The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05
FIERCE FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Victims in the Water Struggle
for Places of Van
tage.
COLLAPSE OF A GRAND STAND.
At the Buffalo Driving Park Death
and Injury Are Caused by an
Accident.

ELKHART, IND, July "A terrible &C
cident occurred at Bristol, small town
SIX miles from here, late this afternoon.
During the progress of a boatrace on the
ST. Joseph River q crowd of probably 600
peonle was damned on a three-span iron
bridge. During the finish of an exciting
race, and while the crowd was cheering
tremendously, the bridge gave way and
the mass of humanity was preclpltated
into the water forty feet below.
AS near as can be learned at present
thirty-eight persons have received serious
Injuries and it is feared that many of them
Wilde. Physicians from Elkhart, Goshen,
La Porte and neighboring cities were
hastily teIephoned for and went to the
scene with all possible haste.
The accident happened at 6 O'Clock. The
race was the last of a series that had fur
nished the principal sport of Fourth Of
July celebration. When the unfortunates
landed in the water amidst a mass of iron
and wood framework the groans of men,
women and children arose and spurred to
activity those who seemed dazed by the
magnitude of the catastrophe.
Luckily the water was only five feet deep
or many would have been drowned. The
crowd on shore saw many people in the
water fighting with each other for place
of vantage or some means Of escape from
what seemed certain death. 1t was some
time before effective aid could be given.
AS soon as possible, however, long
planks, ladders and ropes were secured and
q. 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
shore, and those living at Bristol were
taken care of Immediately 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 TO the excitement, which amounts
TO frenzy, and the rapid scattering of the
injured by their friends. it will be some
time before complete list of the injured
can be obtained. Those thought to be
fatally injured are:
- DR.. Cash Detrow, conclusion of spine 8;
Mack Little, both legs broken and injured
internally; Mrs. Mack Little, badly in
iured about the head and shoulders; six
year-oId son of Mack Little, both
arms and one leg broken; daughter
of Mack Little, both legs broken; Jonas
Reprogle, both arms and legs broken.
The day was pleasant one and large
crowd was in the city witnessing the fes-
tivities. Bristol is the center of popu-
lous country and the rural folks were pres
ent IN large numbers. Those who could
not get on the bridge lined the banks and
other points to get view of the sports.
The days sports were just ending when
the accident occurred. Many of the
farmers as well as their relatives and
friends were hastily placed in wagons and,
without waiting for the aid of physicians
or as much as leaving names, departed for
their homes. It is believed that many in
iured were taken away in this manner and
it is thought that some OF them viii die.
The complete list of the dead and injured
will at all events not be known for week.
Every train tonight brought from sur
rounding towns relatives and friends of
visitors to Bristol, for the news had
spread over the country with great rapid
ity. Thus the houses where lay the
wounded were searched by many anxious
looking persons for some one who had not
returned from the celebration. Those who
were able to be moved were carried to the
cars and taken home, while those more
seriously injured will be attended at Bris-
toll.
The bridge. 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 the
part of the structure which remained in
tact shows that the railing had given way
under the pressure of the crowd and car
ried whit part of the footway on which
the people were standing.
The following is list of the wounded
as far a learned tonight: DR.. C. e.
Dutrow, fatally; Clyde Trumbull, Three
Rivers, Mich, cut in body and head Mrs.
George Williamson, body crushed Mrs.
Albert Stamp, Hubert Nicholson, Jessie
Wesso of Elkhart. broken legs and arms;
Daisy Little, broken arm; G. B. Floyd,
Howard Meyers, Mrs. Mary Mil
Ter, Arthur Sassman, Melville, Mich, both
legs broken; George Roth, Miss Ida King
Miss Trattela, Porter, Mich, foot and
neck hurt. Frank Fry, hurt internally;
Mrs E. J. Smith, arm broken; John Kist-
ner Elkhart, hip and head hurt; Miss
Stewart, Charles Caraman, Met Caraman,
head and feet crushed; Douglas Stewart,
hurt internally; Frank Reptogle, wife and
daughter, badly injured; Carrot Blooming
ton, Josie Frame, Elkhart, badly injured;
Mack Little, wife and son, legs broken.
INJURY AND DEATH.