Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-07-11
DOWN WITH A BRIDGE.

DOWN WITH A BRIDGE.
Six Hundred Persons Dumped Into the st.
Joseph River-Gre.t Numbers of Them
injured, Many, It Ia Feared, Fatally
They Had Assembled to Witness . Boat
Race Which was just Nearing It's Com
cluslon.
ELKHARr. Ind, July "A terrible
accident occurred at Bristol, small
town six miles from this city late this
afternoon. During the progress of
boat race on the St. Joseph river q
crowd of probably 600 people were
jammed en- three-span iron bridge.
About 6 o'clock during the finish of
an exciting race and while the
crowd was cheering tremendously
the bridge gave way and the mass
of humanity was precipitated into
the water forty feet below. As far as
known at present thirty-eight persons
have received serious injuries and it is
feared that many of them will die.
Physicians from Elkhart. Goshen, La
porte and other neighboring cities
were hastily telephoned for and went
to the scene with all possible haste.
The race was the last of series
that had furnished the principal sport
of a Fourth-of-July celebration. When
the unfortunates landed in the water
amidst mass of iron and wood frame
work. the groans of the men, women
and children arose. and spurred to &C
tivity those who seemed dazed by the
magnitude of the catastrophe. Luck
lily, the water was but five feet deep.
The crowd on shore saw many peo-
pie in the water fighting with each
other for a place of vantage or some
means of escape from what seemed GER
tain death. 1t was some time before
effective aid could be given. AS soon
as possible, however, planks ladders
and ropes were secured and a dozen
men waded out and, helped by those
on the bank, lifted the main girder
which held several people under the
water.
One by one the injured were brought
to the shore. and those living at Bris-
toll were taken care of by their friends
and hurried to their homes. The
neigh boring stores and houses were
turned into temporary hospitals, and
many who lived at a distance were
taken care of here.
Owing the excitement. which
amounts to a frenzy, and the rapid
scattering of the injured by their
friends, it will be some time before a
complete list of the injured can be OBJ
tanned. Those believed to be fatally
injured are:
DIR. Charles Detrow, conclusion of
the spine.
Mack Little, both legs broken and
injured internally.
Mrs. Mack Little. badly injured about
head and shoulders
A 6-year-old son of Mack Little,
both arms and one leg broken
A daughter of Mack Little, both legs
broken.
Jonas Reprogle, both arms and legs
broken.
Melville CARMEN. both legs broken.
The day was a pleasant one and a
large crowd was in the city witness
ing the festivities, the rural folks COM
ing from all directions. Those who
could not get on the bridge lined the
banks and other points from which a
good view of the sports could be had.
There were tub races, f1at-boat races
and shell races by native talent. The
days sports were just ending when the
hCCIucuG OCcuFTcu
Many of the farmers, as soon as
their relatives and friends were Sc
cured, hastily placed them in wagons,
and, without waiting for the aid Of
physicians, or as much as leaving
names. departed for their homes. The
complete list of the dead and injured
will, at all events, not be known for a
week. The town boasts of but three
physicians, and one of them was so
badly hurt that he could give no as
siStance.
Every train tonight brought from
surrounding towns relatives and
friends of visitors to Bristol, for the
news had spread over the country with
great rapidity. The houses at which
the wounded lay were searched by
many anxious ones looking for some
one who had not returned from the
celebration. Those who were able to
be moved were taken home, while the
more seriously injured will be at
tended at Bristol.
The bridge which gave way has
been used for many years. Only last
spring it was repaired and considered
able to bear any strain that might be
put upon it. Examination of that
part of the structure which remained
intact showed that the railing had
given away under the pressure of the
crowd and carried with it part of the
footway on which the people were
standing.