Evening star., 1913-08-11
Four Persons Thrown Into
River During Storm at
Great Falls.
TWO PAINFULLY INJURED
BY FALLING ON ROCKS
Experience Of Auto Party Yesterday
Acknowledgements Disturb
ance Causes Lower Temperature.

-Four persons narrowly escaped being
killed yesterday afternoon when the rus
tic suspension bridge connecting the
Maryland shore with the island at Great
Falls. weakened by the storm, suddenly
gave way and precipitated them into the
water. about twelve or fifteen feet below
Miss Leah I. Harriss Of haywood, near
Cherrydale, Va. one Of the party, fell on
big rock. and besides receiving severe
fracture Of the left elbow suffered many
bruises about the body. Miss Marie Lyon
OF 1922 North Carolina avenue northeast
was painfully bruised about the body
from the same cause, and suffered con-
siderably from shock. Everard II. Smith
Of 647 Massachusetts, avenue northeast
and Robert Scott Of Cherrydale. Va. fell
into the water at a place where there
were no rocks and were not hurt.
The young women were hurried into the
city In an automobile. After being treat
ed for her injuries by DR.. Frederick II.
Morhart, Miss Harriss, who suffered the
most severe injuries. was taken to her
home. Today 1t was necessary to have
an X-ray photograph taken Of her arm
In order to ascertain the extent Of the
fracture.
Collapse Follows Storm.
The bridge gave way yesterday after
noon shortly after the heavy wind and
rain storm swept over the section. It is
supposed that the wind dislodged the
cables from the wooden piers support
ing the bridge and thereby weakened the
structure to such an extent that when
the four young people attempted to cross
1t gave way. under their weight.
Miss Harriss and Miss Lyon and their
island when the storm broke. They had
ridden up to Great Falls in an auto
mobile.
Before they had reached the island end
Of the bridge the wind was blowing at
a high rate and rain was falling. c. A.
Weisgerber. chauffeur Of their automo-,
bile. ran ahead to put up the curtains.
He had just passed from the bridge when
the four young people started across.
They were In the center Of the main
span .When one Of the cables gave way.
The walkway instantly tilted and pro-
etpltated the four into the valley below.
Miss Harries, aS stated fell onto the
rocks. Miss Lyon. who was but q few
feet from her when the bridge gave way,
dropped into a rocky portion Of the
stream. where the current is very swift
She probably would have been drowned
had 1t not been for Robert Scott, who
from being swept down stream by the
current.
Smith Is Carried Down Stream.
Everard Smith was carried downstream
some distance by the current and only
after great effort was able to reach shall
low water. Weisberger, the chauffeur.
called for help and soon several men ran
to his assistance. A rowboat was pro-
cured and after considerable effort it was
propelled to the rock on which Miss Har-
riss had fallen. The young woman was
lifted into the boat and was carried
ashore. Miss Lyon and Scott were then
brought ashore. The two young women
were assisted into the automobile and
were hurried to the city.
Storm Reduces Temperature.
One storm was followed by another
and produced a. welcome relief from ex-
cessive heat and humidity, and the rain
that followed about II o'clock last night
sent the mercury tumbling down the
tube. The wind did comparatively little
though q few trees, weakened by
the terrific storm of week before last, were
r-,rooted. The rainfall, however, was
heavy. and the display Of lightning and
the constant roll of thunder made
at Glen Echo Chevy Chase Lake and
other nearby resorts had reached home
before the last storm opened. but the
boats from the river resorts were just
landing their crowds as the rain began
to fall. and the people were compelled
to hustle for the cars amid the first
heavy drops of the shower. More rain
today, the weather bureau says, may
be expected. with q strong possibility of
still more showery weather tonight and
tomorrow.
Forecast Of the Week.
Moderate temperatures for the first
part of this week. with warmer wealth
er toward the close, is the promise held
out in the weekly forecast OF the
weather bureau.
Weather conditions, according to the
forecast for the week, are likely to be
unsettled over the entire country, with
well distributed rains everywhere from
the Pacific to the Atlantic. and from
the gulf to the great lakes.
The drought that has scared Kansas
and adjacent states for, the past two
months has been broken, and continued
rains for that region during the week
are predicted. Hot weather. the fore
cast says. will continue there until
Tuesday or Wednesday, to be followed
by cooler weather and well distributed