The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-12-16
A SCORE OF DEAD.
Appalling Accident o. the Bridge
Between Louisville, KY, and
Jacksonville, Ind.
The Main Span Fell and Forty
Workmen We're Precipitated
Into the River.
Twenty-Five We're Killed and the
Others Badly Injured-How
1t Happened.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec. 16.-At 1915
a. m. a whole span of the Jacksonville
bridge fell. The bridge is now under
construction by the Phonixville Bridge
company, of Ph9nixyille, Pa. Fifty
men were at work on the bridge, all of
whom were precipitated into the river.
The bridge has been under construc-
ton for q number of years. Several
times work has been suspended for the
lack of funds. Two years ago the Ma
sonic Savings bank failed because of its
connection with the bridge company.
Recently financial assistance was OBJ
tanned and work was resumed. Three
years ago, in constructing the piers, a
dreadful accident happened at the
c~aisson, resulting in the death of II men.
Accidents have been frequent, and from
first to last it is said that so men have
been killed.
Twenty-Five Killed.
The span which fell would have been
finished in the afternoon. After the
traveller" had been fastened to the tiers
there would have been no danger from
the wind.
AT IL o'clock it was known 25 men
had been killed, 70 many dead bodies
had been recovered. The bodies were
most horribly mangled. AT that hour
the number of wounded could not be
ascertained, though the number was
known to be large.
The shocking accident was witnessed
by men employed along the river front
and on the boats plying up and down
the river.
The ferry company at once sent two
boats to assist in securing the bodies OF
the dead and dying, and rescuing the
workmen still alive.
cause of the Accident.
The accident was due to the insecure
placing of the ''traveler" at night. The
wind still further loosened it, and in the
morning the order was given to draw il
back into its place and the engines were
started. The wind was high, and the
swaying of the false works forced the
''traveler" from the piles ON which ii
was placed. When the end slipped of
the men realized their danger. The
engineer called to the men and 10 of the
81 on tie span escaped. Forty-one fell
10 feet into the water,
OniciaIs Refuse to Talk.
The officials of the bridge were soon
on the ground but refused 10 answer
any questions put to them. Both banks
of the river were crowded with people.
Many women were in the throngs and il
was apparent there were present the
wives and children of those who had
gone down to death. Three patrol
wagons were kept busy and the guards
We're assisted by the fire department in
carrying off the dead and injured. The
wagon could not go to and from the hos.
pital fast enough to receive those taken
from the river.
The only street leading to the ap-
proaches to the bridge is Campbell
street. Here the throng rushed toward
the bridge, which became SO dense that
only with the greatest difficulty could
the police keep the passageway from
being completely blocked.
The injured were brought to the city
hospital at the rate of about one q min
ute. AT 11:15 seven men had been
brought. All were unconscious, and as
a result their names could not be
learned. Some. of them were colored.
The disaster took place ON the Indiana
side of the river.
Say b Were mt Work.
JEFFERsoNvILLE, Ind, Dec. 16.-One
hundred and fifty men were at work on
the bridge when it went down. But G.
are accounted for.