The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-05-05

Paris, April 20, 10;45 p. NIT is
now known that six persons were
Filled and about forty others injured.
The accident threw pail over the
happiness of an immense throng who
mad profted by the magnificent wealth
er to visit the. exposition.
The Record Attendance.
Yesterdays was probably the rec
crd-brealeing attendance. Not merely
the interior of the grounds, but the
precincts also were crowded, and the
concourse was practically 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 to-day, crosses the Avenue de Suf-
rem, connecting the sideshow with the
exposition. 1t was constructed of wood
with a stucco facade and with plas-
ter-made tower at each end.
The Bridge Had Been Condemned.
Strangely enough the bridge had
been condemned only this morning as
unsafe 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.
Fell with a Fearful Crash.
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 near
ly fifty persons.
A Shout of Horror Rose.
A shout of horror rose from the
spectators, mingled with the cries of
the victims. For a moment nothing
could be distinguished but cloud of
dust and plaster. A scene of the great
est excitement and confusion followed.
But this was only for few seconds.
| Almost Immediately the crowd attack
ed the debris in an effort to release
those lying beneath.
WOrkmen and Guards to the Rescue.
| The workmen within the grounds
who had witnessed the accident, the
police and the republican guards, to-
gether with quite a number of soldiers,
| Joined in the rescue work. The prone
naders forgot their Sunday attire and
covered themselves with dirt and
Crime in tearing away the rubbish
with their hands. Wooden beams and
poles were brought from half-fnished
buildings near by, and were used as
levers to raise the fallen mass.
The victims first recovered were
mostly only injured, the dead being
found later beneath the center struc
ture.
Messengers were dispatched to bring
fremen and sappers, with their equip
ments, and the first body was fount
after a quarter of an hours frantic
labor. 1t was that of little girl abou
seven years old, whose head was hor
rible crushed Victim after victim was
brought to light until row of si>
mutilated corpses had been placed
upon the sidewalk, and nearly forty
other persons, some badly and Others
less seriously injured, had been carried
in ambulances or driven to the hos
pitfalls.
Morrow Escape FROM Destruction.
A family composed of father, motheI
and two girls narrowly escaped de
structioD. The parents, who hap
Del ed to be little ahead, had gone
Under the bridge, the children following
Just at the moment of the collapse
The parents were killed, but the chill
dren sprang back, and escaped with
few scratches.
The Dead and Injured.
The dead are three men, two womeI
and one child. The weighty plaster
lowers seem to be responsible for tn
fall of the structure.
Commissioner-Genera Picard ant
other high officials of the exposition
arrived shortly after the accident, an
superintended the work of relief.
THE WOMAN WILL RECOVER