River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-04-13
MADRID IS SCENE
OF A DISASTER
BIG RESERVOIR IN SPANISH CAP
ITAL CoLLAPSES.
HUNDREDS BURIED IN RUINS
Fifty Dead Bodies Recovered and
and It Is Estimated That 400
Persons Were Killed
or Injured.

Madrid, April 10.-Four hundred per-
sons were killed or injured Saturday
by the collapse of new water reser-
voir in course of construction. Fifty
bodies have already been recovered.
An exact estimate of the casualties is
still impossible. 1t is stated that there
were 236 men in the lower part OF the
reservoir, all OF whom were killed.
The prince of the Asturias, the war
minister, the governor Of Madrid, and
representative Of the king have gone
to the spot to superintend the work OF
rescue. Troops sent TO the scene are
engaged in helping the sufferers and re-
covering the bodies of the dead. The
catastrophe caused a profound sensa-
ton throughout the city. All work was
suspended, and the people tiOcked to the
scene.
King Supervises Relief Measures.
King Alfonso was shooting at Cara
banchel when he heard of the disaster,
and Immediately repaired to the scene.
His arrival was the signal for ovations
from the crowds The king was deep
y
supervising the relief measures.
Working parties gradually removed
the debris, and recovered the mutilated
bodies, fragments of flesh and limbs.
A workman who was injured says
the collapse was so sudden and COM
plete that it was impossible to tell what
happened. The men at work on the
reservoir, however, anticipated trouble,
as a fortnight ago three arches col
lapsed and cracks developed in four
others.
The public hold the engineers and
contractors responsible for the catas-
trophe, into which the cabinet has or
dered strict inquiry.
Serious Disorders Feared.
AS the day passed the indignation
and excitement increased, and serious
disorders were feared, especially on
the occasion of the funerals of the vic
tins, should the authorities undertake
to prevent professions passing through
the center of the city Incipient dem
onstrations were directed against
those held to be responsible for the
disaster. PROFESSIONS of women carry
ing black flags paraded the district m
which the disaster occurred. A great
crowd marched to the center of the
city and forced the merchants to close
their establishments as sign of
mourning. The markets were all shut
and business was entirely at stand
still. The work of recovering the dead
and injured was hampered by enor-
nous crowds of angry men and wall
ing women.
Pitifu1 Scenes.
Many heartrending incidents and
painful scenes are reported. Ten of
those who were rescued alive have
gone mad A huge crowd stood
around the scene throughout the night
watching the attempts at rescue in
the light of huge electric lamps. Some
of the injured have died One body
was recovered from the ruins during
the night, but none later. Seven hun
dred workmen are engaged in clearing
the debris. During the day students
and workmen paraded the streets COL
lecting money for the families of VIC
tins of the disaster. The public is
contributing freely. The governor OF
Madrid has prohibited a great popular
demonstration of mourning which the
workmen wish to organize, but he re-
ceived the delegates of the workmcn's
associations. whom he informed that
a street procession would be permitted
under certain restrictions.