The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-09-03

Bridge Near Quebec Collapsed With
Fatal Results Of Work
men Precipitated Into the
River.

Quebec, Aug, z9.-Ine great Que-
bee bridge collapsed late this after
noon and now the vast mass OF steel
work lies tangled wreck across the
St. Lawrence channel. A careful es-
innate of the loss of life is 81. The
bridge fell at exactly % minutes to 3
this evening, just as many OF the
workm4n were preparing to leave.
The accident was so terrible IN It's
effectiveness in wiping out the lives
Of the men employed that very little
is known as to the cause Of the disac-
ter.
Quebec, Aug. ga section of the
new bridge across the St. Lawrence
river. five miles below this city, col
lapsed late today, carrying scores OF
bridge workmen and machinists into
the water. It is estimated that the
loss of life is more than 60 and may
exceed that number by 20.
The bridge was about : mile s1A
a half in length and half Of it, from
the south shore to midstream, crump-
led up and dropped into the water.
Ninety men were at work on this
section Of the structure and the whis-
tie had just blown at $50 for the men
to quit work for the day when there
came a grinding sound from the
bridge midstream. The men turned
to see what had happened and an in
stant later the cry went up "The
bridge is falling" The men made
rush shoreward but the distance was
too great for them to escape. The
fallen section of the bridge dragged
others after it, the swapping girders
and cables booming like crash Of
artillery.
Terror lent fleetness to the feet OF
the frightened workmen as they sped
shoreward but only few Of them
reached safety before the last piece
of iron work on the south shore was
dragged into the water.
Near the shore the wreekage Of the
bridge did not 60 below the surface Of
the water and eight workmen who
remained above the water were res
cued and taken to the hospital at Lev
IS.
The steamer Glennmont had just
cleared the bridge when the first Sec
ton fell. The water thrown up by
the debris went clear over the bridge
Of the steamer. The captain at once
lowered boats. The small boats piled
backward and forward over the sunk
en- wreckage for half an hour. but
there was no sign Of life. The twist
ed iron and steel had its victims in
terrible death grip. A few floating
timbers and the broken strands Of
the bridge toward the north shore
we're the only signs that anything un.
usual had happened. There was not
a ripple on the smooth surface Of
the St. Lawrence as It swept along
toward the gulf. All the men drown
ed we're employees of the Phoenixville
Bridge company and subcontractors
Of Quebec and Montreal.
At 10 o'clock tonight 16 bodies had
been picked up and Of the eight men
in the hospital two are not expected
to live throughout the night.
The Quebec bridge was begun about
seven years ago and it was to be fin
ished in 1909. Subsidies had been
granted by the federal and provincial
governments and the city Of Quebec,
and the estimated cost. Of the work
was $1O,0OO,OO0.
The Phoenixville Bridge company
Of Pennsylvania had the contract for
the construction Of the bridge and
we're working from both sides Of the
river. The horror Of the situation is
increased by the fact that there are
number of wounded men pinned IN
the wreckage near the shore. Their
groans and shrieks can be plainly
heard by the crowds who have gather
ed at the waters edge, but nothing
so far can be done to relieve their
sufferings. There are no search
lights available and by the feeble
light Of lanterns it is impossible to
locate some Of the sufferers.