The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-30
SIX ARE KNOWN T0 Be DEAD
FOOT BRIDGE ACROSS ONE OF THE
AVENUES FELL ON A
CROWD
STRUCTURE WAS CONDEMNED
Plaster Tower at Either End
Blamed for Causing the Crash
Many Narrow Escapes
Reported.

PARIS. April %. S:15 p. m.-An acci-
dent within the exposition grounds
caused the death OF five persons and In
1ured many. A temporary bridge, una
BILE to withstand the Sunday crowd,
broke
l0:46 p. NIT is now known that six
others injured The accident threw a pail
over the happiness of an immense throng
who had profted by the magnificent
weather to visit the exposition.
Today's was probably the record at
tendance. Not only the interior of the
grounds, but the precincts were crowded
A foot bridge, on which the finishing
touches were put today, crosses the Ave
nue. de Sufren. connecting the side show,
the Celestial Globe, with the exposition.
1t was constructed of wood, with a stucco
facade and with plaster made tower
at each end. Strangely enough, the bridge
had been condemned only this morning
as unsafe by the exposition authorities.
The public was therefore not allowed to
so upon the structure, and in this way a
disaster even more terrible than that
which occurred was averted.
BRIDGE FELL ON CROWD.
The gay crowd was passing along the
avenue, and some hundred or more per-
sons were walking beneath the bridge,
when suddenly an ominous crash was
heard. Before those underneath could
turn aside the structure fell with a fear
ful crash, burying nearly fifty. A shout
of terror arose from the spectators,
mingled with the cries Of the victims.
For moment nothing could be distin-
guished but a cloud of dust and plaster.
A scene of the greatest excitement and
confusion followed. But this was only
for a few seconds. Almost Immediately
the crowd attacked the debris, in efforts
to release those lying beneath. The work
men within the grounds, who had wit
messed the accident; the police and the
republican guards, together with quite a
number of soldiers, joined in the rescue
work. The promepaders forgot their
Sunday attire and co~ered themselves
with art and CRIME, in tearing away the
rubbish with their hands. Wooden beams
and poles We're brought from the half
finished buildings near by and were used
as levers to raise the debris. The injured
Were found first, the
DEAD BEING FOUND LATER.
under the corner structure Messengers
We're dispatched to bring firemen and sap
pers, with their equipments, and the first
body was found after a quarter of an
hours frantic labor. 1t was that of a
little girl about seven years of age,
whose head was horribly crushed Vic
tim after victim was brought to light,
until d row of six mutilated corpses had
been placed upon the sidewalk and near
ly forty other persons, some badly and
others less seriously injured. had been
carried in aInbulances or driven to the
hospitals
family composed of father, mothel,
and two girls narrowly escaped destruc-
ton. The parents, who happened to be
a little ahead. had gone under the bridge.
the children following, just at the momene
of the collapse. The parents were kill
ed, but the children sprang back and es-
capped with a few scratches. A cyclist
had his wheel smashed, but himself es-
capped unhurt.
The dead are three men, two women
and one child.
The weighty plaster towers seem to be
responsible for the fall Of the structure
SUBJECT OF CRITICISM.
Commissioner General Picard and other
! high officials of the exposition arrived
shortly after the accident and superin-
tended the work Of relief. President ou-
bet sent an officer Of his household for
information. Several soldiers were among
the injured, and many of their comrades
were foremost in giving assistance.
The disaster was the leading topic of