The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-11
Minnesota Loses Banner So Long Car
ried at Head of Grain Grolving
States.
STEAMER WRECKS .
4 DULUTH BRIDGE
Channel to Upper Harbor Blocked
{ & and Vast Traffic by Land
and Sea Out Off. 3d.

: Duluth, Aug. 11.-At. 1 'cloek this
morning the steamer Troy, a 5,00o-ton
steel package freighter owned by the
Western Transit company, colided with
the span Of the interstate bridge and
precipoitated it into the channels on
either side Of the center, pier on which
the span revolved.
Navigation to and from the upper
harbor, the most active portion Of the
head of the lakes, is blocked. The span
was about one-third open at the time
Of the crash.
The accident is the most disastrous
that has ever happened in the Duluth.
Superior harbor. The wrecked bridge
lies In such a manner as to block the
pier so that it is impossible even for
a tug to pass.
Street railway and team traffic be.
tween Duluth and Superior is cut off
and will be for some time to come.
Night Engineers Story.
Edward Williams, the night engineer
and watchman in charge of the bridge,
had narrow escape from death. He
declares the Troy approached the bridge
and blew for It to open in the usual
way; HYshs seemed 10 be ,bo,,4 500 10 900
liams. IT at once started to open the
draw, and when 7 had it one-third open
the steamer struck it about : twenty
| feet from the center pier, in the chan
ne1 on the Superior side The span gave
way. The end Of the span that was
struck by the boat gave way first and
then the other end toppled oyer into
The bridge is owned ~ the Great
N H.
500 feet in length, one of the longest
In the world.
Communication Cut Off. 1'-.~' -~
Twenty-six steamers, now in the upper
harbor, are cut off from returning to
the lake OF to the Duluth side of the
harbor. -.
Most Of the coal docks are in the
upper harbor, also many Of the grain
elevators, merchandise docks and the
shipyard on the Superior side. Water
The greater part Of the tonnage of
the Duluth Superior harbor originates
In st: Louis bay, where the docks Of
the Duluth, Missabe & Northern road
are located. Therefore, many thousand
tons Of ore will be held up until the
channel is cleared
Says Bridgetender Was Asleep.
The steamer Troy was badly dam.
aged, her bow being stove in. Captain
Murray of the Troy declares that the
! brldRetepder was asleep and that re.
peated blowings Of the steamer IS whis
tie failed to arouse him.
LAS the steamer was under way
; said Captain Murray, ''I expected the
bridge to swing as usual, permitting
the boat to pass thru. The fact thai
the bridge would not open became an
parent too late and the Troy crashed
into the draw. Then came the bis
splash.'
Beyond Repair This Season.
It is asserted that the bridge cannoi
be put in commission again this sea
son, altho the span now blocking thu
movement Of many steamers will b.
removed as soon ais possible, perhap
in two days.
Loss Of 100000 on Bridge.
Estimates of the final loss to tn
bridge alone vary from 100000 t,
100000. The bridge when built wa
,, bonded for 100000, and cost approxi
mate1y 81 100000.
The pier which held the balancet
, draw span is not badly injured, and i
> is believed that with salvage subtracte,
! the actual loss will not exceed 100000