Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-01
THE BRIDGE PANIC.
The Fact Now Obvious that the Dis
aster OF Wednesday May
be Repeated
At Any Time, and that There is Always
Danger Of a Great Crush-What
the Superintendent Says.

NEW YORK, May 3l.-The universal COM
ment this morning respecting the bridge
horror is that the same accident is liable 10
happen any time, no m after what the police
restrictions may be, unless the steps are
abolished or at least divided for the two
streams OF pedestrians.
FRANK STATEMENT.
The superintendent of the bridge, Mr.. Mar
lin, makes the following frank statement:
''The footpath is certainly no sale place for
such crowds az pass over the bridge. 1t was
not intended TO accommodate any such travel
as we are having. As TO the steps, 1t had
been d cided 20 put railing up and down
the middle TO divide the people going one
way from those going the other. The rail
ing would have to be carried up come way
beyond the top of the steps, OF course. We
should carry it probably 100 feet along. This
was one of the alterations we had already
dstermined upon, and lie TO De made a. once.
Then we are gong to place the aide rails on
the steps little further back. Some space
is now lost by them. Then further back be-
tween the cables we can widen the passage
by placing the ratings further apart and
against the cables, and this is to be DONE"
could not the steps be dispensed WITH"
was asked
"WelI, we could build what is called
ramp, an inclined plane from the top of the
steps to poin, further down the bridge, but
there would be the same danger in making
the grade any sleeper, especially in wet or
icy weather"
ALWAYS DANGER OF A HEAVY CRUSH.
To the superintendenPs statement it may
be added that the fact is now obvious that
during these hours when transit is NEST
lively, and on holidays and Sundays, there
will always b. great danger Of heavy crush
simi ar to that Of terdsy, unless means of
relieving it be DEVISED. Not even the bridge
cable track for cars, now nearly completed,
will prevent the crush at those times
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION TO BE HAD.
The coroner will subpoena the bridge trus-
tees, Supt. Martin, and all others who can
give any informal alton 10 reference to tho &C.
cident lterdsy. He intends that the in
vestigation shall be thorough. Supt. Martin
has been personally inv stIgatiny the causes
of the disaster, and the 1t authenticated in
formation he can gather leads him to believe
that the panic was cauE / BY pick pockets.
No action hrs yet been taken BY the bridge
trustees. The superintendent acknowledges
that the space allott to fo )t pa engers is
at present Insufficient. hut thinks when the
trains begin to run ana time has lcssened the
curiosity, it will be ample. The bodies OF
the dead carried to the Chant ,rs Street Hos
pital are icing remoy d to day TO the homes
of their friends, and preparations for burial
begun. All the ipjurSd in the Chambers
Street Hospital are improving. A number
OF inquiries were made there to-day Tor
missing persona, but no information concern.
ing them could be given, as all the dead
and injured had been identified. 1t is
believed that a full list of the dead and seri-
ously injured has been given.
INQUIRIES FOR MISSING PERSONS.
A number OF persous inquired at police
headquarters this morning for children or
friends supposed 10 have been on the bridge
at the time OF the accident. Only in one or
two cases is there reason to suppose that the
missing persons might have been on the
bridge. The Oak street police report that
they have ca,tload of property taken from
the encouragement Of the clothing torn
beyond recognition. Very few articles have
been claimed.
DENIES THAT THE PANIC WAS CAUSED BY
PICKPoCKETs.
Inspector Byrnes denies that the panic was
caused by pickpockets. 1t was due, he says,
| to the inc ficiency OF The bridge management.
By paying salaries to regular policemen the
trustees could secure them, and thus secure
] the safety OF passengers.