Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-10
THIRTY FELL TO DEATH
In the Collapse of a Bridge Across
the St. Lawrence River.
rHIRTY-THREB WE'RE RESCUED.

But or These Eighteen Died After Be- |
Ing Removed to HospitaI-Two |
Piers of the Bridge Collapsed, Car
ryfng Down the Men working on 1t. |
Hogansburg. N. Y. Sept. 7.-About
noon yesterday two south spans OF the
International bridge of the New York
and Ottawa railroad. now under con-
struction across the S.. Lawrence river.
about three miles above St. Regis In
dian village. fell without warning, with
80 men at work on the bridge, ali be-
Ing thrown into the river. some SO feet
below. The bridge consists OF
three spans. Of which two were COM
pleted and the third was nearly COM
pleted. when the south pier gave way
at its foundation. causing both spans
to fall.
The scene Of the accident Is located
about four miles from Hogansburg.
above the st. Regis Indian reserva-
ton The bridge that gave way was
being built across the st. Lawrence
river at the foot of Long Saulte rapids.
near Reinhardt's island. The water at
this point is known to be as swift as
In any part of the river. The imme-
date cause OF the disaster and the Civ
Ing way of the span OF the bridge seems
to have been from the washing away Of
one Of the large piers.
The pier in question was begun when
the work was first started last fall,
and work was continued all winter and
finished this summer. The contract
work was in charge Of Messrs. Sooy.
| Smith & Co.. who are well known as
extensive and careful contractors in
their line, and known to have been
under instructions from the railroad
company to build for "permanency."
The pier had been accepted as per-
fectly reliable and safe. 1t would seem
from this that the swiftness OF the
current was underestimated.
| Late reports from Cornwall hospital
say that 30 men have been taken out
OF the river at the International bridge
wreck and transferred TO the hospital.
Eighteen OF them have since died The
latest information concerning the
tragedy makes II probable that the
death list will reach 30.
As far as can be learned 81 men were
on the payroll, OF whom 81 reported for
work yesterday morning. or this list
only IS have actually been accounted
for. Among those thrown into the
river was the foreman. Thomas r.
Brady Cor Bricely). whose home Is In
Pottsville, Pa He has not been ac-
counted for and Is supposed to be in the
bottom of the river.
An eve witness Of the fall Of the
bridge says he was sitting on the
bank of the river watching the busy
workmen above him. when suddenly,
without warning, there came a fearful
crash. Two spans OF the bridge col
t, lapsad. the immense mass of timber
and iron dropped down. and the agon-
izinE shrieks Of the men who were be-
ing crushed in the wreck were drown
ed by the rushing waters. Then he saw
bodies coming to the surface, and the
work Of rescue began. This was hope
} lessly inadequate, there being only q
J few beats in the vicinity and very few
? men who would undertake to swim
} cut into the turbulent waters. Many
3 who might have been saved were
: drowned before help could reach them
j Piteous appealing faces sank be-
meath the waters before the eyes Of
helpless onlookers. Mangled bodies
came to the surface for q moment ant
then passed out OF sight. 1t was ter
ribls and heartrending. Even thos.
who had got to land alive were In aucl
= condition that many died on the wa,
to the hospital. Some had their back
broken, others both legs, while other
were crushed by the heavy iron.
Among those who are missing ar
Cyril Campbell, William Jackson. W
!, Cubby and George Craig. About 80 o
the men employed on the span wer
Americans who came here to work 70
4 the Phoenix Bridge company. The re
mainder were mostly Indians, who act
y ed az assistants. Every man on tn
II division went down with the wreck
!. Many OF those who escaped ciimbe
- up the iron work which still rested o.
e piers at either end. The scene aroun
e the Hotel Dieu. where the wounded an
J. dying were taken, Is a heartrendin
j. spectacle. The wives and relatives G
missing men are anxiously inquirin
after their loved ones.
Following is a list OF the dead an
= wounded up to midnight:
Knlsd-W. ]. Cubby, Paterson, N. j
y w. ]. Jackson, Columbus, o.: LOU
~ Banner, Johnstown. Pa: r. L. Dy
sart, Tyrone, Pa: ]. D. Craig, Do
d troit, Mich; Patrick Murphy, Toronto
le Dan Hughes. Cleveland; Frank L,
viEns. Ogdensburg, N. Y; w. Sherman
Cornwall, Ont: w. Saunders. Bait
~ more: John Clause, Caughnawega,
~ z; H. Davis, Pittsburg; Cyril CamI
" bell, Cornwall, Ont; Thomas Birmini
ham.
of woundsd--John Wilson, Malde
IL Mass. leg broken: George Bloxe
Pskinsville. VT, leg fractured; Be
Brant. Toronto. Ont, bruised: Pet
z. O'Keefe. Cornwall, leg and chest Il
III Jured; Louis White. Cornwall, spine Il
injured; P. Day, Cornwall, sea
tv wound: Mitchell Reeves, Cornwa
r. serious; Andrew Smith, Rochester,
Y, serious; w. Thompson, Montres
leg broken; John Fraser, Quebec. X
Z cut of; John Bero, Indian. Cornwa
internal injury; p. Delevant, Ellxhal
he Wis, legs crushed; ID. Barton. Buffa
da legs crushed; n. Burke. Johnsvil
IT. slightly hurt; p. White, Ccrnwa
IT. slightly hurt.
no Wharton Barker For President.
% Cincinnati, Sept. 1.-The Populist I
&c tional convention nominated Wharf