The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-12-21
THIRTY-FIVE.
The Number Lost in the r.n,,Ig-
vile Bridge Disaster.
Xheir Eodies Pinned Down by Tinbcrs-
Morning Breaks on Desolat. Scene
Relatives Awaiting the Norst-Tho
Bridge Co. Will Ds J,nnl.ruotea.

| JEFFERsoSvILLE, Ind, Dec 1S.-The
scene of the Louisville and jefferson
vile bridge calamity Saturday morn
ing battles description Only con-
glomeration OF iron and tim meets
the eye. Saturday morning thousands
locked to the wharf and looked in
| anazcment at the effects of the catas-
trophe. Many wives whose husbands
were employed on the structure could
be seen among the throng awaiting in
expectancy to learn their fate
No bodies we're discovered Saturday,
but it is said that no less than thirty-
five bridge hands are under the debris.
The Phoenix Bridge Co. is using all Of
its energy to clear the wreckage so
that the bodies can be brought to the
surface.
All bodies when rescued will be taken
to Louisville, where they will be pre-
pared Tor burial 1t is said that tho
calamity will not only prove disastrous
to the Phoenix Bridge Co., but it will
likely bankrupt the trlu.
Bridge men look upon the disaster as
the worst that has happened in bridge
building in this country. The bridge
proper was to be completed by January
l, 1894, consequently a large force OF
men were employed on the structure.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Dec. is. After the
fall of q span Of the Louisville and
Jeifersonville bridge Friday, carrying
down so worl.men, the banks OF the
river were lined with Mortified specta-
tors, and the ferry boats carried thou
sands out to the scene, and under sec
ond part Of The bridge whore an unseen
danger lurlicd
When night had covered with her
sable mantle the gaunt timbers, and
the chaos OF wrecllage, another span Of
the bridge came crashing down, entire
~ blocking the river. Providence
stayed this second wreck until after
dark Had the SPIN fallen while the
ferr.q boats were steamin3 underneath,
the loss Of life would have been
doubled.
The crew at the lifc-saying station
worked like beavers and dashed right
into the wreci1agc to save the nuined
and the drowning. 1t is settled fact
that the high wind loosened the trav-
eler, which i'll topping over, carried
the span with It. Eighteen are known
to have been killed, and thirteen are
badly hurt. The river may give up
more OF the dead.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Dec. 1S.-General
Foreman Mckee has a large force of
men at work at the scene of Fridays
disaster.
At the scene everything IS in con-
fusion, and the work of recovering the
bodies will be rapidly pushed until all
are found The impression IS that not
many of the bodies are entanglod in the
debris, but have 1loated away and have
probably gone over the falls.
The boIies that go over the falls, and
do not lodge at the island or at Port;
land dixie, nay loaf many miles down
ile river before they arc recovered.
The iron and steel. in an ertangled
mass, now lies 40 feet below the top
OF the piers. The ferrytoat W. G. Hite
had a narrow escape whan the span
fell
The injured are confined in q sep
arate ward in the now part OF the city
hospital and are receiving the best at
tention. 1t is thought all will recover.
The inquest will probably not be held
for several days,