The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-31
FATAL COLLAPSE BRIDGE
POREKlI WAS WARNED OF DANGER.
The eupports on which the TIser Rsstsd
Were Knocked Away. Frscipitsting the
Men Seventy Fest-Fsarfui Scene.

RADFORD, VA. March O.--Special--
Four men killed and as many probably
fatally injured Is In brief the result or
a terrible accident that has occurred In
Southwest Virginia.
A few minutes before 3 O'Clock tho.
community was shocked by the report
that the bridge over COnnelly's Run had
collapsed with fatal results. and within
a few minutes hundreds OF people rushed
to the scene. only to find the report vesi-
fed II was. indeed. a ghastly sight. Be
meath the debris eight men had been
and four OF the remaining nve probably
fatally hurt.
sc No OF the Disaster
The scene OF the accident was conneilys
Run, very deep ravine. midway between
East and West Radford. over this ravlne
was a very slender wooden bridge. three
hundred feet long with height OF seventy
three feet in the centre. Here IL was
that the men were at work tearing down
this old bridge. as a new steel bridge is
In course Of construction near a. over
which the new electrician line connect
INK the two wards OF the town will run.
The bridge was being taken down by
bents or sections. and about one-third OF
It was already down. and the workmen
We're on the highest portion. seventy
three feet.
How n napprhed.
The accident happened In this way, Az
told your correspondent by two eye-wit-
nesses.
The hoor between the two 'bents" had
been removed and only one level brace
was left on the two "bents" seventy
three feet high. All OF the 'N' braces
had been taken on except two. The
bent was held In position by block and
tackle. which was fastened TO the noor
beams, or caps. and was leaning several
feet out OF plumb. or vertical. and just
at this point IL was suggested that the
bent be showed over. but the city engineer
protested. He said that II might break
in the middle and kick back and knock
down the remaining supports OF the
bridge on which were the eight work
men. who were standing on the brink Of
dea'h
Just then a heavy plank was thrown. or
fell overheard, and struck the bent and
broke the level brace, showing the centre
Of the bent east under the remaining
portion of the bridge thereby undermine
ing the nearest props. which In turn
kicked back until four bents, that ~.
about seventy feet OF the bridge had
fallen.
The eight men who were on the front
end Of the bridge when the hoor gave
way slipped on to fall over seventy feet.
with the whole structure of the falling
bridge falling on top Of them
The unfortunate victims were soon ex-
tricated from the debris. and TO those
not dead all medical attention was adj
ministered.
The KIied.
The following Is a list Of the killed;
Ed Mabes 1whitel. aged twenty years.
home near Chiliress' store. this county.
lie was terribly mangled. His head was
almost severed from his body. Several
deep holes were In his face. His skull
was crushed 10 "a jelly, with his brains
lying on the ground. He was suspended
in the air by sharp timber. when
stuck under his chin. Ills father. I'd
Mabes. is a well-to-do farmer Of thus
county.
Charles Thompson twhte). aged thirty
years killed instantly; lives In the
suburbs: married man. and had i've little
children.
r.. H. Andrews (white) aged thirty:
married: home East Radford lived about
half an hour His wife was an eye-wit-
ness and saw her husbands uniimey
ending.
Tom Price (colorei). aged forty years
leg and arm broken deep hole In head
injured internally.
Tho wourdrd
W. A. Hedrick, aged forty-nye; widow
er: resides at New River; probably fatal
ly injured.
Frank 4. McCulloch: married about two
months ago TO Miss Martin. OF North
Carolina lie II member OF The firm
OF McCulloch. Wygal q Co, contractors.
OF this place and was experimenting
this work Ills Injuries are one eye
knocked ont. jaw broken. Lex broken.
thigh OF same leg badly crushed. There
is a possibility OF his recovery.
Jim Connor (coicred) seventeen years
Old; injured about head and body. bat
not fatally.
William Johnson 1coloredD. twenty two
years old, painfully Injured about face
and leg and internally; fatally.
Tho city rngi e's'- View.
Your correspondent interviewed Mr. X.
". Kell0. city engineer. who was an
eyewitness. as 10 the cause of the biras-
ter. and was Informed by him thar he
had warned, only few minutes previous
10 the accident. Mr. McCulioch the fore
man. Of the danger of the occurrence o'
this very thing. end that he tMc'uiiochb
was presumably taking steps 20 avert me
fan when II happened. When u WAS sng-
gested 10 push down the front bent no
objected saying II was very dangerous.
for the bent might Kick back. and, be-
sides, It would ruin the timbcro.
Hoi,i Enfpsd
Just before the collapse % the bridge
a IRE alarm was sen, I'm. and n WAS
found tha, the Commercial Hotel was
enveoped In flames. and while people
were hurrying 10 The lire they were hor-
rined by the news ~ the more terrible
disaster, entaillng not only destruction OF
property, but also loss ~ lie.
The hotel was entirely destroyed. II
was occupied as tenement house ny
several families Loss not very heavy,
as IL was an old frame building. II was
owned by the Hibb heirs. and was In
sured for 5000.