The state herald., 1907-09-06

Quebec.-Eighty-five lives. according
10 a close estimate, were lost near here
when the great Quebec cantilever
bridge In course of construction across
the st. Lawrence river went down of
Its own weight. The details of the
great catastrophe most impressively
emphasizes the clean sweep Of life the
giant structure made when II fell into
the water $50 feet below.
With the first break of dawn half
dozen government and Quebec Bridge
Company tugs began search of the st.
Lawrence river for the victims. The
terrific drop of the great steel struc.
ture from lS0 feet above the surface
Of the river crushed the bodies of
many Of the workmen In frlghtful
manner and II is feared many will
never be found. Many OF the dead
were Americans brought here by tho
Ph9nix Bridge Company of Phoenix.
Vile. Pennsylvania, which had the con.
tract FOR the iron work on the bridge.
Both local and the Dominion authorl.
ties have taken steps TO investigate the
cause OF the disaster and to fix the re.
sponsibility.
Some Of the workmcn expressed the
belief that the main picr gave way un.
der tremendous strain OF oyerhanging
steel work. NJ. =. Davis OF Ottawa, the
contractor who built the piers, made n
hasty examination. however. and re.
ported them In good condition, nj.
though the steel supcrstructure had
fallen upon them.
Rescue Engineer.
A locomotive and several freight
cars loaded with steel girders were
moving out upon the bridge Just before
the structure collapsed. Engineer Joss,
who was ON the locomotive. went into
the river with his engine, but was
picked up 800 feet below the bridge.
Fireman Davis perishcd. Engineer
Joss was removed TO Lewis hospital,
where he rapidly recovered from the Of.
fects OF his plunge into the river Ac.
cordlng to his story the steel work
oyerhnnging the river was the first TO
show signs OF weakness At the first
sign o. danger Joss shut OF the steam
but his locomotive continued TO move
toward the end OF the bridge which had
begun to totter and moment later the
engine went down.
There IL scarcely a family In the VII.
lage OF St Romunld's and New Liver.
pool which has not been bereayed,
while In some cases iive and six men Of
single family have been killed. From
almost every house Is heard the sound
OF lamentations OF women. The men
are gathered around the approaches To
the wrecked bridge aiding In the ef.
forts TO rescue those who are still alive
or caring for thebodies OF tho dead
II was known THAT there were about
100 mon at work on this part OF the
structure and the tldIngs caused tho
most Intensive anxiety. which grndu.
ally grew Into a dcspalring certainty
that one OF the most terrible disasters
Canada has ever known had taken
place.
Fearful Disaster.
There was nothing OF an untownrd
nature reported that could give the
slightest indication during the past fow
days that the huge structure was In
dangerous condition. II was built on
such Immense lines that II did not
seem possible that II could break
down.
Whethcr tho fall was caused by n dc.
feet In tho material or by mn error In
the calculations OF tho engineer In q
nero matter Of conjecture. One certain
fact ID whero there was almost half OF
= bridge that was 10 have been ono Of
the engineering wonder OF tho world,
thare II nothing now but mass Of
twisted Iron wrcckagc.
The southern extension Of tho bridge
which collapsed was rapidly nearing
the tonith Of tho Immense steel arch
which was TO span tho rivar. For 800
feet from the shore tho massive steel
structure reared nm arch with no sup.
ports save tho piers from tho shore and
ono pier In the river about 100 fee.
from tho shore. while the outward OK.
remIty was $50 feet above tho water.
Tho end Of the half arch bent down
tribe and n moment later tho whole
enormous fabric began 10 give way,
slowly at nrst. then with a terrific
crash which was plainly heard In Quo.
boo and which shook the whole country
side 40 that the residents rushed out ~
their houses thinking that mn earth.
quake had occurred.
Longest Bridus In the World.
Th. Quebec bridge was remarkable
In that Il was 10 be tho longest single.