Connecticut western news., 1893-12-21
BRIDGE DISASTER.
PERHAPS FORTY klLLEDlN THE LOU
 ISvILLE ACCIDENT.

One Hundred workmen Were on the
 Structure When 1t Fell, and Many Were
 tom of the Ohio River.
 CINCINNATI, Dec 16-The great bridge over the Ohio from this city to Jefferson vile, Ind, has played the role of a devour- ing monster since it's very beginning. With the breaking of the caissons 21 human lives were sacrificed in one group. Since then one life after another has been yielded up to the monster until the number yesterday morning counted 12 more, making the vic tims of the bridge 33. It seemed to all that this cost of blood was enough. More than 100 men went on the great span over the channel of the Ohio full of confidence in the false work which stood between their work on the great iron span of no feet and the merciless waters of the river below.
 All unheralded, from a cause not fore seen and as yet not clearly known, the false work proved tragically false. With 8 roar that made lockers on shudder the work crumb bled under it's load of iron. Of the 100 or more men on the span that went down about 55 escaped to the tops of the piers and were rescued. It is believed that over 45 went into the river. How many of these were lost cannot in the present con- fusion. be definitely learned. It Is feared the number will reach 40. The best that any one dare hope is that it will not be oyer 25.
 The foreman, in beginning work, noticed that during the night the "traveler," which had been put in place Thursday night, had been worked loose by the winds. A few moments later 8 bent on which there was very little of the bridge proper gave way on the Indiana side In this it is believed that but one unknown man was killed. He was caught by a rope and dragged beneath the water. The crash attracted the atten- tion of those on the shore, and many turned away their eyes as they saw the men strug- gling in midair in their mad efforts to climb out of danger.
 When the Crash Came.
 When the huge mass of material struck the water, all was concealed for an instant by the spray that was thrown high in the air. Assthe water subsided here and there could be seen men struggling desperately to climb upon the timbers that thrust their ends above the water. A few succeeded in clinging to the place of safety and were quickly rescued by boats that put out from the shores. Others struggled desperately and were carried off by the current, to sink almost as rescue was at hand.
 General opinion ascribes the cause of the disaster to the stiff wind that had been sweeping the river all day. It bore with great force on the ponderous framework, which necessarily became loosened from the constant strain and swaying of the heavy timbers. A great number of people before the first span fell could see the great f,3w ol~ swaying and quivering in the wind in what appeared to be most alarming manner to those on shore. The motion, however, was hardly noticeable to the workmen, and they had no idea of their deadly peril until the great mass of wood and iron began to sink, and the awful cracking and crashing of the timbers smote upon their ears
 Caused by tho Wind.
 To the great "traveler" alluded to Is d. rectly attributed the falling of the span The constant wind bore it from it's resting place on the last pier but one on the Jeffer- sonville side. The displacement was dis covered, and the work of putting it back in place was begun, but it was too late The center of the great span began to sink before the work was accomplished. The wind had done its work, and the heavy engines near the pier went crashing down to the water, carrying with them the mass of humanity, mixed in horrible confusion with the timbers and iron.
 The history of the Louisville and Jeffer- sonville Bridge company is a series of dis asters, financial and otherwise It was originally projected in 1879, and failure overlook it in its very incipienoy. In 1888 it was revived under a new charter and ground was broken in October, 1SS9 Two caisson accidents took place during the building of the piers. The first was caused by the cupidity of stbcontractor who en- gagged himself as an expert when he was without experience. The contractors were deceived by representations which he made He allowed the air to escape from the cais- son, and the water rushed in, drowning IA men.
 LOUISVILLE, Dec. 1a-Work was con- tinued at the scene of Fridays bridge dis aster, and large force of men is at work clearing away the wreckage in the search for the bodies of the missing men. Only one body was found.