Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-03
ACCIDENT AT PARIS.
A Temporary Bridge Breaks in the
Exposition Grounds.
nine PERSONS KILLED, NINE INJURED
Tho Crowd Joined the 80 ders In tho Res
cue Work-Tho Wsighty Plaster Tow
srs Rsspons,ble for the Fall Of
the Structure.

Paris, April 30.--An accident with
in the exposition grounds caused the
death of nine persons and the injury
of nine others. A temporary
bridge, unable to withstand the Sun
day crowd broke. The accident
threw pail over the happiness of an
immense throng who had profted by
the magnificent weather to visit the
exposition. Yesterdays was probably
the record attendance. Not merely
the interior of The grounds, but the
precincts also were crowded and the
concourse was particularly great
along the Avenue de Sufren, which
forms the northern boundary OF the
grounds Here is situated big side
show, the celestial globe. A foot
bridge, on which the finishing touches
were being put yesterday, crosses 'he
Avenue de Sufren. connecting the
,sdeshow with the exhibition. 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 yesterday as I'M
safe by the exposition authorities.
The public was therefore not allowed
to go upon the structure and in this
way disaster even more terrible than
that which occurred was averted
The gay crowd was passing along the
avenue and some hundred or more
persons were walking beneath the
bridge when suddenly an ominous
crash was heard. Before those I'M
derneath could turn aside the struc-
ture fell with fearful crash, burying
nearly so.
A shout Of horror rose from the
spectators, mingled with the cries of
the victims. For moment nothing
could be distinguished but a cloud Of
dust and plaster. A scene of the
greatest excitement and confusion
followed. But this was only for few
seconds. Almost Immediately the
crowd attacked the debris in an effort
to release those lying beneath. The
workmen within the grounds who
had witnessed the accident, the po-
lice and the republican guards, to-
gether with quite a number of sol
diers, Joined in the rescue work. The
promenaders forgot their Sunday at
tire and covered themselves with dirt
and CRIME in tearing away the rub
bish with their hands. Wooden beams
and poles were brought from the half
finished buildings near by and were
used as levers to raise the fallen mass.
The victims first recovered were
mostly only the injured, the dead be-
ing found later beneath the center of
| the structure. Messengers were dis
patched to bring firemen and sappers
with their equipments and the first
body was found after a quarter of an
hours frantic labor. 1t was that of
q little girl about seven years old,
whose head was horribly crushed.
Victim after victim were brought to
light until a row of mutilated
corpses had been placed upon the side
walk and many other persons,
some badly and others less seriously
injured, had been carried in ambu-
lances or driven to the hospitals.
A family composed of father,
mother and two girls narrowly es-
capped destruction. The parents, who
happened to be a little ahead had
gone under the bridge, the children
following, just at the moment of the
collapse. The parents were killed but
the children sprang back and escaped
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 struc-
ture.