Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-12-20
PLUNGE INTO ETERNITY.
Fall Of One Span Of the Ohio River Bridge
Near Louisville, Ky.

"
Near Louisville. N
| LOUISVILLE, Ky, Dec. 15.-Twenty-ffve
persons met death to-day by the fall of
one Of the massive spans of mammoth
| bridge being constructed over the Ohio
River at Jefersonville. The victims
were crushed by the falling iron beams
or carried to Watery graves in the swift
running stream below, and only few
| bodies have been recovered.
At late hour men who were on the
bridge when the crash occurred state
that fully 100 men were on the span. If
this statement is true the loss of life will
reach fifty or sixty.
The bridge has been under const true
ton for number of years. The con-
tract is in the hands of the Phenixvilie
Bridge Company, Of brownsville, Pa.
Several times work has been suspended
for lack of funds. Two years ago the
Masonic Savings Bank failed because of
its connection with the bridge COM
pany. Recently financial assistance
was obtained and work was resumed.
Three years ago, in constructing the
piers, an accident happened at the
caisSOn resulting in the death Of twelve
men. Accidents have been frequent
from first to last, and it is said fifty men
have been killed.
This morning 1870 men went to work
on the bridge at the usual hour. There
was no evidence of weakness in the span
that later proved fatal. Suddenly there
was q shout of warning, a cry of
horror and a rending of iron beams, q
crack of timbers, and the span fell.
torty-One men went down with the
wreck, straight into the river and NOV
ing ice 10 feet below.
The accident was due to the insecure
placing of the ''traveler" last night.
The wind still further loosened it and
this morning the order was given to
draw it back into it's place and the en-
gines were started. The wind was high
and the swaying Of the false
work forced the traveller from the
piles on which it was placed. When
the end slipped off the men realized
their danger The engineer called to
the men, and ten of the fifty-one on the
span escaped.
The bridge timbers and false work,
iron and mangled humanity are lying
in a heap in the river. Several thou
sand people line the shore on either
spot of the disaster are crowded. He
role efforts are being made at rescue.
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 in
rescuing the WOrkmen still alive Bosh
banks Of the river were crowded with
people. Many women were in the
throngs and it was apparent there
were present the wives and
children of those who had gone
down to death. Three patrol
wagons were kept busy and guards were
assisted by the fire department in car
rying off the dead and injured. The
wagons could not 90 to and from the
hospital last enough to receive those
taken from the river. The only street
leading to the approaches Of the bridge
IS Campbell Street. Here the throng
rushed toward the bridge and the
crowd became SO dense that only with
the greatest difficulty could the police
keep the passageway from being com
pletely blocked.
At II O'Clock it was known twenty
five men had Oeen killed, as that many
dead bodies had been recovered. The
bodies were most horribly mangled. At
that hour the number of wounded could
not be ascertained, though it was known
to be large. The injured were brought
to the city hospital at the rate Of
about one minute. At 11:l5
seven men had been brought in.
All were unconscious and as a result
their names could not be learned.
Some Of the men were colored. The
first dead man taken out was James B.
7 e
was removed badly injured.
Many wOrkmen barely missed death
in the terrible plunge. John Leghey in
falling from the traveller caught ona rope
and lowered himself into the water.
Mike Flynn, Of St. Louis, was saved ina
similar manner. Harry Maxwell, Of
st. Louis, finding himselffalling, grasped
the edge of the pier and after the struc-
ture went from under him, drew himself
to tb % 10,