The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-07

Hogansburg, n. Y, Sept. 6.-About noon
today two south spans of the Interna-
tional bridge of the New York & Ottawa
railroad, now under construction across
the ST. Lawrence river, about three miles
above st. Regis Indian village, fell with
out warning, with 60 men at work on the
bridge, all being thrown into the river
some 80 feet below. Over 80 were picked
up and taken to Cornwall hospital and q
are now missing.
The bridge consists of three spans, of
which two were complete, and the third
was nearly completed when the south
pier gave way at its foundation, causing
both spans to fall into 50 feet of water.
taking its load of human freight with
it. The names of the killed and drowned
cannot yet be ascertained, as they were
mostly from Pennsylvania, excepting a
few Indians from the ST. Regis reserva-
ton.
The scene of the accident is located
about four miles from Hogansburg, above
the st. Regis Indian reservation. The
bridge that gave way was being built
across the St Lawrence river at the
foot of Long Saulte rapids near Rein
hardts island. The water at this point
is known to be as swift as in any part
of the river. The immediate cause of
the disaster and the giving way of the
spans of the bridge seems to have been
from the washing away OF one of the
large piers.
The pier in question was begun 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 bridge
builders. The pier had been accepted as
perfectly reliable and safe. 1t would seem
that the sw:ftness of the current was
under-estimated.
Late reports from Cornwall hospital
say 80 men have been taken out of the
river and transferred to the hospital.
Eighteen of them have since died.
The latest information makes 1t prob
able that the death list will reach 80. As
far as can be learned, 81 men were on
the pay roll, of whom 50 reported for
work this morning. OF this list only IS
have actually been accounted for.
All efforts to get a list of the names
of the workmen and those missing have
proved futile as yet.
ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER.
Cornwall, Ont, Sept. 6.-An eyewit-
ness of the fall of the New York &
Ottawa railroad bridge says he was sit
ting on the bank of the river watching
the workmen when there came a fearful
crash. Two spans of the bridge COL
laDsed and the immense mass of timber
coming to the surface and the work of
rescue began. This was hoDeleSsly in
adequate, there being only a few boats
in the vicinity and very few men who
turbulent waters. Many who might have
been saved were drowned before help
could reach them. Mangled bodies came
to the surface for a moment and then
passed out of sight. Even those who
were got to land alive were in such a
condition that many died on the way to
the hospital. Some had their backs
broken; others both-legs while others
were crushed by the heavy irons.
Among those who are missing are Fore
man Thomas e. Brady. Cyril Campbell,
William Jackson and w. Cubby.
About five of the men employed on the
span were Americans who came here to
work for the Phoenix Bridge company.
The remainder were mostly Indians who
acted as assistants. Every man on the
division went down with the wreck.
Many of those who escaped climbed up
the iron work, which still rested on piers
at either end.
The scene around the Hotel Dieu, where