Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-16
DOWN TO RUIN
Awful Accident In
Kentucky.
Scores Of Lives Are
Lost
In the Crash OF a
Bridge,
Which COllapses and
Falls
Without Il Previous
Warning.
The False Work Gives
Way
And Ninety Men Go
Down.
Crowds of Rescuers From
Cincinnati at Work Re-
covering the Bodies
of the Victims.
And Ninety Men Go
Down.

CINCINNATI June ia terrible dis
sster, which caused the death of forty
three workmen, occurred at the new
bridge which is being constructed over
the Licking river. between Covington
and Newport, about . q N The en-
tire false work fell with a crash. hurl-
ing . large force Of carpenters and
ironworkers into the river. Most of
the men were disabled by the falling
simbers and were drowned
IVES AFRAID It Would Fall.
The cause Is surmised TO be the weak
sning Of the wooden false work. The
high river has washed out the earth
about the supports and il Is said one of
the contractors said day or two ago
that he was afraid the structure would
not stand under the weight Of the
heavy material. But stu they kept at
work
The bridge was being built by a
Ceveiandt O. > syndicate, which hiss in
view she building and operation of q
belt electric line Of street cars in Gov
ingson and Newport in connection
with Cincinnati line. IL crossed the
river at Twelfth street Covington, and
was TO be used for vehicles and foot
travellers as well.
The Disaster.
A force Of forry-three men under the
direction of Robert and William Baird.
the contractors. were engaged in put
ting In place the heavy iron work on the
main span. Suddenly. without warning,
there was a cracking sound OF break.
ing timbers, a swaying OF the struc-
ure. and u headlong plunge of the
whole mass Of timber. iron and help
less workmen into the muddy waters
of the Licking river. so feet below. A
very few forms were 10 be seen
struggling on the surface. but most Of
the men were pinioned beneath the
wreck at the bottom of the river.
Nut Two Men saved.
But two men are known 10 have es-
capped with their lives. Not stick Of
the false work from pier TO pier re
NAMED. aud the river was filed
with timbcrs aud iron work.
with scores Of men struggling
for life News Of the terrible
acciden. spread rapidly, and soon n
crowd Of hundreds had gathered and
the work Of rescuing the bodies was at
once begun. Cincinnati patrol wagons
responded 20 hurried call. and the dead
and wounded were carried away a.
fast ss taken out.
In short time the river was lined
with rcseuers on both sides and the
bodies ~ the following were reeov-
cred
Richard ccr-nan. covtnsson. Thomas Burke
Ohio. william Hsrtner. refersonvflie. Ind .
John of~esl Covtne.on. Charles Schsrpon.
Ece-rt Hstrs. clev~ispa Thomas Downing
Ne~pcrt. pscS >pooner Newport, Fred Br-n,.
Cincinnati. Chssics puveneck. Newport. James
Johnscn George Burse. Burton Dennis
Hsrssv. y 3 Phelps c W. Pfs6enesch. n
Thomas. Pfttsenrxn
rhe Nssssse.
Frank Nnsr Charles rsrr wniiss Bsrtcn
~intsr Avs. Hsrrs Kramer q r Sh-ehsn.
Krse~r - Soi,r. 20 Sullivan. Dan
Dvsnkl-v p Murray and Murray
sssaisy tsIsv~d.
kn<-~~ BART ci~v.lsrs William wDsc.
Inspector Jchn Feslfps Newport. Elmer Bar
~ " . Roe.. ns.~y Osborn.
ssssssy usrs.
Charles " vctsers frontcss rrsrs Wsslsss
Ord " L Cisr<
A srvsissrx sight.
No~t II me workmen were "a she
middle NJ the span and we're hurled
iuso the deepest part Of sse stream.
The spectacle ~s- appalling Many
Who could swim we're 20 MANNED that
she~ were Barely ahle 90 keep sAoak
srsi their cries for help srose h~forr
the echo Of the crashing tims>rs died
swsy Some we're knoss~i uncon
scica- sv the ayinr boards and iron
and drowned &t once These who got
ssAore slarmesi the neigh e,vhsroa
ard ercrt- ~ rescue the wound
~a who were ciinrfBg ~ the
wrecked bridge ver~ begun. The
wcrk OF recovering The soaies
Is greatly inpefss y tho tsa9ls
Of weed and iron which wens dcws
Win the neA rhs swtfs earrept he