New-York tribune., 1900-04-30
PARIS HOLIDAY MARRIED.
NINE PERSONS KILLED AND MANY HURT
AT THE EXPOSITION.
FOOTBRIDGE WHICH HAD BEEN CON
DEMNED FALLS ON PEDESTRIANS
PASSING UNDERNEATH.

Paris April 29-An accident within the Expo
sition grounds caused the death of nine persons
and injured many others. A temporary bridge
broke, falling on pedestrians passing beneath.
The accident threw a pail over the happiness
of an immense throng who had profted by the
magnificent weather to visit the Exposition. To-
days probably the record attendance. Not
merely the interior of the grounds, but the pre-
cincts also We're crowded. and the concourse
particularly great along the Avenue de Suffren,
which forms the northern boundary of the
grounds. Here is situated big side show, the
Celestial Globe. A footbridge. which the
finishing touches were being put to-day, crossed
the Avenue de Suffren, connecting the side show
with the Exposition. 1t constructed of
wood, with a stucco facade and with plaster
made tower at each end.
Strangely enough, the bridge had been
demned only this morning as unsafe by the Ex-
position authorities The public therefore
not allowed to go upon this structure, and in
this way disaster more terrible than that
which occurred was averted
KILLED WITHOUT WARMING
The gay crowd passing along the avenue
and some hundred or more persons walk
ing beneath the bridge, when suddenly omi-
nous crash was heard. Before those underneath
could turn aside the structure fell with fearful
crash, burying nearly fifty. 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.
scene of the greatest excitement and confusion
followed. But this only for few seconds,
Almost Immediately the crowd attacked the de-
bris in effort to release those lying beneath.
The workmen within the grounds who had
witnessed the accident, the police and the Re
publican Guards together with quite number
of soldiers, joined In the rescue work The
promenaders forgot their Sunday attire and COW
cred themselves with dirt and CRIME in tearing
away the rubbish with their hands Wooden
beams and poles were hastily brought from the
half finished buildings near by and were used
levers to raise the fallen mass.
The victims first recovered were mostly only
the injured. the dead being found later beneath
the centre of the structure. Messengers were
dispatched to bring ffremen and sappers, with
their equipments and the first body vas found
after a quarter of an hours frantic labor. 1t
that of little girl about years old.
whose head was crushed. Victim after victim
brought to light. until a of nine mutt
lated corpses had been placed upon the side
walk. and a score of other persons, some badly
and others less seriously injured, had been car
ried in ambulances or driven to the hospitals.
PARENTS KILLED, CHILDREN ESCAPE.
family composed of father, mother and two
girls narrowly escaped destruction The pRFerItg,.
who happened TO be a little ahea :. had gone un-
der the bridge. the children following just at
the moment of the collapse. The parents were
killed, but the children sprang back and
capped with a few scratches A cyclist had his
wheel smashed. but he escaped unhurt.
The weighty plaster towers seem to have been
responsible for the fall of the structure. Com
missioner General Picard and other high Off
cials of the Exposition arrived shortly after the
accident and superintended the work of relief
President Loubet sent officer of his house
hold for information. Several soldiers
among the injured. and many of their comrades
were foremost in giving assistance.
The disaster was the leading topic of discus
sion in the cafes and at other Paris resorts this
evening, and strong criticism levelled
against the Exposition authorities for allowing
unfinished structure to teopardize the lives
of citizens. fears being expressed that the in
complete state of the works within the Exposi-
accident. 1t should be said however that the
Exposition authorities not responsible for
the defective construction of the foot tbridge
which was erected by tn management of the
Celestial Globe
AS result of the accident NJ. Lepine, Prefect
of Police, has ordered the closing of several
side shows the structural arrangements of
which are considered dangerous.