The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-16

From the start misfortune has attended the
bridge and its projectors. This last accident
is the most terrible. but four years ago when
the caissons were being sunk, fourteen men
were drowned at one time. Two or three
months later six others lost their lives
the financial Danio then began. and work
had to be suspended because OF the bank
ruptcy OF Jacob Krieger. President OF the
bridge company. and the failure Of the
Masonic Savings Bank. OF which he was also
President.
II was believed. and 1t turned out to be true.
that Krieger was involving the bank In the
struggle to build the bridge. and the runs
which resulted soon forced the bank Into an
Ssysd snd not only KfsSsr bSt al the he
stockholders lost every cent invested In the
bank.
few m nths ago made contracts by which the
completion OF the structure was guaranteed
by, the PhGnix Bridge Company OF Phoenix
Ever since work was, resumed there have
10 Eheh men We're ERE Killed or
The cause OF this morning disaster cannot
be definitely, stated, but there seems little
taxing terrible risk. workmen say the false
work under the span had been settling for
every nerve 10 complete the span before It
A high wind sprang up this morning and
caused the weak structure to give way. The
bridge people say the wind alone was TO blame,
and that the breaking Of the span was caused
great mass Of frame work. 10 feet high By 20
it Is moved on a track on the bridge. and has
no other supports. When the wind spranR up
snls Sbraton e wssi meers segan rSeEpg
When the end slipped the whole work trem-
started for the piers. The central bent Was ths
first to give way. and the men on this bent
iron and timber OF the other bents. which fell
almost Immediately. ,earrying with them the
safety on the piers. The north bent or the one
attached to the Indiana pier, did not fall for
fifteen minutes after the other parts went
bridge when the alarm was given by the en-
gineer in charge Of the work. OF those that
timber. from beneath which It will be days be-
fore their bodies are recovered
The first crash when the centre bent gave way
was at 1925, and then it was that the great
number OF fatalities occurred. few minutes
later bent. on which there was but little OF
the bridge proper, gave way on the Indiana
eide. In this it is believed that but one man
lie was caught by a rope and dragged be-
meath the. water. The crash attracted the at
tention OF those, on the shore. and many
struggling in mid-air In their mad efforts tg TO
climb out Of danger,
When the huge mass Of material struck the
spray that was thrown high into the air. As
the water subsidized. here and there could be
the timbers that thrust their ends above the
water.
safety, and were quickly rescued by boats that
put out from the shore. Others struggled
desperately, and were carried on by the cur
rent 10 sink almost AS rescue was at hand,
The wounded were soon removed to places OF
safety. and as quickly as possible a tugboat
was chartered and put TO work removing the
Little progress was made at this. however.
and no bodies were recovered this afternoon
Those that we're picked up were found soon
cage who had both legs and hip broken. and
o, ". CooE, Mantua Station, Ohio, Internally
O'clock T. Nj, and Cook an hour earlier -
The bridge was cantilsyer OF five spans |
Two shore spans one on each side, were 200
are three channel spans, two Of $50 feet each
and one Of 5o3 feet. One Of the $50 foot spans
has not hsen Ipefqn' and Il was one Of the 55l.
foot which fell this morning, The other fell
Tn The one Tnloh fell this morning would have
said about tho false work being poorly con-
stTucJed. one Of the men who was on the |
bridge and who fell but miTaeulonslY escaped. !
" We All feared that false work Ii Is the |
compsny's fault entirely. | don't know how |
al the bottom Of the river nov.
work 81 the bridge was bIaeed 81 the TIMERS Sa
which forty ieot was without 6raeIng.
The piling had been In the water a long time
1ss links remained 10 be xed tS aomSIstatbs
span when the supporting structure gave way.
1; Is reported the bridge people realized that |
ing the work IN order 70 complete the 4
connections. and thus make the iron |
moved. And the strain. together with ths