The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-30

NINE TAKEN OUT LIFELESS
AND OTHER BRUISED AND MANNED
PEOPLE SENT TO HOSPITALS.
Many Narrow Escapes-Nobody the
Bridge, Ii Having Been Con-
demned by the Authorities.

PARIS, April 9.-An accident within the
exposition grounds to-day caused the death
of six persons and injured about forty.
a temporary bridge, unable to withstand
the Sunday crowd. broke.
The accident threw pail over the hap
piness of an immense throng who had
profited by the magnificent weather to
visit the exposition. To-day's was prob
ably the record attendance. Not merely
the interior of the grounds, but the pre-
cincts also were crowded, and the con-
course was particularly great along the
Avenue de Sufren, which forms the north
ern boundary of the grounds. Here is
situated big sideshow, the Celestial
Globe. A foot bridge on which the finish
ing touches were being put to-day crosses
the Avenue de Sufren, connecting the side
show with the exhibition. 1t was con-
structed of wood with a stucco facade
and with plaster made tower at each end.
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 a disaster even
more terrible than that which occurred
was averted. The gay crowd was passing
more persons were walking beneath the
bridge when suddenly an ominous 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 specta-
tors, mingled with the cries of the vic
Tins. For moment nothing could be dis
tinguished but cloud of dust and plaster
a scene Of the greatest excitement and
confusion followed. But this was only for
a few seconds. Almost Immediately the
crowd attacked the debris in an effort to
release those lying beneath. The work.
men within the grounds who had witnessed
the accident, the police and the repub-
lican guards, together with quite a number
OF soldiers. joined In the rescue work The
promcnaders 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 the half finished buildings near by
and We're used as levers to raise the fallen
mass. The victims first recovered were
mostly only the injured, the dead being
found later beneath the center of the
structure. Messengers were dispatched to
bring firemen and sappers with their equip
ments and the first body was found after
quarter of an hours frantic labor. 1t was
that Of a little girl about seven years old,
whose head was horribly crushed. Victim
after victim was brought to light until
row of six mutilated corpses had been
placed upon the sidewalk, and nearly forty
other persons. some badly, and others less
balances or driven to the hospitals.
A family composed of father, mother and
two girls narrowly escaped destruction.
The parents, who happened to be a 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 a
few scratches. A cyclist had his wheel
smashed, but himself escaped unhurt. The
dead are three men, two women and one
child.
The weighty plaster towers seem to be
responsible for the fall of the structure.
Commissioner General Picard and other
high officials of the exposition arrived
shortly after the accident and superin-
tended the work of relief. President
Loubet sent an officer of his household for
information. Several soldiers were among
the injured and many of their comrades
were foremost in giving assistance.
The disaster was the leading topic of
discussion in the cafes and at other Paris
resorts this evening and strong criticism
was leveled against the exposition authori-
ties for allowing an unfinished structure to
jeopardize the lives of citizens, fears being
expressed that the incomplete state of the
works within the exhibition grounds them
selves might lead to similar accident.
1t should be said, however. that the exhi-
bition authorities are not responsible for
the defective construction of the foot
bridge, which was erected by the manage
ment of the Celestial Globe.
AS result of the accident. NJ. Lepine,
prefect of police, has ordered the closing of
several side shows. the structural arrange
ments of which are considered dangerous.
a.