The herald., 1893-12-16
A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
Collapse of the Big Bridge at
Louisville, KY.
Fifty-One Men Carried Down
with the Wreck.
The Majority of Them Drowned or
Seriously Injured.
The Third Great Accid ent in the History
or the Structure-The EnterpEise
also Fraught with Finan-
cial Disaster.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec. 15.-A few min
utes past 10 O'Clock this morning the
false work and that part of the raiddle
span OF the Louisville and JeffersOnville
bridge, in place, gave way, and with it
many workmen were precipitated ITO
feet into the river below. There was
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 giving way Of the false work. The
accident was horrible one. and is the
last OF long list of catastrophes that
have marked the construction of the
bridge.
WRECKED BY THE WIND.
The foreman, in beginning work, no.
ticed that during the night ''traveler'
which had been put in place last night,
had been worked loose by the wind. An
order to draw it back into place was
given, and men and engines started to
do so. The wind was high at the time
and the gentle sway of the false work
piles on which it was resting. When
the end slipped. the whole work trem-
bled and the men realized heir danger
and started for the piers. As ill-luck
would have it, the central bent was Ii ret
to give way, and the men on this bent
went down to be covered by the mass of
iron and timber of the other bents
which fell almost Immediately, carrying
with them other workmen who failed TO
reach the piers. The north bent, or the
one attached to the Indiana pier, did
not fall for Is minutes after the other
parts went down.
MORE THAN FORTY VICTIMS.
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.
Oh those who went down some were Gov
cred by mass OF timber, from beneath
which it will be days before their bodies
are recovered.
THE AWFUL CRASH.
The first crash, when the center bent
gave way, was at 1925, and it was then
that the great number of fatalities oc-
Cured. A few minutes later bent on
which there was but little of the bridge
proper, gave way on the Indiana side.
In this it is believed but one unknown
man was killed. He was caught by q
rope and dragged beneath the water.
The crash attracted the attention of
those on shore, and many turned away
their ey es as they saw men struggling in
mid air in mad efforts to climb out of
danger. When the mass of material
struck the water all were concealed for
an instant by the spray thrown high
into the air. AS the water subsidc,t
here and there could be seen men strug
Cling desperately to climb upon timbrl
that thrus. their ends above the water
A few succeeded in clinging to pieces In
safety, and were quickly rescued b.
boats that put out from the shores. 9th
ers struggled desperately and were car
ried off by the current to sink almost as
rescue was at hand.
GRIEF. STRICKEN FAMILIES.
few minutes after the accident news
was sent to all parts of the city. Near
the bridge lived the families OF many
workmen. TheGe were soon on the
bank. Many were wild with grief acd
rushed frantically about wringlng their
hands and tearing their hair.
NO ONE RESPONSIBLE.
To whose door must be laid the re-
sponeibility will never be known, prob
ABLY. Doubtless this was only one OF
those unforeseen accidents that occur IL
spite of all precautionary measures.
General opinion ascribes the cause OF
disaster to the stiff wind that had been
sweeping the river all day. II bore with
great iorce on the ponderous framework,
which necessarily became loosened from
the strain and the swavlng of the heavy
timber. great number OF people. be-
fore the 6rst span fell, could see the
great traveller rising Sc feet above this
piers, swaying and quivering in the
wind in what appeared to be most
alarming manner 30 those on shore.
The motion, however, was hardly feis
by the workmen, who had no idea OF
their peril until the great mase OF wood
and iron began to sink and the awful
cracking and crashing OF the timbers
smote their ears.
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
George w. Brown, foreman in charge
of eight men, had remarkable ani
thrilling experience. When the era
came the nine men made dash for 4
Kentucky side of the bridge. Beio,
they reached place of safety the sps
fell and the workmen we're precipitate
into the river. Brown displayed r.
marksble presence of mind. He hel
his breath during the fall, and remen
bsrs going to the bottom of the rivs
Debris piled above him, but he ma
aged to crawl from under. He is an ra
pert swimmer, but discovered that hl
lett arm was broken in three places. H.
managed. however, to grasp floatiRe
piece OF timber with his right arm ard
fioated down the river until rescued
He savs while he was clinging to the
timber, two men came up near him, aus
sitter struggling an instant sank ont ~
sight. He saw several struggling in tts
water who ssnk out of sight before help
reached them. IS
FEW WHO WERE SAVED.
JameA Trant n main ter " ho reaf6na