New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-01
THE BRIDGE CATASTROPHE
HOW IT WAS oAUsED-wHAr II TxACHl

HOW II WAS CAUEED-WHkT II TEACdN
THE PRECISE oxom NOT AscS11AmKD- -3moApess
T1oNs ZOE the yuTuaz-fm SRzDoa -
E1xKLY USED THAN DxvoRR ~
Comparatively few Of the ordinary exhibits y
curiosity were noticeable yesterday On ~ - Z
River Bridge Passengers who waiked -
drove over the aerial highway Glanee& ~
passing at the spot wbers, not many houEs beeus
the cruel boot-heels Of panis-st1icksa we1 -
ground ths lfs out OF . dozen mon, we1eu. -
children, but there va no sathermg about ~ -
Of the morbdly curious, - - usually the eopu
after crest catastrophsa The feeling that ssessee
to have got out with the news Of the calamity -
ono Of horror. The Bridge IN certain hours ofthe
day seemed actually to be shunned - soms grue
some thing. and walk from ono end to ths ethR
failed to discover even isolated instaasas
the Hshtsomenes and jollity which ~,
vailed generally among the visitoes -
1t from the opening day down -
the fatal hour Of Wednesday. Tho travel ovsf =
was only small traction Of that Of the prsvtpags
day. and tho majority Of the loiterers around ~
towers were plainly visitors from other piscsG.
There was perceptIhle increase in tl1s businss9
done by the fenyboats-at least - ~
somc Of the employees Of the ferry ssm-
pany-so widespread was the apprehension q
danger caused by the publication Of the details q
the fatal stampede.
Besides the fearful scenes in tho houses Of ~
victims of the disaster and at the hospitals, there
were public evidences of sorrow over the calamity.
large floral representation Of tho Bridge, which
has been hauled around on truck - q
advertisement for Bowery florist We
draped in black. and tho Asgs ban
pers and bunting which decorated the roofs sn4
fronts of buildings In the vicinity Of the Bridge
were all dismantled and taken down in the morntnGs
thereby removing the appearances OF holiday
gayety in such unhappy contrast with the funereal
atmosphere and thoughts suggested bv the tragedy.
A great number Of investigations pursued inds-
pendenty and with diligence by tho officers OF tho
Bridge, some of the trustees and many newspspser
reporters failed to add any material facts to ths
story Of tho accident as printed yesterday.
Several theories Of the orlgn of the panic
were urged with equal plausibility. Touching the
primary cause.-the overcrowding Of the footpsth-
there was no difference of opinion, but diferens
views were held as to whence came tho impetus 70
the fatal panic. Whether it grow out
of the boistcrous rudeness of Q gang
of young rufaans. was the outcome Of
plan of petty robbery was developed w the cries
of women and children who were being crushed by
brutal men, or arose from the mistaken screams u
woman who thought her fiend-another womaH
who had fallen and been picked up by policeman
in the hands of an arresting officer, will probably
never be determined to the satisfaction Of all These
elements, and dozen other wild fancies inspired
by terror, doubtless present among the causes
that brought on the fatal crush, and dozen Wit
nesses gave dozen versions of the beginning and
progress Of the stampede.
An inquiry that was productive OF muoh
more satisfactory results was that which wss
- ttn0
ton of the calamity In the future At o'clock tA
the morning Trustees Strau.han. Witte and Swan
were In their Office in consultation with Superinten-
dent Martin. who them the results OF his m
quiries among the Bridge policemen and
the wOrkmen who wero employed upon
the car tracks of tho Bridge After
hearing what Mr.. Martin had to say with reference
to the accident and discussing informally the needs
of the Bridge in the way OF policing I'd
signal service that should mako it possible
to congregate policemen in places where
there might be need Of their services to prevent
blockades the trustees had inquiries made into the
condition of the victims of the calamity and talked
about the proprsty of giving financial aid in cases
where it was greatly needed-if not -
oHacials at least % private individ-
uals. Mr.. stranahan. in mentioning this
matter. remarked that tho trustees did not
wish to give color to any theory that they were L.
gally answerable in damages for the accident. ana
would not assume any responsibility. but merely
wished to manifest the sincere sympathy they felt
for the sufferers.
Mr. Martin, to show that tho accident was not
due wholly to the numDor Of visitors on the Bridge.
had tho reports Of receipts on Wednesday made up
early, and furnished them to those who called upon
MIN. According to these reports the receipts from
foot passengers from midnight Of Tuesday to mid
night Of Wednesday wers $55a.74 at the New-York
toll boxes, sod $4l2.50 ct those OF the Brooklyn
end of the Bridge; in all $972.24 which ought to
represent 1924 persons upon tho footpath In the
course OF the day. Three days Of last week showed
. greater number than this: Friday. whom 10000
persons paid penny fares; Saturday, when $500
did likewise. and Sunday, whom the number va
swelsd to 163, 800. Mr. Martin amitted. how
sver what 10 apparent that there s NJ basis in this
for a calculation of the number of persons who
Eero IN tho structure at aoy one time. "wednesday
was peculiarly day Of lounging and idle prone
nading on the Bridge there being sights enough to
keep multitude of mere sshtseors interested fog
% msnts there il no way Of preventing $1,000 persons
getting On the breezy promensde and remaining
; Tas : that ~, tho :S:a SsH a1PSss ls.s
whom no blockade occurred. only showed the neeo
Of AN efficient polioe forco and appliances by which
might be sent to tho ends Of the Bridge and relief
Afforded by the opening Of the wagon. ays to the
incoming tide Of foot. passengers These Are the
thin 90 which will bs talked about by the trustees
to-day. -. ,..
may tend to oprevent blookades IN tne f9ture: sin
Within two days. Mr. Martin has siven. an or,iee
for the construction Of sections Of iron railing which
and down the steps and to distance Of ffty fest
beyond In both directions: The work OF
making the railing Is In progress
reourod to put Il in place. The extension beyond
the steps Will carry this rail past the places where
Sv the descending cables, and II 10
booued thus to be able IN these places