The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-05-04
lDEISASI TIE B En- r a RIS.
Temporary Bridge on the EXPOSE
ton Grounds Collapses.
Crowd Of People Passing Under the
Structure Crushed-Nine Persons {,
Lose Their Lives-An Equal
s@$ ~ Number Hurt. III. r.

Paris, April 3O.-An accident with
in the exposition grounds caused a
total of nine deaths, while an equal
number of persons were injured.
Three of those dead succambed to
their injuries after being taken to- the
hospital. A. s}.xy i. .5..SEs s..sS.
A temporary bridge, unable towith-
stand the Sunday crowd, broke. The
accident threw pail over the happi-
ness of an immense throng who had
profited by the magnificent weather
to visit the exposition. Sundays 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. ##r.
Here is situated big sideshow, the
Celestial Globe. A foot bridge, on
which the finishing touches were be-
ing put crosses the Avenue de Sufren,
connecting the sideshow with the ex-
hibition. It was constructed of wood
with stucco facade and with plas-
tornado tower at each end. Strange
~ enough, the bridge had been con-
demned only Sunday morning as un-
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 under
meath could turn aside the structure
fell with a 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 cloud of
dust and plaster. A scene of the
greatest excitement followed. But this
was only for. few seconds. Almost
Immediately the crowd attacked. the
debris in effort to release those lying
beneath. The workmen within the
grounds who had witnessed the acct
dent, the police and the republican
guards, together with quite number
of soldiers joined in the rescue work.
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 equiments, and the first
body was found after a quarter of an
hours frantic labor. It was that of
a little girl, about seven years old,
whose head was horribly crushed.
Victim after victim was brought to
light until a row of six mutilated
corpses had been placed upon the
sidewalk and nearly 40 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
escaped destruction. The parents.
who happened to be little ahead,
had gone under the bridge, the chill
dren following, just at the moment
of the collapse. The parents were
killed, but the children, sprang back
and escaped with q few scratches.
The dead are three men, two women
and one child.
Authorities Criticised.
The weighty plaster towers seem to
be responsible for the fall of the
structure. The disaster was the lead
ing topic of discussion in the cafes
and at the other Paris resorts. and
strong criticism was leveled against
the exposition authorities for allow
ing an unfinished structure to ieop-
ardize the lives of citizens, fears be.
ing expressed that the incomplete
state of works within the exhibition
grounds themselves might lead to a
similar accident. It should be said
however, that the exhibition authori-
ties are not responsible for the de.
fective construction of the foot
bridge, which was erected by the man.
agement of the Celestial Globe. AS q
result of the accident, NJ. Pepine, pre-
feet of police, has ordered the closing
of several sideshows, the structural
arrangements of which are considered
dangerous.