Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-07-22
Wind STORM WRECKS
SPOKANE'S BIG BRIDGE
Dozens Of WOrknGn on Monroe Street
Structure Have Narrow Escape

SPOKANE, Wash, July 22.-With
crash of splintered timbers which
could be heard for half a mile, the
falsework temporary arch OF the
Inflated Monroe street bridge fell
Thursday afternoon at 1850 O'Clock,
costing the city many thousands OF
dollars At the same time 20 work
men narrowly escaped with their
lives, while two of their unfortunate
brother workmen lie bruised, MAIN
ed and bleeding in the Sacred Heart
hospital.
The big arch, containing 1875, 900
feet of tfmbers, has been in course of
construction for the past three
months. and when struck by the sud-
den wind. preceding the rainstorm
that broke over the city about 2
O'Clock, 1t seemed, according to eye
witnesses. that the great mass OF
timbers we're lifted bodily and
thrown by the force of the squaIl In
to the seething waters Of the Spo-
kane river.
WOIPers Is Worst injured.
A. NJ. Nelson. aged 81, who resides
at S22 Broadway. was one of the two
workmen to receive what was first
thought to be fatal injuries, and when
taken to the emergency hospital was
found to be suffering from cut over
the right eye and was badly bruised
and shaken up. His more unfortunate
partner, John F. wolpers, was taken
from the ruins of the structure, and
he was found to have a lacerated
scalp and forehead. Several ribs on
his right side were fractured, and ne
had a badly mashed right foot.
The remainder of the workmen
were on the steel work OF the old
bridge, and were in no great danger.
They ran Immediately to the edge OF
the river and picked up Wolpers and
Nelson, sending them to the emer-
gency hospital In the patrol wagon.
which had been hurriedly summoned.
Wolpers is a married man and
lives with his wife and family at
1924 Rich avenue, while Nelson Is a
single man, recently coming to spo-
kane from St. Paul.
Little Left of Arch.
Nothing save the base plates and
a few twisted and broken timbers
are now to be seen of what was once
the great arch that was to support
the center span of the new bridge.
Since the city council decided to
build the greatest concrete arch span
in the world three men have been
killed on the work and a hoodoo
seems to follow the men who have
been employed there.
When the gust Of wind sprang mp
from the west great clouds of dust
enveloped the city, and most Of the
workmen on the weak portion Of the
span were told to get in a place of
safety, and all succeeded in doing so
with the exception of Nelson and
Wolpers. who were thrown to the
rocks below when the big span col
lapsed.
One man. who was near the top OF
the structure, was seen to dive into
the river, as the arch begin swaying
and in a few moments he reappeared
upon the surface and swan to shore
and was the first man to help ex-
tricate the injured men.
Power Plant Is Damaged
In falling. the big mass Of timbers
sheared on the corner of the Wash
ington Water Power company's pow
er house. The 40 big copper wires
that feed the current to the north
side were clipped as II with NAM
moth scissors. The first rumor that
was heard in the city was that the
span had fallen upon the power
house ara had killed 10 dynamo ten
ders who are employed In the build
ing.
Aside from a scare the men in the
building were unhurt. and began al
once to clear up the wreckage OF the
interior
The breaking Of the wires put the
street cars out Of commission at in
teryals all afternoon. and some parts
OF the north side were without lights
all Thursday night. The company set
large gangs OF lInemen to work i'm