The Portland daily press., 1900-04-30
Structure Was Over
Main Avenue.
Street Crowded When the
Collapse Came.

Paris. April 90. An aooideut within
...,.,.. -s. ..u..s ~. d..,h
sne eApositi'n srVahos o'essa sA' uss'n
OF SIX persons and injured about a.
temporary bridge, unable to Withstand
Al. surd.v cro-a hrora Tba sooidant
'.o e, o,
tnrew pail over sne nappiness Oh On Ian
msnss throng who had profited ~ the
maauifioent weather 10 visit the exposi-
49,. Tocav,. rroh.h,v IN. ra,ora
sion' Aouay Was p.o'esv sA' '..
attendance. Not merely the interior OF
the grounds, but the precincts also wsr
crowded aud the concourse Was partiou-
larry great along the avenue De Sunren,
which forms the northern BOUNDARY OF
the grounds.
Here 10 situated big side show the
Celestial Globe. A foot bridge, on whson
the finishing touches were being put
today, crosses the avenue de Sonren, CON
Meeting the side show with the exhihi-
tion. 1t was constructed OF wood. With
. stucco facade and with plaster tower
at each end.
Strangely enough, the bridge naa bsen
condemned only this morning as unsafe
BY the exhibition authorities. Ine pun
lilo was therefore not allowed 20 go upon
the structure and In this way di'asee
even more terribis tnan whion occarreu
ives ave-tsd.
Ins gay crew. was s passing ,ao.a along IL. tse
| -
sons were walking beneath tne bridge,
when suddenly an orninous crash was
heard. Before those unaernestn coula
turn aside, the struotufe ieii WIN Iear-
ful crash, burying nearly ~
A shout OF horror rose from the specta-
tors mip gisd with tne cries OF tne VIC
tins. For moment nothing could sbe
distinguished but Q cloud OF aust ana
plaster. A scene OF the greatest excitl'
ment and confusion followed. But thl
was only Tor lev ssoondsi Aimost Nh asn,. I'M
mediately fhe crowd attacked bne uepris
meath. The workmsn wienin the
grounds. who had witnessed the acoi-
dent, the police and the republican
guards, toeethsr with quite . number
OF sold1erss Joined IN tine rescue WORK
Tne promensders forgot their SUNDAY
attire and covered themselves with dirt
ard CRIME In tearing away the runoisn
with their hands. WOODEN beams ana
poles were hastily brought from tine halt
finished buildings nearby anu were useo
as levers TO raise tne fallen niass.
The victiins hrst recoseru were mose,
~ only the Injured, tne dead pein9 founu
later beneath the centre OF the structure.
Messengers were despatched TO bring
hremen and aappers with their equip
ments and the nxst BODY was founo after
| quarter OF an hours frantio iADor. A.
WAS that OF little girl, about years oi
aket Wuoso noNu Wa "~AAAsV oAee.
Victim after victim was brought TO
light, until row OF ak mutiiated oorpsee
had been placed upon the sidewalk and
nearly 40 other persons, some badly and
others lees seriousiy injured, had been
carried In ambulanoes and driven to the
hospitals.
A family composed u father, mother
| and two girls. narrowly escaped destruo-
| tion. The parents. who happened TO De
littls anesds had gone under the bridge,
the children following; JUST at the mo-
ment OF the COLLAPSE. Tns parents were
killed, but the children sprang back and
escared with . few scratches. cyciist
had bis wheel smashed, bus nimseu es-
capsd unhurt. The dead are three msn.
two women and one child. Inc signty
plaster towers seem TO have been respoa-
sthis for the fail OF the ssrucsure, Som
missionsF-sisnerai Picard and other nien
officials, arrived shortly sfter the acci-