Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-31
VICTIMS OF GREAT
BRIDGE DISASTER.
They Number at Least Seventy
Five and May Considerably
Exceed That.
LESS THAN 20 BODIES FOUND.


Quebec. Aug. 3O.--Wlth the first
break OF dawn half dozen govern
ment and Quebec Bridge compnny's
tugs began n search OF the st. Law
renee river for the victims of last
nights catastrophe. The toll of death
caused by the collapse Of the great
cantilever bridge numbers at least rs
and may reach SIS. Up to an early
hour today less than 20 bodies had
been recovered. The terrific weight
of the great steel structure failing
from $50 feet above the surface OF the
river crushed the bodies of many OF
the workmen in n frightful manner
and 1t is feared many win never be
found. Many of the dead We're Ameri-
cans brought here by the Phoenix
Bridge company OF Phoenixvile Pa.
which had the contract for the iron
work on the bridge.
SOME KNOWN DEAD.
Among the known dead are:
II. A. Gansel. general foreman for
the Phoenix Bridge company
Chief Engineer BirkS.
Fireman Davis of the bridge switch
engine.
John w. HALEY, fireman.
Jim ludn, lfulHnh foreman.
About 80 Caugbnamaga Indians en-
ploye1 as laborers,
Victor, James and Henry Mardy,
brothers of New Liverpool. Quebec
MILFORD Proutex of New Liverpool
Quebec.
Sephrian La France. Quebec.
Early this morning rowboats were
sent out 80 examine the superstruc-
ture showing above the water near
the shore, to ascertain If any of the
workmen We're imprisoned in the mass
of twisted iron work, None were
found alive. Just below the surface
of the water two bodies We're seen.
but 1t will be impossible TO reach
them until the tide goes out. Both
the local and Dominion authorities
have taken steps to investigate the
cause of the disaster and if possible.
to fix the responsibility. Some of
the workmen expressed the belief that
the pier gave way under the tre-
mendous strain of the overhanging
steel work. NJ r. Davis of Ottawa,
the contractor who built the piers,
made a hagty examination last night.
however. and reported them to be in
good condition. although the steel
superstructpre had fallen upon them.
ENGINEERS ESCAPE.
A locomotive and several freight
tuIN iphutu Win Slttl ElIutIS were
moving out on the bridge just before
the structure collapsed Engineer
jess went into the river with his en-
CINE. but was picked up 500 feet be-
low the bridge, Fireman Davis per- ,
ished, Engineer Jess was removed to
Lewis hospital. whore he rapidly re-
covered from the eff scts of his plunge
into the river According to his story
the steel work overhanging the river
was the first to show signs of weak
ness. After the first sign OF danger
Jess shut off steam. but his locomotive
continued 10 move toward the end of
the bridge, which had begun to tot
ter and a moment later the engine
went into the river.
Several engineers visited the scene
today 1t was evident. they said, that
there hal been miscalculation of ten
sile strength In some spot. That
weak spot had given way under the
strain of hundreds of thousands of
tons of steel. and this had at once
upset the balance of n portion of the
structure and caused the collapse. The
number of dead, as stated at the office
ot the Phoenix Bridge company to-
day, was Is Canadians. 80 Indians and
IL Americans. but the officials would
rot venture To give out any names
Just al present. They also state that
five Canadians, four Indians and three
Americans are injured The Quebec
Bridge company officials place the
number OF dead at rs.
SEVENTY NINE KILLED.
Although "a hours have elapsaa
since the Quebec bridge fell into the
ot. Lawrence river. three score bridge
workers are still held in the meshwork
or debris at the bottom of the river.
AT the roll-call this afternoon 70 men