The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-30
BIC BRIDGE FALLS
Section Of Structure Being Built
Across the st. Lawrence
COllapses Carrying to the Bot
tom Scores of WOrkmen.
SEVENTY FIVE DEAD.
The Number May Be Even
Greater Than That.
Engine and Train of Cars Went
Down at Same Time.
LONGEST IN WORLD.
Estimated Cost of the Work
Was SIO,OOO,OOO.
Construction Was Begun About
Seven Years Ago.
The Number May Be Even
Greater Than That.
Engine and Train of Cars Went
Down at Same Time.
LONGEST IN WORLD.
Estimated Cost of the Work
Was S1O,OOO,OOO.
Construction Was Begun About
Seven Years Ago.

Quebec Aug. 30.-A section of the
new bridge across the st. Lawrence
river, five miles below this city, col
lapsed late yesterday, carrying scores of
bridge workmen and mechanics into
the water.
With the first break of dawn half
dozen government and Quebec Bridge
company tugs began a search of the
St. Lawrence river for the victims of
the catastrophe. The toll of death
caused by the collapse of the great
Cantiliver bridge numbers at least 75.
and may reach s5. Up to an early hour
today less than 20 bodies had been
covered. 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 frightful
manner and it is feared many will
N never be found.
Many of the dead were Americans
~pught here by the Phoenix Bridge
cS&ppany of Phoenix. Pa. which had
the contract for the iron work on the
bridge. Those known to be dead are:
The Dead.
B. A. Camel, general foreman for the
Phoenix Bridge company.
Chief Engineer Birks.
Fireman Davis. of the bridge switch
engine.
John Whalley. fireman.
Jim Idah, Indian, foreman.
About 80 Caughnawaga Indians en-
ployed as laborers.
Victor. James and Henry Hardy,
brothers of New Liverpool, Quebec.
WIlfred Proulex, of New Liverpool
Quebec.
Zephrian- LaF'rance, Quebec
Search for Victims.
Early this morning rowboats were
sent out TO examine the superstructure
showing above the water near the shore
to ascertain if any of the workmen
were imprisoned in the mass of twisted
iron work, but none was found alive. Just
below the surface of the water, two
bodies were seen, but 1t will be impos-
sible to reach them until the tide goes
out
Both the local and the Dominion
authorities have taken steps to investi-
gate the cause of the disaster and if
possible fix the responsibility.
Some of the workmen expressed the
belief that the anchor pier gave way
under tremendous strain of the over
hanging steel work. NJ P. Davis of OF
tawa. the contractor who built the
piers, made examination last night.
however, and reported them to be in
good condition, although the steel sup
ertsructure had fallen upon them.
A locomotive and several freight cars
loaded with steel girders were moving
out upon the bridge just before the
structure 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 perished.
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
overhanging the river was the first to
show signs of weakness. At the first
sign of danger Jess shut off the steam
but his locomotive continued to move
toward the end of the bridge which had
begun to totter and a moment later
the engine went into the river.
1t just CrumDIed Up.
The bridge was about a mile and a
half in length and half of 1t, from the |
south shore to midstream, crumpIed |
up and dropped into the water. Nine |
Aof the structure. and the whistle had
klown at $40 for the men to quit |
%rk for the day when there came a |
grinding sound from the bridge mid
what had happened and an instant |
later the cry went up. THE bridge is |
falling" The men made a 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 a crash of artil-
lery. Terror lent fieetness to the feet !
of the frightened workmen as they |
sped shoreward. but only a few of |
them reached safety before the last |
piece OA IRON WOTh on Ine south SnOr6 /
was dragged into the river. Near the /
shore the wreckage of the bridge did |
not 90 below the surface of the water
and eight workmen who remained |
above water were rescued and taken
to the hospital at Lewis.
The steamer Glenmont had Just clear
ed the bridge when the first section fell
The water thrown up by the debris came /
clear over the bridge of the steamer
The captain at once lowered boats. The /
small boats piled backward and for
ward over the sunken wreckage for half
an hour. but there was no sign of life
The twisted iron and steel had its vic
tins in a terrible death grip. A few
floating timbers and the broken strands
~ the bridge toward the north shore
GVere 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 drowned were employees of |
the Phoenixville Bridge company and |
sub-contractors of Quebec and Montreal
The Quebec bridge was begun about
seven years ago and it was to be finish
ed in 1903. Subsidies had been granted |
by the federal and provincial govern
ment and the city of Quebec and the |