Wichita eagle., 1889-04-30
COLLAPSE OF A BRIDGE.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April 29-Chelsea
Park, pleasure resort on the line of the
elevated road in Kansas City, Kan, was
the scene of very exciting incident yes
terday afternoon, portion of the bridge
over an artificial lake giving way and
plunging about eighty persons, among
whom were many ladies and children. into
the water, which at that point was seven
feet deep Fortunately there were no fatal
tiles, though everybody got a ducking and
several came near drowning. The crowd
at the park, always large on Sunday, was
| unusually large yesterday, the attraction
| being Prof, Alphonse King, who walks on
the water. The bridge in question is
two feet above the water 1t
being the most advantageous location was
crowded with spectators. The professor
had just crossed the lake, the crowd fol-
lowing him to the east side of the bridge
When the water-walker stepped on terra
firma, the band on the other side struck up
the Boulanger march, whereupon every
body having nothing better to do rushed
back to the west end of the bridge. They
pressed in SO close together that the rail
ings gave way and afterwards about
twenty feet of the bridge itself. Eighty
persons were plunged headlong into the
water, the boards and timbers falling on
Il
rescued the most of those who failed to
scramble out unaided, but a few I'M
fortunates came near finding watery
grave.
TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ABDUCTED.
KANSAS CITY, No., April 29.-Martin S.
Lewis was placed in cell at central police
station yesterday morning charged with alb
Quoting and betraying Edith Lauck, the g.
year-old daughter of J ohn A. Lauck of st.
Mary's, Kan.
The arrest was made on telegram from
Mr.. Lauck to Chief of Police Speers. Ser
geant Burns was given description of the
man and soon had him located in a room
ing house on Sixth near Central. Lewis
and the young girl and her 14-year-old
brother, Jimmie Lauck, were found in the
room together All three were taken to
the station. The young girl wept bitterly
but Lewis took the matter cody. He
claims that he eloped with her to be mar
ried in this city and denies that he occu-
pied the some room with her.
Miss Lauck is very pretty and has we'll
developed figure. Between her sobs she
told that Lewis, with whom she was &C
quainted, had made her proposals of mar
riage which she rejected. On Friday she
anu ner DrOIntr were VlSltlnY at RUSSELL
vile, near her home and while out walk
ing met Lewis. The street was a quiet
one and Lewis drew pistol and swore he
would kill them both if they did not ac-
company him. Both were frightened and
accompanied him to the depot. He put
them on the train and brought them to
Kansas City. They were constantly told
by Lewis that if they attempted to escape
he would shoot them. Fearful that he
would carry out his threat the girl and
boy obeyed him implicitly Jimmie
Lauck, the girls brother, corroborated his
sisters statements. At 10 O'Clock Mr.
Lauck, their father, arrived from Russell
vile. The meeting between Mr. Lauck
and his children was very affecting. After
talking the matter over Mr. Lauck's De-
cullar decision was not to prosecute Lewis. |
He wanted to avoid the scandal, he said
He returned at once to Russellville with
his daughter and son and Lewis was re-
leased from Jail last night.