The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-16
HoE The Big Louisville Bridge Mas
Wrecked Yesterday.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE HISTORY
Tho Number Of Dead VIII probably Not
10 Known for Several Days--1he
Iron G'rdies twisted on Like Paste
board.


mast 10 Yesterday the false work and that
part of the middle span of the Louisville
aud Jeifersonvile bridge company gave
way and, with all the workmen, was precip-
itated no feet into the water below There
was but a moments warning, and those
who escaped going down with the mass of
iron and timber started for the piers after
the first trembling that indicated the Civ
ing away OF the false work.
The accident was a horrible one and is
the last OF n long list of castastrophes
that have marked the construction of this
bridge. The foreman, in beginning work,
noticed that during the night the tray
eler'' which had been put In place had
been worked loose by the winds An or
der TO draw it back into place was given
) and the men and engines started.
The wind was high and the gentle sway
gradually forced the traveller of the piles
on which il was resting. When the end
slipped the whole work trem bled, and the
men, realizing their danger, started for
the piers. As luck would have it the
central bent was the first TO give way, and
the men on this bent went down TO be
covered by the mass Of iron and timber of
the bents which fell almost Immediately
after, carrying with them the other work
men who failed TO reach the piers.
Fifty Men Went Down.
The north bent, or the one attached to
the Indiana pier, did not fall for Is min
utes after the other parts went down. AS
near as can be ascertained there were 81
men on the bridge when the alarm was
given by the engineer in charge of the
work OF this number several succeeded
in reaching the piers OF those that went
down some were covered by a mass of
timbers, and it will be several days before
their bodies are recovered.
The first crash when the center bent
gave way was at 1905 o'clock, and it was
then that the great number Of fatalities
occurred. A few minutes later bent on
which there was but little of the bridge
proper gave way on the Indiana side. On
this it is believed that but one unknown
man was killed. He was caught by rope
and dragged beneath the water.
When the huge mass of material struck
the water all was concealed for an instant
by the spray that was thrown high in the
air. AS the water subsidized, here and
there could be seen men struggling des-
perately to climb up on the timbers that
thrust their ends above the water. A few
safety, and were quickly rescued by boats
that put out from the shores. Others
struggled desperately, and were carried
off by the current to sink almost as rescue
was at hand.e
Sad Scenes.
Near the bridge the families Of many
workmen live. Those were soon at the
river bank. Many were wild with grief,
and rushed frantically about wringing
their hands and tearing their hair. The
Office Of the bridge company on Campbell
street was besieged with anxious mothers
and wives inquiring for their loved ones.
Half an hour after the accident there
were ut least 2000 people on the river bank,
and as the news spread they still poured
in in steady stream towards the place
of the accident. TO whose doors must be
laid the responsibility for the terrible dis
nster will probably never be known. Ii is
one of those Unforeseen accidents that
occur in spite of all precautionary
measures. The workmen whose labors
are utilized in the work practically take
S their lives in their own hands
General opinion ascribes the cause of
4 the disaster TO the stiff wind that had
been sweeping the river all day. II bore
with great force on the. ponderous frame
work which necessarily became loosen ed
from the constant strain and swaying of
the heavy timbers.
No Allowance For Wind.
That the structure was otherwise than
Eafe never occurred 70 either the en-
vineers In charge or the workmen. Every
precaution had been employed to insure
The stability OF the framework, and the
snly thing lacking, as the accident proved,
was the failure TO take into consideration
the action of the wind, the force of which
was persistent and powerful.
To the great traveller alluded to is
directly attributed the falling of the span.
The constant wind bore it from its resting
place on the last pier but one of the
Jacksonville side. The displacement
was discovered and the work OF putting it
back in place was begun, but il was too
late The center of the great span began
20 sink before the work was accomplished.
The wind had done its work, and the
heavy engines near the pier went crash
ing down TO the water, carrying with
them the mass Of humanity mixed in
horrible confusion with the timbers and
iron.
The partial span, the last one, did not
fall until 20 minutes after the first had
BVliE NDW H. DAt ~ W Ao lnC UlTttt Ttrull OI
the falling Of the first. The great strain
occasioned by the sundcring and rending
OF the bridge naturally committed itself TO
the unfinished span, and IL took the plunge
like the first into the water, but, being
mostly framework, did not sink, but
fonted slowly down the river There
were said to be- four men on it when il
fell, and one was undoubtedly killed.
The small traveller on this span foated
down several hundred yards and then
grounded. the heavy timbers spintercd
like matches. showing the terrific force of
the fall
Iron girders Weighing many tons were
twisted like one might twist piece Of
wire into every conceivable shape. and
lay with the timbcrs and huge pieces OF
iron and lumber In an extricablc mass
The span would have been completed by
yesterday afternoon. and after the traveller
e<d been fastened 20 the pier there would
have been mo- danger of the wind or the
current breaking Il down. A pile driver
80