The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-01-20
DOWN WITH THE BRIDGE.

Sixty Persons Thrown from CohApseo
Draw Into the Waters of Melton Creek
on Long Isiand-A Terrible Struggle for
Life Amoug the Broken Timbers-Fre
Men Missing and Supposed to be Lost
To the Rescue,
LONG ISLAND CITY, L. l., Jan. 1s.-
About sixty men were thrown in New
ton creek last night by the collapse OF
a section of n temporary drawbridge
over the creek connecting Bardley ave-
nue., at Laurel Hill, with Meeker ave-
nue., Brooklyn. Just how many men
were drowned cannot as yet be deter
mined.
The following were on the bridge ut
the time and have not been seen since:
Patrick Briody.
II. Marckey.
George Mills.
Michael McCurky.
James Smith.
They were all employees of the Lsu-
rel Hill chemical works, Mills being
foreman there. Timothy Cannon, OF
los Eckford street, Brooklyn, was
brought to St Johns hospital. this
city. One of his feet was badly
crushed, and he was cut about the
head. The section of the bridge that
fell was a draw, thirty feet long. 1t
was built of wood, and rested on the
center abutment, from which point an.
other section continued on the Brook
lyn side. The draw on the Brooklyn
side was open. 1t was low tide, and
tug was trying to force schooner
through the draw. 1t was few min
utes before 6 o'clock, when the bridge
was crowded with men from nearby
factories anxious to get to their homes
in Brooklyn. Suddenly there was
cracking of timbers, and the draw
broke in two. The men made an ef-
fort to get off, but the jam on the
shore end Of the bridge prevented
their making their escape.
They fell into the water in n heap,
and then commenced a wild struggle
for life. Some climbed on to the
wrecked draw, while others sought
safety in swimming for the shore. A
passing tug picked up number and
landed them on the Brooklyn side,
where they were attended by surgeons
from Brooklyn hospitals.
The work of rescue was difficult
one, as there were no small boats at
hand. Ropes were thrown out to some
of the men, and they were hauled
ashore in that manner. During the
work of rescue there were some lively
scenes in the water. Men struggled
with each other in their frenzy to es.
cape. Some were hauled under water
and nearly drowned by those whom
they were trying to assist
Thomas Dobbins, of Meeker avenue,
Brooklyn, reached the scene in row.
boat in time to save four men who
were on the point of sinking. The
captain of the schooner rescued over n
dozen men. He got away before his
name or that of his vessel could be
learned.
After striking the water the draw
broke into two parts, and in an instant
both were covered with men. Some
managed to climb up clear of the wa
ter, while others hung on to keep their
heads above water. 1t took considera-
BILE time 10 get all the men ashore. As
fast as they were landed they were
W 1OhCE AOhS'
and filed up with stimulants-
Many of the rescued had close calls,
and for long time after they were
brought ashore they were unable &c
tell how they got there. The wrecked
draw had not been used in three
weeks, owing to pile drivers working
on it.
Bridgekeeper Daniel Hickey was on
the Laurel Hill side when the accident
occurred. lie said it was due to the
overcrowding of the bridge. He said
that he had frequently warned the
men not to crowd on the bridge, as it
was dangerous to do so, but they
paid no attention to his repeated
warnings He could not account foi
the draw breaking in the center.
as it was made of heavy timber, calcu-
lated to hold almost any weight Mr..
Hickey does not believe that anyone
was drowned. He said that the water
was only nine feet deep at the time,
and as the men fell into the water
within about ten feet of the shore all
must have escaped. Several of the
men said that they saw at least five
men sink, and did not see them come
to the surface again. William Fagin
and Pat Mcnamara, of Meeker avenue,
Brooklyn, both had narrow escapes
They do not know how they got ashore,
and say they came near drowning.
The search for bodies was kept up till
late hour but none were recovered.