Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-10-20
Ten Workrnen Killed and Five
Injured in Wabash
Bridge Disaster.
SEVERAL ESCAPE BY JUMPING
Collapse of Movable Crane Cause of
catastrophe-Barges Sunk by Fall.
ing Beams-BodIes of Victims Badly
Manaled.

Pittsburg, Oct. 20.-Either through
the breaking of a portion of the sup
port under the big travelling crane at
the end of the span at the Pittsburg
end of the new Wabash bridge or by
the swapping of cables supporting the
material which was being heisted to
the top of the structure, eight men
were hurled to death in the Mononga-
hela river. Two men are said to be
missing, while five are in the various
hospitals of the two cities, the in
juries of some of whom may result
fatally.
The accident is one of the worst Il
its kind that has ever happened III
this neighborhood 1t is the first of
serious nature to take place at the
new bridge being constructed by the
Wabash Railroad company over the
Monongahela
The Dead.
w. c. kempton, Perth Amboy, N. Y.
w. c. Fleming, East End; married.
George Wells, aged 80, Heron Hill,
James McLoud, Esplen.
Frederick SaIIinger, Homestead.
j. Campbell, Philadelphia.
William kitlinger, Sheraden; died at
hospital
Frank Daily, New Castle. Pa.
Charles Simmons, Summerville, o.
Edward Morris, 2118 Reed street.
The Injured.
Adolph Vosburg, Duquesne; leg and
arm fractured.
Frank Hoover, Allegheny injured in
ternally; may die.
William Jay, Beaver Falls; severe
bruises; will recover.
A. M. Fowler, Paterson, N J.; left foot
crushed
Earl crider, Allegheny; hurt about
head; not dangerously.
Crane Fell With the Men.
The portion of the structure which
gave way, allowing the men to fall
into the river, is known as a can't
lever crane" one being placed at the
end of each span of the new bridge.
on the two sides of the river. The
traveller" does not form part of the
bridge structure itself but enables the
placing Of additional portions of the
span On the top of the crane is q
level platform or floor, on which Nc
Loud, Fleming and Sallinger three Of
the victims, were at work number
of the other men employed as signal
men, holsters or "rammers" were en-
ployed on the work. the number en-
ployed at this end of the bridge being
IS, according to the timebooks Of the
company
About eight of these men were at
work in the two barges underneath
the span, getting the Orders ready for
hoisting. In a wooden basket at the
outer edge of the span number Of
men were ready to ram in one of the
big pins Of the structure, when the ac-
cident occurred.
Death Came Without Warning.
Without any previous warning por-
ton of the crane gave way and the
structure dropped, allowing the men
on top to slip from the edge of the
platform, falling perhaps 200 feet 20
the barge and hurting those others
engaged in the work underneath to
their death A number of the Orders
and other material fell on one of the
barges under the bridge and sank it.
only portion of the barge remaining
out of the water
At the east side of the new bridge
is the United States snagboat E. A
Woodruff. Captain Christian in COM
mand. The crew of this boat was
prompt in the work of rescue and in
one or two minutes after the accident
happened men had manned skiffs ami
were taking the bodies of the victims
of the accident from the water
The crew of the snagboat with Their
skiffs soon had recovered four bodies
most of them badly crushed. Another
victim was rescued alive, but sue
cumbed to his injuries before he reach.
ed the shore. The towboat John D.
Watson came across the river and
joined in the work of rescue It sue
ceeded in taking two mangled bodies
from the river. A dozen sl1iffs along
the bank took two bodies from the
steel-laden barge, while five men, more
or less crushed were taken to shore