The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-30

Paris, April 30.-An accident within
the Exposition grounds. caused the
death OF Ave persons and injured many.
A temporary bridge unable to with
stand the Sunday crowd. broke.
Later 1t was stated that six persons
were killed and about 40 others in
jured
The acciden. threw a pail over the
happiness of an immense throng who
had profited by the magnificent wealth.
er 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 Suffron.
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. crosses the Avenue de Suffron.
connecting the side show with the ex-
hibition IL was constructed of wood
with stucco facade and with a plas-
ter tower at each end.
Strangely enough the bridge had been
condemned only yesterday morning as
unsafe by the exhibition authorities.
The public was therefore not allowed
TO go on the structure. and in this way
a disaster even more terrible than
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 under
meath could turn aside the structure
fell with fearful crash, burying
nearly one-fifth.
A SHOUT OF HORROR.
A shout OF horror rose from the spec
tators. mingled with the cries OF the
victims. For a moment nothing could
be distinguished but a cloud of dust
and plaster. A scene OF the greatest
excitement and confusion followed. But
TINS was only for a few seconds. Al
most 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 soldiers.
joined in the rescue work. The prom
enaders forgot uneir Sunday attire and
covered themselves with dirt and CRIME
I'm tearing away the rubbish with their
hands. Wooden beams and poles were
hastily brought from the half-finished
buildings near by. and were used as
levers to raise the fallen mass.
The victims first recovered were most
1y the injured. the dead being found
later beneath the centre of the struc-
ture. Messengers were dispatched TO
bring firemen and sappers. with their
equipments. and the first body was
found after quarter OF an hours
frantic labor.
HORRIBLY CRUSHED.
II was that OF n little girl about
years old, whose head was horribly
crushed. Victim after victim was
brought to light, until a row of six mu-
tilated corpses had been placed upon
the sidewalk. and nearly 40 other per-
sons. some badly and others less Sc
riously injured. had been carried in am
balances and driven to the hospitals.
A family composed of father, mother
and two girls narrowly escaped destruc-
tion. The parents who happened to be
a little ahead. had gone under the
bridge, the children followNg. just at
the moment of the collapse. The parents
were killed but the children sprang
back and escaped with few scratches.
A cyclist had his wheel smashed. but
himself escaped unhurt.
The dead are three men, two women
and one child.
The welghty plaster towers seem TO
have been respons BILE for the fall OF
the structure. Commissioners General
Picard and other high officials arrived
shortly after the accident and super
intended the work of relief. President
Loubet sent an officer OF his house
hold for information. Several soldiers
were among the injured and many OF
their comrades were foremost in giving
assistance.
THE DISASTER DISCUSSED.
The disaster was the leading topic