The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-12-18
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE /
CAR FALLS FAR INTO
RIVER; SEVEN DEAD

occupants shrieked In terror ms
they rushed 10 safety.
The accident occurred in tho
dark or early morning. when hun.
drods OF people were hurrying to
their work The cars were crowd.
ed.
Every person on tho death car
was reported 10 have been hurled
INTO the river. II was several min.
utes before rcscucrs were at work.
nut during that time at least a
dozen men struggled 10 the hanks.
where they we're pulled from tho
water by spectators.
The bridge spans the Spokane
river. quarter OF a mile above the
upper cataract and about half.
mile above the main falls. Tho wa.
ter at this point Is probably 40 feet
In depth and Is turmoil OF whiyl.
pools.
Rovhosts rcauisitioned by the
police were rushed TO the spot
where the car had piled up. a mass
OF debris showing above the water.
-Four persons who were strug-
slins In the water were pulled into
the boats. One OF these. youth
was suffering from a terrible scalp
wound and was hardly conscious.
Within few minutes thousands
OF people had gathered.
Crowd hampers Rescue
The police had much trouble In
holding the excited crowds In
check.
As the bodies OF the victims or
the injured we're recovered they
were hurried ashore. the police
pounding their way thru the
crowds 10 automobile ambulances
II was stated sat the Emergency
hospital that one or two OF the 10.
jured might not recover. Esti.
mates OF the number OF injured
varied and at that hour no accu.
rate statement could be made.
Persons on the second car said
tho car that went thru the bridge
was crowded and that Il was pos.
sibls that 50 persons were hurled
Into the water
Say 30 Were Aboard
Street car men. however. said
that a majority Of the passengers
we're standing near the rear end
OF the car and that the front end
was practically clear. They be-
lievsd that not more than so were
aboard
Workmen had been engaged for
some time repairing the bridge.
which has been partially closed 20
traffic The floor was being paved.
The cause OF the collapse OF the
bridge could not be determined
II was stated that thoro investi.
CATION will be made.
The bridge apparently dropped
beneath the weight OF tho car.
which slid ntlseiessly thru great
hole into the river.
As the car. which was inbound on
tho Astor-Division line. fell into
the river. heavy steel beam fell
on II. ripping the top OF tho car.
crushing some OF the passengers.
and holding them pinned under the
water.
Because OF the weight OF the
beam. the bodies OF the victims.
tho IN plain sight OF the rescners.
could not be removed. The beam
pinned the passengers on one side
Of the car. Those on the other side
escaped with minor injuries.
Believe Girls Were Saved
The bridge went into the river
In It's entirety. destroying water
and gas pipes supplying the north
east section OF the city.
A majority Of the passengers
were laborers on their way to work
Several working girls were
aboard the car. but II was believed
all Of these were saved.
As the car shot thru the hole. Il
turned In the air. striking the wa
ter at right angles TO the bridge.
The motorman OF the second car.
on the Hillyard street line. was
warned bv the sudden extinguish.
ing Of the lights OF the first car
and set h.s brakes.
His car groaned It's way 10 the
very brink OF the gaping hole In
/ the bridge. tottered on the edge
and finally caught fast by It's
trucks. tho fitting at perilous
angie.
CfrW EStCbE1 FWst
Firemen. with long ladders. were
able to reach the Aston car. and a
piece OF the flooring Of the wrecked
bridge. Ga the top OF the car
perched the motorman and con
| ductor and eight passengers. who
! had extricated themselves
Only the top of the car was
above the water and the flremen
were unable TO save any OF the pas-
sengers who failed to climb thru
/ the windows.
One of the first OF the injured %
get out OF the water was Walter
Cleveland.
Hears Passengers Cries
"The lights flashed out and er.
erythIng went dark" he said The
first thing that I knew ve we're I'm
the river and l could feel the wa
ter coming up about my head.
Some way got out and onto a
piece OF floor OF the bridge. II
seemed years until some one cffne
All the time could hear groans
no