The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-12-16
DOWN TO. THEIR DEATH
Workman Crushed In tho Fall Of the
Louisville and Jacksonville Bridge
THE KILLED AND INJURED
The History OF This Bridge Series
OF Disasters of All KInds-A
Last List of Killed. Miss
ing and Injured.

LOUISVILLE, Dec. I5.-A a few minutes
past 10 o'clock this morning tho false
work and that part of tho middle span Of
the Louisville and Jetfersonville Bridge
company which was in place, gave way
and all the workmen was precipitated 10
feet into the water below. There was but
q moments warning, and those who GO.
capped going down with the mass of iron
aud timber, started for the piers after tho
first trembling that indicated the giving
way of the false work. The accident was
horrible ono and IL tho last of long
list of catastrophcs that have marked the
construction of the bridge. The foreman,
in beginning work. noticed during the
night "a traveller" which had been put
in place last night had been worked
loose by tho wind. The order to draw II
back into place was given, and men and
engines started. The wind was high nj
the time, and the gentle sway Of the false
work gradually forced the traveller of Of
the piles on which il was resting. When
the end slipped the whole work trembled,
and the men. realizing their danger,
started for tho piers. As luck would have
II the central bent was the first 10 give
way. and the men on this bent went down
TO be covered by the mass OF iron and tim
Der Of the other bents, which fell almost
immediately, carrying with them other
workmen who failed to reach the piers.
The north bent, the one attached to the
Indiana pier, did not fall for Is minutes
after the other parts went down.
As near as can be ascertained there
were 81 on the bridge when the alarm was
given by the engineer in charge of tho
work. or this number several succeeded
in reaching the piers. OF those who went
down some were covered by a mass
of timber from beneath which il will be
days before their bodies are recovered.
The first crash. when the center gave way, 1,
was at 10:a5, and it was then that tho
great number Of fatalities occurred. A
few minutes latera bent on which thero
was but little of the bridge proper gave
way on the Indiana side. In this II is be-
lieved but ono unknown man was killed.
lie was caught by rope and dragged be-
meath the water. The crash attracted the
attention of those on shore, and many
turned their eyes away as they saw mon
struggling in mid air in their mad Efforts
to climb out of danger. When the
mass Of material struck the water oil were
concealed for an instant by tho spray
tHToNh bish iiito the m thS "otet
subsidized here and there could bo seen
men struggling desperately to climb upon
the timbcrs that thrust their ends above
the water. A few succeeded i'm clinging Ia
pieces in safety and were quickly rescued
struggled desperately and were carried of
by the current, to sink almost as rescue
was as hand. A few minutes afterwards
news was sent to all parts of the city
Near the bridge lived the wives and chill
dren of many workmen. These were soou
OH the river bank. Many were wild with
grief and rushed frantically about, wiring.
ing their hands and tearing their hair.
To whose door must be laid the respon-
sibility will never be known probably
Doubtless il was only one of those unfor,
seen accidents that occur In spite of all
precautionary measures. The general
opinion ascribes the disaster to the stiff
wind which had been sweeping the river
all day. 1t bore with great force on the
ponderous frame work, which necessarily
became loosened from the constant strain
and sv hying OF the heavy timbers.
great number of people before the frs
span fell could see the great "traveier'
rising so feet above the piers, swaying and
quivcring in the wind in what appeared t.
he a most alarming manner to those or
the shore. Tho motion, however, wat
hardly noticeable to the workmen anc
they had no idea Of their deadly peril nm
| ill the great mass of wood and iron begar
TO sink and the awful cracking and crash
| ing of the timbers smotc their ears.
George W. Brown, one of the foremcr
| in charge Of eight men. had n remarkable
and thrilling experience. When the crasl
came nine men made dash for the Ken
| tucky side of the bridge. Before the,
reached safety the span fell aud the work
men were precipitated into tho river
Brown displayed remarkable presence o
mind. Hc held his breath during the fal
and remembers going TO the bottom Of III,
river. Tho debris pilcd above him, but hs
managed to crawl from under. He is an
expert swimmer, but discovered that hi
left arm was broken in three places. IA,
managed, h ovever. 10 grasp n fioatin,
piece of timber with his right arm ans
| iloated down the river until rescued. II,
says that while clinging to tho timber
two men came up near him and aftei
struggling an instant, sank ont OF sight
lie saw several struggling men in ih,
water. who sank out OF sight before hell
reached there.
James Trent, painter who resides il
this city. was on the span ~ feet from the
pier nearest tho Kentucky shore when h,
| heard peculiar crunching noise. He
with Ernest Miller, Robert Wooifortl
Charles Popo and workman name,
Carter, all ran for their lives toward th,
pier, and all succeeded in reaching q SAT,
foothold on the masonry, when the spaI
| went down with fearful crash. Tren