Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-06-23
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Forty Men Killed by the Collapse
Of a Bridge.
A Scene Of Destruction Almost With,
out Parallel.

CnlrCy nVe men lost their lives and q
number of others were injured, occurred
last Wednesday morning about 1915
O'Clock on the new bridge being built
over Licking River, between Covington
and Newport, KY, opposite Cincinnati.
The bridge is being constructed for the
Kenton and Campbell County Land
Company by the King Iron Bridge
Company. 1t was begun last fall and
two spans of 100 feet each had been
completed.
About fifty men were ON the false
work putting in the iron braces for the
floor when suddenly the entire structure
gave way, carrying the men down
with it. Not a stick of the false work
remained, and the river was filled with
timber and iron work, with men strug-
Cling for life.
By 12 O'Clock twenty two bodies had
been taken out, and the work was push
ed with vigor.
The accident is supposed to be due to
the heavy weight of the iron floor sup
ports, the false work not being strong
enough.
The contractors were Baird Bros, of
Pittsburg, and are the same who put
up the Memphis bridge. Both killed.
Thomas Brown, General Inspector of
the work, says: l can not state posi-
lively the cause of the accident, but it
is my belief that it was caused by a
lack of bracing in the piling. The piles
were forty feet long, and had been
driven into the river bed ten feet AS
the water was high we were unable to
get proper braces in place. I think
there must be thirty feet of water in
the channel. Only two panels of IRON
were in position at the time of the acci-
dent. All of the men employed were
insured by the contractors in the En-
ployes' Insurance Company. The COM
pany agrees to protect the constructors
against all damage claims. Think the
average amount of insurance on each
man killed is $1,000. Baird Brothers
have been very successful bridge build
ers. There were four of them, and two
were killed in the accident They are
married men and have families. They
had never before met with such q dis
astrous accident.
When the crash came it was but a
few moments until the banks were lined
with people. A big portion of the false
work was submerged and with it were
the unfortunate workmen.
The scene was a horrible one. In a
moment the air was filled with the
shrieks of the dead and dying. Those
who could free themselves from the
tangled network of timber struggled to
the surface of the water, and tried to
get to shore. One after another gave
up the desperate and uneven struggle
and sank into the muddy water. AL
though the banks were crowded, not a
soul could go to the rescue of the poor
fellows. AS soon as possible police and
volunteers went to work to get out the
dead and dying.
Among the first to be taken out was
one of the Baird brothers. He was in
horrible condition, his back being
crushed and broken. Next to be taken
from the water was John Sponsor He
was wedged in among lot of timber,
a piece of which had been driven en-
tirely through his body.
Although the excitement caused by
the accident was intense, there was a
noticeable absence of the heart rending
scenes usually accompanying such ca.
tastrophes, most of the men being
strangers, and few had wives or child.
rem on the ground to add their grief to
the pitiable scene.
Many of the killed were frightfully
disfgured. One of the victims taken
out was horrible object. A hole had
been made through the chest into the
lungs, his skull crushed and blood
spurted from his eyes, ears and mouth
Few spectators were in the vicinity
when the terrible catastrophe occurred,
A few idle men were sitting on the riv'
er bank watching the work, little think
ing of the terrible danger so near.
Suddenly the vast mass of timber
was seen to topple over, and almost in
stantly the entire structure went down
All eye witnesses describe the collapse
of the bridge as sudden and thrilling
in the extreme.
At the place where the disaster oc
! Cured the river is about one hundred
yards wide. The bridge has two piers
one on each bank, and the iron spar
leading from the street on the Coving
ton side is about completed.
The bridge has had an unfortunat,
history. The work has been greatly
delayed at times by city ordinances ant
official action, and several men wer,
injured by falling from the trestle worl
prior to today's disaster.
An Opinion Of Weight.