Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-12
Cusset Plate, Broken in Accident Ten Years Ago, is
Believed to Have Weakened the Structure; Defect
Shown in Subsequent Examination by Engineers
TWENTY-FOUR DEAD
FROM THE COLLAPSE
IN OF the Bodies Have Been Re-
covered and Also lden-
titled.
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY

chester, Pa. Sept. IA small
wrouwht-lron susset plate. part of
the support for n path along the
slde Of the structure. which had
heen half eaten by rust, Is believed
a. have been responsible for the
collapse Of part Of Third street
bridge. Saturday night. In which
- persons were drowned or other
Wise kllled and five injured.
Al Of the bodies have been re-
covered.
A. the first shock Of the accident
iarc on there was general demand
hrourhout tho city for thorough
iV.stiEation into the cause of the
ceidcnt. Charges We're made by and
gainst the Board OF Commissioners
Delaware county, which is held to
responsible for the condition of the
ridge.
Investigations will he started by the
hard Of commissioners. the police de-
artmcnt and the coroner. The in
iicst viii b. held Thursday night.
The section Of the bridge that coll
used was part OF the foot-path on
,e North side. II gave way shortly
fter Z o'clock under the weight Of
early 100 persons. who were attract
10 the spot by the cries of a drown
ig boy. and precipitated the victims
ITO the river.
Al least two inquiries aye actually
ndcr way. The Board Of County
commissioners. which is responsible
" the bridge. initiated an investiga-
on of its own. while the police are
altering all information available
o. the city administration.
while Thomas J. Feeley, a member
Z The Board Of Commissioners. ad-
rtted the collapse was due 10 un-
sual weight being thrown upon a
adly rusted and broken supporting
rna. he declared the bridge had been
sspected and pronounced safe by the
uunty engineer ten months ago. The
rcak in the arm. he said, was COM
lctely concealed from view.
on the other hand. Police Chief
davenport declared the bridge had
cen condemned several years ago. and
rat only two Of five bolts which We're
Imposed 20 sustain the arm were
apahle 81 withstanding any pressure
fhatcver
Every section Of the city is saddened
adav by the accident, the "a victims
elng scattered throughout Chester.
The last body 20 be dragged from
- deep mud at the bottom of the
iver was that Of S-year-old Charles
.postolus. the child whose death was
he inadvertent cause of the accident.
/ Was recovered shortly before noon
ssterday and placed al the end OF
he row OF "a victims whose bodies
eposed in the Morgue awaiting re-
aoval 70 their former homes.
Boy Pushed Into River.
All the dead were residents of Ches-
,r. most Of whom had just reached
ao business district on their way 10
ae theatres or stores. Little Charles
lpustolus WAS in a group Of children
o the river hank in the rear of a
s.atre watching the antics of a bear
fhich was 20 appear in the show. He
'as knocked into the river by one of
a. excited playmates and his cries for
clip attracted the crowds on Third
irset,
Several hundred persons dashed for
ae small bridge and others were try
sr 20 push on 10 il when. without
mrning, one end of the footway
uckled. The heavy walk dropped like
trapdoor. and in an instant so per-
pms were struggling in the muddy
'aters. A score more clung to the
snt handrail and iron water pipes.
ghtinr 10 reach safety before their
rsgile perches gave way.
The victims were caught in a veri-
able death trap. At the point of the
rcident the water is Is feet deep. The
liver ls scarcely more than 25 feet
ude and factory and store walls are
nilt to it's very edge.
Those who could swim found II i'm
pssibie 10 scale the slippery walls and
here was no floating debris to which
Aey might cling. The footpath had
Imply dropped and hung 10 twisted
Imports.
a minute after the accident had oc-
uffd haif dozen men plunged IN ana
allied half drowned men. women and
tlidren out Of the tangled mass of
humanity. Several boatmen hurried
the scene and aided in the work of
tscue
Policemen and firemen dragged the
lvcrs bottom for bodies.
The bridge crosses Chester river a
hort distance west Of Market street,
ring In the heart of the business dis
fict.
Mother Clung to Children.
Mrs. Bertha Hawkins, Of No. IT'S
snnell street. had taken her two
slldren. Ruth. three and Roy, four,
see the trained bear which was re-
ponsibc for the first drowning, and
ere following the animal along the
rect when they learned OF the drown
I boy. They followed the crowd to
se bridge. and when the collapse
Continued on page s.