New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-12
Second Collapse of Huge
Span Carries Ninety
Into Water.
500 TONS OF STEEL
SINK 200 FEET
Great Arch Was Being
lacked Into Final
Position.

Quebec. Que. Sept 11-With the
loss of eleven lives to-day, the second
attempt TO bridge the St. Lawrence
River here resulted in a failure when
the massive centre span, weighing o.
100 tons. suddenly collapsed and fell
into the river. OF the ninety men
caught on the span when it began 70
sway AN were rescued except the
eleven. Only four bodies have been
found.
The span was being raised from
pontoons and was about fifteen feet
above the water when it collapsed and
sank into the river, which is 200 feet
deep at this place.
The St. Lawrence River was hlled
with boats Of every description at the
time Of the accident, and on the hills
along the shore were hundreds OF
people who came by rail and automo-
bile 70 see the elimination OF the
michty engineering project.
The big steel frame was in tow ana
on its way 70 the gap which it was e1-
pected 10 fill. Shortly after o'clock
the pontoons reached the allotted place
and were withdrawn by tugs, leaving
the massive cirder resting on hydraulic
lacks. Hardly had these begun to
raise the big span, than the crowds
shouted. and, thinking they had seen
the most impressive ceremony OF the
bridge raising, began 20 depart. SUD
denly there was roar OF Die"AiH6
steel and the span Owed INTO the
water.
The juggling Of 5000 tons Of steel
under unprecedented circumstances IN
the Dominion attracted 20 the scene to-
dav several thousand spectators, lnclud-
inc members of Parliament and news
paper men gathered on vessels tur-
nished by the Canadian government.
Members Of the Dominion Cabinet Wit
messed the collapse from the deck OF a
Government vessel, while American
tourists crowded hundreds Of other
boats of all classes.
The project interrupted to-day orgl-
mated i'm 1853. when at the request OF
the Quebec City Council q New YORK
engineer submitted plans and estimates.
Courage and capital were lacking, how
over. and il was not until 1882 that the
scheme again was given serious con-
s,deration. The cantilever plan OF
bridge building was at that time be
coming generally used, and dlstn-
guishcd Canadian engineers obtained a
charter az ottawa. and after many years
of delay the building was Begun. only
20 have 10 terminate d sastrOusly in the
collapse OF the unfinished structure 10
1907.
Cause of Disaster a Mystery.
p. F. Johnson. president Of the ST.
Lawrence and Dominion Bridge com
panies, accompanied by engineers, in
spected the anchor arms Of the bridge
yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Johnson would not make any
positive statement on the possible
cause of the accident.
1--WE are at a total loss % account
for 10 thus far he said. THE lifting
apparatus is still in place, and is prac-
ticallv uninjured. IL is hard to say
whether he bridge slipped off its end
bearings or whether the trusses of the
span failed | do not thiEk ] can eX-
press myself further than this
~. B. Updegraf, representative OF
the Watson Stillman Company, Alicne,
y. j., who installed the hydraulic
Jacks. and who is engineer IN charge
of installation ON the bridge, said;
The jacks are still ion their positions
and are practically intact. There was
no weight on them when the span
moved Of, they being just getting
ready 20 take hold again to lift the
span TO the fourth notch. u is hard 20
sag just what caused the accident.
FL hDKrafrar fnrF No Iva
the way OF expense had been spared
by the company 10 guard against pos
siole mishGp, set the regrettable affair
occurred
The property loss is estimated at
100000.
Navigation Suspended.
Navigation on the St. Lawrence, which
was suspended this morning for TWEEN
ty-iour hours while the span-raising
operations we're In progress, was or
dered held up indefinitely tonight.
Coroner Jolicor. Of Quebec, began an
inquest during the afternoon.
The collapse Of the initial span Of
the Quebec Bridge on August %, 1907,
was one Of the greatest disasters in
engineering history sixty engineers
and workmen perishing, the majority
Of the latter being Indian laborers.
The loss IN money 10 the government,
consisting Of subsidies and guaranteed
bonds. totalled about S8O0O00O.
To-day's accident, the second since
attempts were made 70 bridge the St.
Lawrence River, occurred when the
engineers attempted to place the new
central span IN position 20 be hoisted
20 It's position as the connecting link
Of the great steel structure The con-
Meeting arms were not injured and it