The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-03
DEADLY CRASH.
sIGursEERs MEET DEATH IN PARIS
EXPOSITION.
NINE KILLED, NINE INJURED
Temporary Footbridge Gives Way Mt big
celestial Globe" Sideshow-Structure
Had Been Condemned, Else the Mortal
ity Would Have Been FAR Grcater-Casts
Gloom over Assemblage.

Paris. by Cable AN accident within the
exposition grounds caused the death OF nine
persons aud nine others were injured. A
temporary bridge which was unable to with
stand the Sunday crowd broke. The acct
dent threw pail over the happiness OF an
immense throng who had proflted by the
magnificent weather to visit the exposition.
Sundays was probably the record attend
ance. Not merely the interior Of the grounds,
but the precincts also were crowded, and the
concourse was particularly great along the
Avenue de Sufrren. which forms the north
ern boundary OF tho grounds.
Here Is situated big sideshow-the celes-
tial globe. A footbridge, on which the fin
ishing touches were being put. crosses the
Avenue dc Sufrren, connecting the sideshow
with the exhibition. 1t was constructed Of
wood, with stucco facade, and with n
plaster-made tower at each end.
Strangely enough. the bridge had been
condemned as unsafe by the exhibition
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.
The gay crowd was passing along the ave-
nue. and some hundred or more persons were
walking beneath the bridge, when suddenly
an ominous cracking was heard. Before
those underneath could turn aside the struc-
ture fell with fearful crash, burying near
ly 80.
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 fol-
lowed. But this was only for few seconds.
Almost Immediately the crowd attacked the
debris In an effort to release those lying be-
meath
The workmen within the grounds who had
witnessed the accident, the police and the
republican guards together with quite a
number Of soldiers, joined IN the rescue
work The promenPders forgot a ''- 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 half-1nished buildings
nearby and were used as levers to raise the
fallen mass.
The victims first recovered were mostly
only the injured. the dead being found Inter
beneath the centre of the structure. Mes
sengers were dispatched to bring iiremen and
sappers. with their equipments, and the first
body was found after quarter OF an hour 8
frantic labor. It was that of a little girl
about years old whose head was horribly
crushed. Victim after victim was brought
to light until row Of six mutilated corrses
had been placed upon the sidewalk, and
nearly 40 other persons, some badly and
others less seriously injured, had been car
ried in ambuiances or driven TO the hos
pitals.
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 Mt tho moment OF the
collapse. The parents were killed, but the
children sprany back and escaped with n
few scratches. A 'cyclist had his wheel
smashed, but himself escaped unhurt.
The weighty plaster towers seem 20 have
been responsible for the fall of the structure.
Commissioner General Picard and other high
officials of the exposition arrived shortly
after the accident and superintended 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.