Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-06-01
TELEGRAPH|C.
The Fatal Disaster on the
East River Bridge.
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
CRUSHED TO DEATH.
A hoy Terribly Torn by a
Mad Elephant.
AN CNRAaCD FATHER SHOT BY The
sEDucEa OF HIS DAUGHTER.
Mormon Missionaries to be Driven
Out of North Carolina.
A STATEMENT BY MRS. PHIL.
B. THOMPSON.
A Statement BY MRS. PHIL.
B. THOMPSON.


NEW YORK, May 31.-A fearful catastro-
phe occurred on the East River bridge
yesterday afternoon, by which . large
number OF people have lost their lives.
The narrowness Of the foot-way for passen-
gers was the cause OF the horror. At 4 o.
clock q long line Of people on foot in the
center walk OF the structure going from
and coming to this city, thickened and
swelled and stopped just at the stairs lead
ing from the concrete roadway to the
bridge proper. Strong men and feeble
women, manhood and infancy, were wedged
together in the fearful pressure Of the
crowd which extended for miles, we might
say. on either end OF the line. It was 1 re-
morseless, fearful. stupid force that held Ito
victims a. immovable q the stone founda-
ton Of the bridge itself. The stoppage
lasted nearly an hour, during which time
scores Of people tainted, and to remove the
jam on the bridge the officials removed
some OF the iron pasling . few feet from
the stairway on the New York side. when
Of course those unfortunate enough to be
nearest, weak and fAinting unto death, i'm.
mediately fell helter-skelter. heals.over.
head down on the grayelly, jagged road be-
meath, o mass OF bruised, discolored human
iesh. Scores were trAmpeld upon, and to
stumble was death. Men were dragged out
Of. that hssp Of helpless humanity with
faces % blue ~ indigo, and the lifs-blood
women, pale, dishevelsd and dead. The
roadway on either side Of the walk wal
strewn with dead and dying. A pitiable
sight. and yet, II ID said, no efforts were
made by the bridge officials to stop the
people coming on the bridge. The dead
and dying we're carried OF in wagons, carts,
etc., and II was . long time before the
police arrived and anything like order re-.
stored, or ambulance appeared. Mean.
while teams we're rushing both ways Of
full gallop over the roAdwAys, threatening
the limbs and lives Of those or foot who
were attempting 10 help the unfortunate
victims. Why, NO . could tell. Men
shouted themselves hoArse with, "Clear
the track" wagons rsttlins over the rough
stones, and men and women crying In al
party Of men In uniform did service ct the
spot - . volunteer police 10 check the vul-
gar and curious. At the Chambers-street
hospital there are lying thirteen dead
bodies-six unknown men, six unknown
women, md Geo. Smith Of "a Watts street.
The Office was filled with men making fran.
tic inquiries for missing friends. and with
hysterical women. Two more bodies, q
. boy Of Is. and the other . young man,
are lying at the police station. The scene
ct the City Hall police station WAS simply
terrible-women screaming and ~wringing
their hands, and men with torn clothing
and bleeding hands and faces. Most Of
the unconscious were lying beside the wall.
Every now and then . frantic mother would
rush In inquiring for soms lost one. There
we're nom to answer her, for the revival OF
the insensible occupied their thoughts.
the confusion ~ wagon after wagon drove
up to the door, and a. the surgeons de-
scended . perfect stream Of unconscious
forms were borne away on stretchers,
while the filled ambulancss were driven
away.
New YoRx, May 81.-The universal com.
ment this morning respecting the bridge
horror 10 that the same accident IL liable
to happen at any time, 40 matter what the
police restrictions may be, unless the steps
are absolutely abolished, or ct least d.
vided for the two streams Of pedestrians.
Tho Superintendent says that the fact 10
now obvious that during those hours Of
the day when transit IL most lively and
on holidays and Sundays there will always
be greater danger Of a heavy crush, SINH
lar to that Of yesterday, unless means Of
relieving II be devised. Not even the
bridge cable track for cars, now nearly
completed. will prevent . crush ct those
times.
A number Of persons inquired ct police
headquarters this morning for children
and friends. supposed to have been OF the
bridge at the time Of the accident. In
only one or two cases was the reason given
that they we're supposed to have been on
the bridge Of the time Of the accident. The
Oak street police report that they have .
cart load Of property taken from the an.
chorage. Most Of the clothing ID torn
beyond recognition. Very few articles
have been claimed. The Coroner will
subpoena the bridge trustees, Eupt. Martin
and all others who can give any informs-
ton In reference to the accident yesterday.
He intends that the investigation shall be
thorough. supt. Martin has been person
ally investigating the cases Of the disaster,
and the best authenticated information he
can gather makes him believe that the
panic was caused by p~ickpockets. No
action has yet been taken By The bridge
tzustsss.