works heard the news ana alarm
spread quit KY from nearL to heart. Many pallid
and trembling woman might be hurryIng 10 the
landing OF the bridge tugs or standing there look
ing wildly towards the mass OF rum at the east
abutment, or eagerly questioning If such a man,
naming some dear one employed III the works. was
hurt or killed. Even at dark anxious women were
have their anxieties allayed. The olfcers ana en-
ployes OF the Bridge Company acted with COM
cor ng the wounded and in answering the inquiries
respecting the victims OF the accident.
The noatng derricks Of the Bridge Company
moored AZ the foot Of Lami street parted their chains
however, followed and brought them back and lett
them just above the site OF the east abutment.
DAMAGE AT EAST PIER.
The framework erected at the east pier for carry
ing up the masonry entirely demolished.
Of them IN we were injured THIS his scaodins @ c was as how how
ever, Of light skeleton nature, and the loss is not
serious: In connection with the storm II may be
the river but SO far as known they escaped safely
with no injury but ducking ana fright
THE INTERRUPTION TO THE BRIDGE WORKS
will not be very serious. as prompt measures will De
taken to remedy the effects o. the disaster. In ten
days or two weeks probably. the wreck VIII have
been cleared away and work will be progressing as
usual The occurrence OF the tornado VIII serve to
| practically illustrate the dangers TO which the
bridge, wnen completed VIII be exposed, although
that OF WIND storms was fully comprehended In the
calculations made OF the forces that woulu have to
be resisted.
FEARS OF EXPLOSION.
After the crash at the east aDutinent there was a
general fear all explosion OF the boilers would en-
sre but this happily did not occur, and the steam
was finally let OF before any accident occurred.
TUE STATE OF THE AIR CHAMBER.
The disaster only involves the derrick frame
works, and OF course the pier and air chamber are
wnolly unharmed. The connection Of the air
pumps, however, and the steam connections were
broken up, and consequently the pumping of the air
Is suspended. The chamber will be permitted to I'll