Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-30
FROM GAIETY TO GRIEF
ACCIDENT MARKS SUM-
DAY AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
A Condemned Bridge Falls on o Pass
ing Crowd, Killing Nine and
Wounding Many Persons.

A temporary bridge within the Paris ex-
position grounds fell yesterday, burying
nearly sixty persons who were walking
along the avenue beneath it. On the north
ern boundary Of the grounds is situated a
big side show. the Celestial Globe, and the
bridge SPAWNED the Avenue de Suffren and
connected the show with the exposition.
The bridge had been condemned as unsafe
Saturday morning by the exposition au-
thorities. and no one was allowed to go
upon the structure. which was constructed
of wood, with a stucco facade and plaster
towers at each end.
Suddenly Overwhelmed.
The gay crowd was passing along the
avenue, and some hundred or more per-
sens were walking beneath the bridge,
when suddenly an ominous noise was heard.
Before those underneath could turn aside
the structure fell with fearful crash.
burying more than half a hundred. 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 and confusion
followed. But this was only for few
seconds. Almost Immediately the crowd at
tackled the debris in an effort to release
those lying beneath.
The workmen within the grounds who
had witnessed the accident the police and
the Republican Guards, together with quite
number Of soldiers, joined in the rescue
work. The promenaders forgot their Sun
day attire. and covered themselves with
dirt and CRIME in tearing away the rubbish
with their hands. Wooden beams and poles
were brought from the haif-fnished build
ings near by and were used as levers to
raise the fallen mass
Six MutiIated COrpses.
The victims first recovered were mostly
beneath the center of the structure. Mes
sengers were dispatched to bring fremen
and sappers with their equipments and the
first body was found after a quarter of an
hours frantic labor. 1t 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 mutt
lated corpses had been placed upon the side
walk, and nearly fifty other persons, some
badly and others less seriously injured. had
been carried in ambulances or driven to the
hospital
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 a
few scratches. A cyclist had his wheel
smashed. but himself escaped unhurt
The weghty plaster towers seem to have
been responsible for the fall of the struc-
ture-
Nine Persons Killed.
Some of the injured died at the hospital.
The corrected list shows that nine were
killed and nine injured, the injuries being
mostly compound fractures of the leg.
Several of the Paris morning papers to-
day pronounce severe criticisms The Matin
says:
There is only one judgment to deliver on
this sad event. 1t is this: Those who did
not think of preventing the public from
passing under cardboard bridge after
having themselves recognized it as unsafe
and those who have opened attractions to
visitors which are not protected against fire,
are guilty of crime"
1t calls upon the authorities thoroughly
to inspect hastily built buildings and to de-
stroy those which present the least danger
1t also urges the closing of some buildings
ana the appointment of committee of in
quiry declaring that this is a necessary
guarantee of public security.
Ihe Figaro and the Rappel sound a note
OF warming against attempting to make the
government responsible, as several of the
nationalist organs are only too eager to do