The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-31
loo Much Weight on Great
 CantisVaf Bridge
BODIES OF MEN CRUSHED
Terrific Drop Into Deep Water Gave No Time for Escape and All Went Down Under Framework
 and Drowned


 statement given out today by officials of the Quebec Bridge company, the num- Der of dead as a result of the collapsinr of the Quebec bridge last evening, Is at least seventy-eight. They say that four teen bodies have been recovered. nine men were rescued alive and sixty-four are still unaccounted for
 Daybreak revealed the fact that the collapse of the bridge was not caused by any failure in the masonry work, as was supposed last night. Although the in- mediate cause of the smash is supposed to have been the running of a heavily load ed train out to the end 1t Is evident that this merely hastened the disaster since every hour the weight at the outer end of the structure was being increased as the huge glrders were riveted into place. With the first break of dawn half dozen government and Quebec Bridge company tugs began a search of the s.. Lawrence river for the victims of last nights catastrophe. The toll of death caused by the collapse of the great cantil- ever bridge numbers seventy-eight. and may reach eight-five. Up to an early hour today less than twenty bodies had been recovered. The terrific drop of the great steel structure from 1S0 feet above the surface of the river crushed the bodies of many of the workmen in d frightfu manner. and 1t Is feared many of them never will be found. Many of the dead were Americans brought here by the Phoenix Bridge company of Phoenix . vile, Pa, which had the contract for the iron work on the bridge.
 List of the Dead.
 Among the known dead are.
 B, A. Gansel, general foreman of the Phocrix Bridge company
 Chief Engineer Brks mot Burke).
 Fireman Davis of the bridge switch engine.
 John Whalley, foreman.
 Jim Idah. Indian foreman.
 About thirty Caughnawaga Indians em- ployed as laborers
 Victor, James and Henry Hardy, broth CTS, of New Liverpool, Quebec.
 Wilfred Proulex of New Liverpool Quebec.
 Zephrian Larrance. Quebec.
 Early today row boats were sent out to examine the superstructure showing above the water near the shore to asccr- tain if any of the worlsmen were impris- oned in the mass of twisted iron work None were found alive. Just below the surface of the water two bodies were seen, but it will be impossible to reach them until the tide goes out.
 Investigation Planned.
 Both the local and Dominion authorities have taken steps to investigate the cause the disaster and if possible fix the responsibility. Some of the workmen ex- pressed the belief that the anchor pier gave way under the tremendous strain of the over-hanging steel work. M. P. Da- wis of Ottawa, the contractor who built the piers, made a nasty examination last night, however, and reported them to be in good condition. although the steel superstructure hao fallen upon them.
 a locomotive and several freight cars loaded with steel girders wore moving out upon the bridge just before the struc- ture collapsed. Engineer Jess who was on the locomotive. went into the river with his engine but was picked up 300 feet below the bridge. Fireman Davis perish ed Engineer Jess was removed to Lewis hospital where he rapidly recovered from the effects of his plunge into the river. According to his story. the steel work over-hanging the river, was the first to show signs of weakness At the first sign
  locomotive continued to move toward the end of the bridge, which had begun to totter, and q moment later the engine went into the river.
 Looking for Bodies.
 Bridge employees were busy all day to- day looking for bodies among the piles of iron which fell on the shore. The scene on both sides was a pathetic one. Women were sitting on logs weeping, and as a body was brought ashore. there was a wild rush to if 1t was that of a lost husband, brother or relative. As the bodies were found they were carried 10 one of the companys buildings. The correspondent was told at the company 8 office that the bodies Of five Canadians and five Indians had been found.
 The number of victims as stated at the head office of the Phoenix Bridge com pany today Is as follows.
 Eighteen Canadians, twenty-eight In dians and seventeen Americans. They also state that five Canadians, four In- dians and three Americans were injured. The bodies will be brought here this evening, where an inquest will be held.