Evening journal., 1923-01-04
SO DEAD AFTER
bridge FALLS
into RIVER
CONTINUED from First Psge.)

(Continued from First PGge.)
jam Of logs which had broken loose
and piled up against the piers. Off
GERS had been stationed at the APP
praches TO regulate traffic Wednes-
day evening when the bridge was
crowded to capacity by men re-
turning from work.
Rescue work proceeded through
out the night. Great fires burned on
the banks and threw a weird light
over the hood-swollen waters and
the tangled timbers OF the crumbled
bridge.
Groups Of men and women, carry
Ing anterns-ceaseless patrolled
the banks OF the Cowlitz for miles
below the bridge, searching for
bodies.
Launches and river steamers
worked with graphing hooks and
draglines. More than $50 people
were on the bridge when It collsps-
ed. Ten or more automobiles went
down with the structure.
The bridge crashed without warn
ing, as workers on the new Longview
Hotel were returning to their homes.
One Of the supporting cables snap
ped and a wild scramble for safety
followed. The entire structure sway
ed. The east tower collapsed and
plunged against a steel bridge. I'M
der construction alongside, injuring
several workmen. Another tower
plunged into the stream.
The long middle span and the
Jack-knife draw buckled and turned.
hurling the pedestrians and automo-
biles into the river. Thrilling res
cues and heroic struggles for life fol-
lowed while scores Of friends and
relatives stood on the banks, power
less TO help.
Many bodies were believed tan
gled in the wreckage through which
the water rushed like a mill-race.
Efforts to check the dead were
blocked as many OF the persons on
the bridge came from neighboring
towns or were laborers newly ar
rived for work on the Longview
Hotel or the new steel bridge.
The bridge was built in 1907. I.
was of timber construction Of the
suspension type.
Shortly after the collapse OF the
bridge and during the confusion the
lights of the city went out. At one
hospital an operation on one OF the
injured was under way.
Water mains to West Kelso were
carried out by the collapse and this
section of the city was without
water.
Four OF the seriously injured who
were rushed to hospitals were AL
fred Evans, I. c. Mcdonald, T. A.
Wakefield and man named Kirk
The searchlight OF the steamer
Pomona aided in Illuminating the
strange scene.
Among the wa tchers for bodies
along the river banks were pitiful
groups, relatives of the victims.
A number OF corpses are believed
entangled in the timbsrs Of the
wreckage. Some living persons may
be found clinglng to the debris.
Searchers. dashed to the beams by
ropes, worked cautiously above the
swiftly running river. hunting for
any men who may still be breath
ing. At dawn river steamers be-
gan dragging the stream for bodies.
The water was so high and swift.
however, that the. steamers were
handicapped.
One of the men rescued gave the
name OF Fortune. He said he was
driving an automobile with six other
persons in Il when the bridge col
lapsed. The others persisted, he be-
lieves. He saved himself by clinging
to the debris. Kels6 spent a night
Of horror with every home in black
darkness following failure of the
electric lighting system.
Many heroic attempts at rescue
were performed as the bridge snap
ped and hurled pedestrians and mo-
florists into the river.
Seven men were seen drowning bv
one eyewitness powerless to help.
They were swept out OF the mouth
Of the Cowlitz, into the Columbia.
Two children were seen strug-
Cling in the stream, with a man
after them.
Hobart Gray, one OF those to es-
ape. said he was walking in the
middle OF the bridge when it be-
gan 10 sag. He saved himself by
/ sprint.
A number OF automobiles could |
Je seen partially submerged Their |
occupants are missing.
The bridge was crowded when the |
accident occurred not only with |
walking home, but with 1
scores OF others viewing a log jam /
n the river. 1t was this log jam
hat weakened the bridge supports |
md caused the disaster.