The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-30

PARIS. April 9-An accident with
in ,..e exposition grounds caused the
death of six persons and injured many.
A temporary bridge, unable to sustain its
weight, broke.
IL Is now known that six persons were
killed and about forty others injured.
The accident threw a pail over the inn
mense throng, who had proited by the
magnificent weather to visit the EXPOSE
tion.
Today's was probably the record attend
ance. Not merely the interior Of the
grounds, but the precincts also were
crowded and the concourse was partcu-
larry great along the Avenue de Sufren.
which forms the northern boundary of
the grounds
Bridge just Condemned.
Here is situated a big side show. the
Celestial Globe. A footbridge, on which
the finishing touches were being put to-
day, crosses the Avenue de Sufren. con-
Meeting the side show with the exhibition
II was constructed of wood, with a stucco
facade and with plaster-made tower at
each end.
Strangely enough. the bridge had been
condemned only this morning. The pub
lie was therefore not allowed TO go upon
the structure and in this way a disaster
even more terrible than that which oc-
CURED was averted.
Falls with Fearful Crash.
The gay crowd was passing along rhe
avenue and some hundred or more persons
were walking beneath the bridge, when
suddenly an ominous crash was heard.
Before those beneath could turn aside the
structure fell with fearful crash, bury
ing nearly nfty
A cry of horror arose from the spec
tators and mingled with the cries of the
victims. For a moment nothing could be
distinguished but cloud Of dust and
plaster. A scene of the greatest excite
ment and confusion followed But this
was only for few seconds Almost inn
mediately the crowd attacked the debris
in an effort 10 release those lying beneath.
Rcsruing Dead and Injured.
The workmen within the grounds who
had witnessed the accident and the police
and the republican guards. together with
quite number OF soldiers, Joined In the
rescue work. The promenaders forgot
their Sunday attire and covered them
selves with dirt and CRIME IN tearing away
the rubbish with their hands. Wooden
beams and poles were brought from the
half-fnished buildings nearby and were
used as levers to raise the fallen mass
The victims FIRST recovered we're mostly
Osly 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 iirst body was found after
quarter OF an hours frantic labor I,
was that OF litile girl years old. whose
head was horribly crushed Victim after
victim was brought "a light, until a row
q six mutlstcd corpses had been plscsa
upon the sidewalk, and nearly forty other
persons some badly and others less ssri-
ousiy injured had been carried In anhu-
ianccs or driven 10 hospitals
A family composed Of father. rnoshsr
and tUo girls narrowly escaped destr,,c-
tion. The Parents who happened Ia he
a nt,le ahead had gone under the bridge
the chtldren following Just al The moment
of the collapse. The parents were killed
b}it the children spfanE back and es.
capped with a few scratches.
A cyeilst had his wheel smashed, s,,,
himself escaped unhurt.
The dead are three wea, two women ana
one child.
Canse of the Disaster
The welghtF plaster towers seem "a he
responsible fer the fau of the STRUCTURE
Cammissl0ner General Picard and other
high osecials n the exposition arrived
shortly after the acrident and sars-fs-
tended fho wurk 90 reIlrf President
ts1ubot sent an officer 10 lss hoascaald
f7r Information
Several soldiers were among she injured
sRd many ~ their comrades were f5~e-
most ~ gtying assistance
The disaster WAS The leadlng topic a.,
discussion In tho cafes and the oshsr
Paris resorts this evening ana sfr,rr
criticism was lsveied against the exrosi-
ton authorities for allowing an unfinished
siruct1rv 10 be used, fears heiax ernress.
"a that the incomplete state of the works
wtnin tae exposition grounds therssefrrs
ghy isad ta "a similar scctaant
ft should ~ said. however ihzt the az
pQsiti3u authorities are rot gtzponssb,e
for the defective construction o. ths foot
bridge. which was erected By the man.
ascmeut % tire Celestial Globe.
As result of the accident M Tsrine
protest % police. has ordered the CLOSING
of several sideshows. the structural ar
rangemeats Of wh!eA a.e considered dan
geTeGs.