The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-16
COLLAPSE OF A BRIDGE.
THE LOSS OF LIFE LIKELY TO
FOOT UP THIRTY-FIvE

The Structure In Course of Construc-
ton Between Coviugton, o., and
Covington, Ky.--The Fall Fifty Feet
Into the Muddy Waters OF the Lick
ing River-Very Few on IL Escaped.
CINCINNATI, o., June 15.-One of the
most fearful accidents in the history Of this
vicinity was that Of the fall to-day of
bridge. which was In the course Of oonstruo-
tion over the LickiDg river, between Gov
ington and Covington. KY. Forty-ave
workmen were on the structure. SO far as
is known only two escaped unhurt. The
others were either killed by the crushing
Of tho iron and timbers, or were
drowned in the water. The cause
Of the accident is surmised to be weakening
of the wooden false work. The high river
had washed out the earth about the sup
ports, and tits claimed that one of the con-
tractors said q tlay or two ago that he was
afraid the structure would not stand under
the weight OF the heavy material. To-day
force of forty-three men, under the d.
reotion of Robert and William Baird. the
contractors, was engaged in putting in
place heavy iron work on the main span.
THE CRASH.
Suddenly there was cracking sound Of
breaking timbers, swaying Of the structure
and a headlong plunge Of the whole mass OF
timbers iron and helpless workmen into
the muddy waters OF the Licking river fifty
feet below. 1t was almost like the founder
ing of a ship. Very few forms were to be
seen struggling on the surface. the others
were drowned or crushed by the material.
In short time tho river was lined with
rescuers on both sides.
af~ ntfphk an md
about the bridge when II fell. Following Is
list Of the killed. injured and missing:
Dead-C. w. Champoix Semple, Boston;
Thomas Down, Wheeling, w. Va; an un-
known man, about 40 years old;
J. r. Roby, Rsdford City, Va. f.;
William Roby, a brother OF J. r. Roby;
Elmer Barber, Cincinnati; William Allois,
Ohio; G. f. Pafenbach, Wheeling. w. Va I;
Dick German, Dauphin, Pa. John Adams
and Frank Adams. No. Walnut street,
Cincinnati; Robert Baird of 1922 Colum-
biA street, Newport, KY; Andrew Baird of
Pittsburg, brother OF Robert;
Charles Gresham, Covington, KY,
Edward Sullivan, Ludlow, Ky; James
johnson. Havre de Grace, Md; Dennis
san, Erie, Pa; Charles Stahl,
eli, Ind; William Burton PendlotOn,
KY; Patrick Murray, Greenbrier, w. Va.
1njured-Daniel BrinklOy, Hill Station,
o.; Bruce Thomas. Indianapolis; j. e.
harrington. Newport. KY; German nick
named "Shy HooEE," name unknown;
Charles II. Wilkerson, Louisville, KY; Ben
Arnold, Nlcholasville, KY; John j. Mur-
ray, Newport; w. A. Thomas, Xenia, o. !;
John Phillips, Newport left leg broken In
three places below the knee and terrible in
ternal injuries will die; white man known
as Rabbit; c. F. Fetters. Ironton, o.; A.
Thomas, J. p. Lynch (colored, #. Burnley;
A. N. Wilson. inspector OF works; Harry
crushed. will die; Frank Wal
lace; Thomas LAWN. Covington;
Henry Kramer, Nswport Dan Binkley,
Newport; s. H. He'll. Thomas Kreyuse.
e E9Missing-Martin Luther LaGrange, KY.
Frank Mure, Newport, head carpenter;
George Burge, Coyington; n. W. Burton,
Winchester, KY. William WeslinK, New
port; Fred Brant, AS Main street, Cincin-
natl; Dick Adams, Cincinnati
Those who came oub OF the wreck unin-
! iursd, as nearly as could be learned, were:
Murray Random and James Caldwell.
Others went TO thsir homes and could not
be traced.
Nobody can give q reason for the acci-
dent. The workmen who came out OF IL
alive say there was no warning whatever.
They were busy about their usual work,
when suddenly they found themselves
iu the midst of the general wreck In the
river, 100 feet below where they had been
a moment before. Baird Brothers, the
contractors, both testified with their lives
to their confidence In the stability Of the
| structure
1t is said that two water boys Just at the
end of the falling span saved themselves by
| flight.
The bridge was being built by Cleveland
| (O.l syndicate, which has In view the build
ing and operation of belt electric line of
street cars in Covington and Newport In
connection with the Cincinnati line. 1t
crossed the river at Twelfth street, Coving-
| ton, and was Co be used for vehicles and
| foot travel as WELL