The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-12-16
FRIGHTFUL CALAMITY
Collapse of a Bridge With
Terrible Results.
MANY MEN HURLED TO DEATH
Heartrending Scenes on the River
Banks---The Dead and
Wounded.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Huntsville, Dec. ia few minutes
past 10 O'Clock this morning the false
work and that part Of the middle span
of the Louisville and Jeffersonvilie
bridge which was in place, gave way
and with all the workmen, was precipi-
tated 40 feet into the water below.
Rut a moments warning, and thus
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 catastrophies that
have marked the construction of the
bridge.
The foreman, in beginning the work,
noticed that during the night the
traveler," which had been put in place
last night, had been worked loose by
the wind. An order to draw it back to
place was given, and the engines start
ed. The wind was high at the time,
and the gentle sway of the false work
gradually forced the traveller" off the
piles on which ii was resting. When
the end Slipped tie whole work trem-
bed, and the men realizing their dam
ger, started for the piers. The central
hent was the first to give way, and the
men on This went down, to be covered
by a mass of iron and timber of other
bents, which fell almost Immediately,
carrying with them the other work
men who failed to reach the piers. The
north bent did not fall for fifteen min
utes after the other parts went down.
AS near as can be ascertained, there
were lifty-one men on the bridge when
the alarm was given by the engineer
in charge of the works. OF this num-
Der several succeeded in reaching the
piers. OF those who went down, some
We're covered by a mass of timber,
from beneath which it will be days
before their bodies are recovered.
The crash attracted the attention of
those on shore, and many turned their
eyes away as they saw the men strug-
Cling in mid-air in their 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 subsidized here
and there could be seen men struggling
desperately to climb on the timbers.
that had their ends above water.
A few succeeded in climbing to tine
piers in safety, and were quickly res
cued by boats put out from the shores.
The Others struggled desperately and
were carried off by the current to sink
almost as rescue was at hand. Near
the bridge lived the wives and children
Of many of the workmen. These were
s1on on the river bank. Many We're
wild with grief and rushed frantically
about, wringing their hands and tear
ing their hair.
To whose door must be laid the re-
sponsiollity will never be known prob
ably. Doubtless it was one of those
Unforeseen accidents that occur in spite
of all precautionary measures. The
general opinion ascribes the cause of
tie disaster to the stiff wind that had
been sweeping the river all day. 1t
lore with great force on the great
framework, which necessarily became
loosened from the constant strain and
swaying of the heavy timbers.
A great number of people before the
span fell could see the great traveller
rising eighty feet above the piers. sway
ing and qulyerlng in the wind in what
appeared TO be most alarming man
ner to those on shore. The motion.
however, was hardly noticeable TO the
"orkmen who had no idea. of their
deadly peril until the great mass
wood and iron began to sink.
At Il O'clock twenty-five bodies, hor-
rl0ly maneled, were recovered. The
number of wounded has not yet been
learned though it will be large.
As to how many We're on the span