The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-16
CAUGHT LIKE RATS.
An Appalling Accident on a
New Bridge Being Built
at Louisville.
Eighteen Men are Caught in
the CaiSsOn. only Four ES-
Gaping.

wreck or crash Of some kind ut the new
bridge now under construction between
Louisville and Jacksonville. 1t was first
reported that a span of the bridge
had fallen and 4 gang of men had
been thrown into the river, but this
was ut once discredited as there was no
span in existence. Then came the truth
that a caisson had given way and the work
men employed in it had been drowned or
crushed to death by stone and timbers.
The caiSsOn known rs No. was about one
hundred yards from the Kentucky shore.
A. the workmtn of the pumping station
were looking for the men in the caissOn to
put oft in their boats leaving work
tor the night they suddenly saw the
lew dark structure disappear in dashing
white waves. and heard, before they could
realize what had happened, the roar of the
furious maelstrum. 4 runner was dis
PATCHED tu the life saving station and three
~i>itt~ were manned and pulled to the scene
OF the wreck. Word was sent to the police
station. and Il squad was at once ordered to
the ground to aid in the work of recovery.
rhe corner was notified and went with a
corps ut Physicians. The site of the bridge
is al the ulQ,rr end Of the city just below
ruw Head island Within All hour from
the diSupptarauCe of the caisSOn three
thousand people were on the shore and
strained their eyes trying to see something
uJ the wrcckugc. Dozens of boats were
llying about over the spot where the
cuI>>on had stood and lights danced to and
tro with them, hut there was no trace Of the
massive structure OF stone dtimber which
had kept Oft the hungry river to promise
any hope to the anguish->tricken mothers
and wives who stood in the thrOng on the
Shore The water rolled SullenIy but
smoothly down from the c0tferdam above
the pumping barge below where the caiSsOn
had stood. Ii was soon known that only
four If the eighteen men who were at work
at that time had escaped.
The bridge officials ordered the reporters
Off the pumping barge and made it difficult
as possible to get information. Reports
from the scene OF the accident show the fol-
lowing list OF killed:
William +. Haynes, forty years, PA Clay
street. Louisville.
John Knox. twcnty-eight years.
lame, McAdams, twentysix years, Hyde
Park Pa.
Frank Mahar, twcnty-years old, native of
New Jersey.
Patrick Naylor, twenty-seven years, Phil
udelpha.
rhorna~ Ash (coloredD, thirty. eight years,
Henderson, Nv.
Worroe bowling lcolored), fty-four
years, Henderson, Ky.
Tho1uas Johnson (coIored), thirty ge"'''
T 'II ,iHTdon (colored), twenty-five
wears Henderson,, ny. 1ror,3or-
HaniMUn Morris, twenty years, Hender-
SON. Ky. $1,000, How.
Frank Soaper (colored), twenty-five years
Henderson, Ky.
Robert Tyler, sixteen years, henderson,
XIV
THE MEN SAVED
are all colored, as follows: Abe Taylor,
Lewis Coch and Frank II. Haddox, all 0
Henderson, XIV. The last man out OF the
caisson was Frank HaddOx. Hewas barely
saved by Murray, who dragged him from
where he was caught waist deep III the
ouicksand. TAYLOR says he stood nearest
the iron ladder by which they got in and
ont of the CaissOn. He heard rumbllng,
and there was a rush OF air al
the same instant. He jumped up the
RINGS of the ladder, followed by other men
They had hardly got clear otthe calsso1
when the water burst through the man
hole in a surge, knocking them all into the
river. where they were picked up. Haddo>
saws he saw Ham Norris, who was climbing
next below himself, swiftly drawn unde
hv the sand and heard his cries for help
but could do nothing. The caisson is no
wrecked as at first supposed, bu
has settled down in the bed of the stream
J1,.;tl nd
4 prmling station is hard at work clearln
the way to the bodies, bnt none Wll o
e reached tonight. There seems absolutel
a no hoye for any of those caught wlthln III
: caisson. John Knox, the gang boss, too
= charge of the work Monday. The negro'
J. who escaped said he had thel
:, dig too deep before letting tn
/ caisson settle and the dlggln
- was too close to the shoe Of the Calssol
70 Just before the accident Knox gave SON
order to Robert Baldwin, the keeper
charge of the upper door to the exit. Ball
win then opened this door and the con
pressed air that kept out the river rusht
out. letting in the stream. These men 81
they were working in an ugly qulckSand
the time. The CassOn was about 4OxZO re
, and built of timbers twelve inches squal
- 1t was protected by q cotterdam, but 6
a. river is very high and the pressure of t
n water very great.
n FOUGHT FOR LIFE.
a. Abe Taylor, one of the survivors, tells
n following story of the accident and the h'
in rible fight for life of the Panic-strick
m. w0rkmen imprisoned in the air chant
beneath the bed of the river: The m
were at work in the soft bottom of
ur river. The made such rapid progress
at, day in the muddy suracg that the exca'
ed, ton went down faster than the calss'
- whose great weight was expected to ca
esa it gradually down, keeping pace with
hs work of exCavating to q rock tOundatl
rs, This afternoon an unsual quantity OF wa
began to trickle from under the calsso
edges, but the pumps were at work TAX
arn If ont and no apprehension was felt. CIR
at uallv the incoming tide increased III
22@3 suddenly from under the e.
at of the caiss0n on every
red food gushed in. The men. too Ii
red realized their deadly peril, and all rus
%; for the exit into the escape pipe. Imm'
og atelv around this little trap door which
10y mitted to liberty and life, the frantic
nod fortunates fought like demons, all know
var that but q lew Oh IuClIl COuu PSAoO VIZ "
the inner trap before the air chamber
completely filled by the in-rushing t
Eat; Only one could go through at a time
89 as one man gained a prominence he
o, . snatched by his frenzied companions
, 3ic drawn back into the struggling Gro
lev. Meanwhile the food rose swiftly
Rye, relentlessly. The caissOn roof was scar
$50 higher than the mems heads, and to be
K Sed; behind was thought to be certain de
5 50@ Taylor says he the last of the survives
so. escape into the outer lock. AS ne esc'
Ied, from the clutches of dozen hands
No, No; leaped through the trap into the outer
2O@ he heard Knox, the foreman, shout
l0 og Gods sake, hurry boys, its getting ovel
nae head; let the shortest men go first"
part trap fell back behind Taylor and shu
doomed comrades from view. 1t is supp