New Britain herald., 1923-01-04
IIIIDI IN IFrr0 apuIrn
when BL - s.
Traffic Jam at Kelso, Washington,
Causes Structure 10 Collapse
DEATH LIST NOT COMPLETE
Names Of Eight Are Known AMI Us.
Inmates Indicate 80 May Have Lost
Li,es-Traffie Jam Too Heavy for
bridge support, Cable Snaps.

Kelso. Wash. Jan. 4 fBy Associated
Press) Names of eight missing per-
sons were known, while estimates of
the number lost ran as high as SC
when rescue parties resumed today
their search of the wreckage strewn
flood waters OF the Cowlltz river into
which the old suspension bridge here.
bearing scores of men and women.
collapsed last night.
From so to 100 pedestrians. one
truck and at least ten passenger au-
tomobiles were on the bridge when II
fell. The structure gave way in the
midst OF traffic jam caused by
stalled motor car.
Search in Vain.
Most OF the persons on the bridge
were thrown into the swirling river
and many were picked up by boats or
swan ashore. After darkness, ef-
forts to recover bodies were futile, al
though the river steamer Pomona,
lured by the hope that there might
be life In the debris breasted the swift
current during the night to play
searchlight over the scene. But
early this morning no bodies had been
found.
OF those rescued two are believed
fatally injured. Six others were
aiken from the water seriously hurt.
The missing include Ben Barr,
ommissioner-elect, Mr.. and |
Mrs. a. G. Huntington, pioneer resi- /
lents of Kelso, and several employees |
If logging camps.
Relatives Arc Frantic.
Early today there was a rush OF |
rantic relatives seeking some word |
# lost loved ones and constantly |
moving list of missing persons.
The exact death toll may not be |
,nown for several days as the swollen |
vaters of the Cowlitz and the Calum-
ia, into which it flows, about two /
niles below the city may carry the
odies Of the victims Inafiy miles.
Cable Support Breaks.
The bridge connected east and west
,elso. A cable support buckled and
he bridge threw trucks. automobiles
nd wagons and their passengers into
he torrent swollen by recent floods
Iany leaped to safety as the span
ink.
Survivors told almost identical
.ories of the snap and crash of the
alling structure, the sudden plunge
ito the racing river and the battle
,r life in the muddy current. To
vim ashore encumbered with heavy
othing was a test to be met only by
le strongest and most adept. fact
tested by the circumstances that
any of the survivors were pulled
ON the river three blocks below the
reckage.
40 Believed Rescued
Exploration of the wreckage was
IT attempted last night owing to a \
ar that bodies which might be
Lught among the timbers would be
leased and carried away In the
,rkness. This was begun with day
,ht and an endeavor also was made
grapple for submerged automobiles
which bodies might be held. The
innate of the number rescued from
G river was 40.
j. +. Hamilton, construction en- r
neer, a witness of the disaster, said: c
Engineers Statement s
Some will say that the height of 6
e bridge and the log jam that had "
against it weakened the +
.ucture and caused it to collapse. n
cannot agree with this, for only a I
" days ago / inspected the piers n
d they were not weakened. 1t was G,
e cable which broke for some' un- n
own reason, possibly at the impact G
a heavy jam II
Scant as the warning was at the "
apping of the cable many pedes- W
ans on the bridge raced to safety o.
d in one or two instances automo-
cs were backed away as the chasm Ct