The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-04-09
FOUR HUNDRED
PERSONS KILLED
Collapse of a New Water Reservoir
at Madrid, Spain.
PEOPLE GREATLY EXCITED
CABINET HAS ORDERED STRICT
INQUIRY.

MA ADRlD. April Sour hundred
IEE persons were killed or injured to-
day by the collapse of new
water reservoir in course of construc-
ton. Fifty bodies have already been
recovered.
The Prince of the Asturias the war
minister, the governor Of Madrid and a
representative Of the king have gone to
the scene to superinteud the work Of
rescue. Troops sent to the spot are
engaged in helping the sufferers and re
covering the bodies of the dead
Caused Great Excitement.
The catastrophe caused a profound
sensation throughout the city. All work
was suspended and the people Hocked
to the scene.
As the day passed the Indignation
and excitement increased and serious
disorders are feared. especially on the
occasions of the funerals of the vic
TINS, should the authorities undertake
to prevent professions passing through
the center of the city.
Carried Black Flags.
Already mcipient demonstrations are
nElti
to be responsible for the diSa ster. Pro
cessiOnS Of women carrying black flags
are parading the district i'm which the
/ disaster occurred great crowd
marched to the center of the city and
forced the merchants to close their eS-
adjustments as d sign Of mourning
The markets are all shut and business
II entirely at a staUdstilI
The work of recovering the dead and
injured is hampered by enormous
crowds of angry women.
The estimates of the number of per
sons injured are increasing. Nearly all
the injuries are of a serious nature
The ambulance stations are already
overlooked. but assistance continues to
arrive from every direction.
I King Came at Once.
King Alfonso was shooting at C,ura-
banchel when he heard of the disaster
I and Immediately repaired to the scene
His arrival was the signal for OvatiOns
! from the crowds. The king was deeply
moved and insisted upon personally
| supervising the relief measures
Working parties are gradually re-
moving the debris and continue to re-
/ cover mutilated bodies, fragments OF
! flesh and limbs.
a workman who was injured saws the
/ collapse was 50 sudden and complete
| thatit was impossible TO tell what hap
pened- The men at work on the reser-
VOiT. however, tiCipated trouble as q
/ fortnight ago three arches cola psed
/ and cracks developed in four others
| The public hold the engineers and con
/ tractors responsible for the catastro-
| phe, into which the cabinet has ordered
d strict inquiry.
/ The structure which collapsed was a
/ huge quadrilateral. $50 by $50 metres
/ built on arches. The disaster was due
/ to the weakness of the supporting
I pillars AS the greater part Of the deb
| riS is under water, the work of ex-
( Treating the victims is most difficult
Up to this time 100 bodies have beer
| recovered. These We're taken immedi-
/ ately to the cemetery in order TO pre-
vent disturbances. Seventy. injured
/ persons have been rescued. but il is
/ feared the remainder of those wOrkine
| in the vicinity at the time of the acct
/ dent persisted in the crushed masonry
| or by asphyXiation. Military guard.
/ are posted all about the scene of tn,
\ disaster. The government has author
| ICED the opening of a relief fund. anC
/ at "A meeting of the cabinet il was de
| cided TO appoint q mixed civilian anC
military commission. TO establish re
spousibility for the disaster.