Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-01-24
SIXTEEN HEN KILLED.
L Most Appalling Accident in
Louisville, Ky.
Workmen Meet Their Death by a
Falling Bridge Caisson.

Sixteen lives have been lost by the giving
way of a caisson at the new bridge now
buiIling across the Ohio River at Louisville,
X. Most OF the victims were colored.
The caissOn, known rs No. l, was about
one hundred yards from the Kentucky shore
As tna w0rkman of the pumping station
were looking for the men in the c4issJn to
PIT OF III their boats leaving work for the
night, they SUD lauty saw the low, dark
structure disappear III dashlng white waves,
and heard before they could realize what
hai happened the roar Of the furious maeI-
strom. \ runner was despatched To the
Hfe-s3viug station AMI three skis we're
manned and pulled - the scene Of the
WrecS
The site OF lie bridge is at the upper end
Of the city. Just below Towneal Island
Within an hour from the disappearance Of
the caissOn 1000 people were oD the shore
strainIng themselves trying to see some
thing OF the WrecKage Dozens OF boats
were plying about Ove.' the spot where the
caisson had stood and lights danced to and
fro with them, but there was no trace of the
massive structure of stone and timber which
had kept of the hungry river to give hope
to the an2uish-str.cken mothers and wives
VINO stood in the throng on the shore.
The men saved are Abe Taylor. Lewis
Couch, James Murray and Frank Haddox,
all colOred The last man out of the caisSOn
was Frank Haddox He was barely saved
by Murray, who dragged him from where
he was caught waist deep in the
qu:cksand. Taylor says he stood
nearest the iron ladder, by which
they got in and out of the caisson. He heard
a rumbing aud there was rush of air almost
at the same instant. He jumped up the rungs
of the ladder followed by the other men.
They had hardly got clear of the caissOn
when the water burst through the manhoein
Il surge knocking them ell into the river,
where they were picked up. HaddOx says he
saw Ham Norris VINO was climbing next be
low himself, swiftly drawn under by the sand
and heard his cries for help, but could do
nothing.
John Knox, the gang boss, took charge of
the WORlk three DAYS before. The COlOred men
who escaped say he had them dig too deep be-
fore letting the caisson SETTLE and the digging
was too close to the shoe of the caisson.
just before the accident Knox gave some
order to Robert Baldwin, the keeper in
charge Of the upper door to the exit Bald
win then opened the door, aud the COM
pressed air which kept out the river rushed
out letting in the stream. The men say
5hey were working in on ugly quicksand at
the time. The cais5On was about forty feet
by twenty and built of thinkers twelve
inches square. 1t was protected by Golfer
dam, bur the river is very high aul the pres
sure Of the water Tory great.
The most plausible theory as to the cause
Of the accident is thus given by one Of the
survivors, Louis Crouch, and his story
ceives not little Gre lence from the Superin-
tendent Of the work. Knox, the foreman,
had been seen near the key which controls
the air supply, and it is believed that he cut
off the air more than he really intended to,
causing the caisson to sink into the sand.