Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-12-16
4 RATED BRIDGE!
A Long Descent to Death by
Drowning and MangIing. II.
The Last and Worst of Series of
Awful sCatastrophes Attending
the Bridges Construction.


By the Associated Press. EA4 q
LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec. ia few
minutes past 10 O'Clock this morning
the false work and that part of the mid
die span OF the Louisville and Jefferson
vile bridge being put in place gave
way and with it all the workmen were
precipitated ITO feet into the river be-
low. 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 giving way of the false work. The
accident was horrible one and is the
last of a long list OF catastrophes which
have marked the construction of the
bridge.
The foreman in beginning work no.
ticed that during the night traveller"
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.
IsThe wind was high at the time and the
gentle sway of the false work gradually
forced the "traveIer" off the piles on
which it was resting. When the end
slipped the whole work tremb 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 COW
cred by mass of iron and tim ber of
other bents which fell almost imme-
diately, 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 fifteen
minutes after the other parts went
down.
As near as can be ascertalned there
we're ffty-one 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 who went town some were COW
cred in the mass of timber from be-
meath which it will be days before their
bodies are recovered.
The first crash when the center bent
gave way was at 10 rs and 1t was then
that the greatest number of fatalities
occurred. A few minutes later a bent
on which there was but little of the
bridge proper gave way on the Indiana
side. In this it is believed but one un-
known man was killed. He was caught
by rope and dragged beneath the wa
ter.
The crash attracted the atten ton OF
those on the shore and many turned
away their eyes as they saw the men
struggling in midair in their mad ef.
forts to climb out of danger. When the
mass of material struck the water all
were concealed for an instant by spray
thrown high into the air.. AS the wa
ter subsided here and there could be
seen men struggling desperately tc
climb up on the timbers that thrust
their ends above the water. A few sue
ceeded in clinging to pieces in safety
and were quickly rescued by boats put
out from the shore. Others struggled
desperately and were carried off by the
current to sink almost as rescue was al
hand. A few minues after the accident
news was sent to all parts of the city.
Near the bridge lived the wives anG
children Of many workingmen. These
were soon on the river bank and many
were wild with grief and rushed fran
tically about wringing their hands ano
tearing their hair. .tG
To whose door must be laid the re
i sponsibility, will probably never be
I known. It was doubles only one O
those unforeseen accidents that occur ir
spite of all precautionary measures
The general opinion ascribes the cause