The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-06-22


morning the false work of the new
bridge being built over the Licking
river between Covington and Newport
fell, carrying down with it sixty-three
men. The first estimate Of the number
of lives lost was thirty, but later re-
ports make the total number twenty
eight Among them were Andrew and
Albert Baird, the contractors
The construction Of the bridge was
begun early last fall and it is to be used
for foot passenger and street railway
traffic. Two piers had boen completed
and the work of fixing the heavy pieces
of iron in place had begun. A track
from the Newport side had been run
out on the first piece to the heavy iron.
The false work ran up fifty feet from
the water
When the crash came it was but
few moments until both banks were
lined with people. A big portion of the
false work was submerged, and with 1t
were the unfortunate worlmen. The
scene was horrible one. In a minute
the air was filed with the shrieks of the
injured and dying Those who could
free themselves from the tangled net
work of timber struggled to the surface
of the water and tried to get ashore.
One after another gave up the desperate
struggle and sank into the muddy
water. Though the banks were crowded,
not 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. It was agrewsome
task. Among the first to be taken out
was one of the Baird Bros, contractors
His body was in a 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 on the Newport
side. The man died horrible death, q
log weighing q couple Of hundred
pounds crashing through his abdomen,
driving il through his back The look
of pain on his face was horrible, and ST.
lently told of the terrible torture the
poor fellow suffered before he died.
One unknown man was taken out on
the Covington side. He was found
wedged in so tightly that portion Of
his hand had to be chopped off before
he could be taken out All Of the dead
bodies presented terrible pictures The
bones were crushed, broken and splint-
cred and in many instances were forced
through the flesh, presenting sicken-
ing sight
The terrible calamity is due to the re-
cent heavy rains The traveller was
seventy feet high and the false work
sixty feet Two men were at work on
the top cord Of the false work when the
crash came. They fell into tho river,
but escaped with few scratches. They
were J. F. Lynch, colored, and Bruce
Conas Lynch fell with the bridge and
landed on top Of it. Conas fell under
meath the work, but escaped with few
bruises
Superintendent Sullivan says there
were sixty-three men at work on the
bridge when the crash came. Those
who escaped were on the upstream
side Of the work, which is 10 the south.
They fell with the wreck, but fortu-
nately fell on top Of it. Those on the
downstream side fell under the wreck
age and were killed or injured. II is
certain that those who can not be found
are lying at the bottom Of the Licking
river.
Thomas Brown, general inspector Of
the work says: 81 cannot state posi-
lively the cause of the accident, but it
is my belief that II was caused by lack
of bracing in the piling. The piles
across the Licking 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. Only two panels Of iron were in
position at the time OF the accident
The contractors, Baird Bros, had in
sured the lives of all their employees in
the Employees Insurance Company. The
company agrees TO protect the contrac-
tors against all damage claims. The
average amount Of insurance on each
man killed is $1,000.
Baird Bros. had been very success
full bridge builders. There were four Of
them and two Of them were killed in
the accident. They are married men Of
family and are quite wealthy. They
had just completed the great cantilever
bridge at Memphis, which is the largest
in the world, with one exception. The
property loss is $40, 1000"
Following is list Of the killed and
injured:
Killed Richard German, Coyington; Thomas
Burke, Ohio; william Hartner JenersoVile
Ind. John O'Neai, Covngtot. Charles Scram
ton: Robert Baird, Cleveland Thomas Down.
ing Newport: Dick SpOouer, Newport; Fred
Brent, Cincinnati; Charles Duveneck, Newport:
James Johnson, George Burge, N. w. Burton,
Dennis Harlow, B H. Helps, q. W Pia1enbach,
B Thomas Pittsburgh
Mlssing-FrAnk Muir Charles Tarr, William
Barton, william Avis Harry Kramer. g. r.
Sheehan Is. Krause Ed Nolan, Ed Sullivan,
Dan Brinkley. Pat Murray, j J. Murray.
Fatally iujured-Andrew Baird, Cleveland;
William Wilson, inspector: John Phillips, New.
port; Elmer Barber W. d. Robe Henry Born
Besides these there are twenty-eight others
who received serious but not fatal wounds.