Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1889 — GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

TWENTY MEN DROWNED BI THE BREAKING OF A BRIDGE. In Endeavoring to Hinder a Railroad Company, Many Kentucky Workmen Perish—Death of Isaac Bell, Jr., Ex-Min-ister to the Netherlands—Minor News. [Spottsville (Ky.) special.] A dreadful accident, which resulted in the death of a number of men, occurred here. For some time there has been a conflict between the officers of the Louisville, St. Louis and Texas Road and the contractors who erected the company’s new bridge over Green River. The contractors refused to deliver the bridge over to the company or to allow any trains to pass over it. The railroad authorities at once appealed to the courts at Henderson, and an injunction was granted against further interference with the traffi<?of the road until the case had been decided. This decision, granting the temporary injunction, caused the road to announce when its first train would crosi the bridge. Forty men, acting under instructions from the contractors, g thered upon the draw and placed on etch end of it a number of heavy rails, intending to obstruct the train in this way and not violate the court’s instructions by opening the draw. The Bowling Green packet, General Dawes, bound for Evansville, Ind., whistled for the draw to 1 e opened that it might pass through. There was a prompt response, and while all of the contractors’ men were still standing upon it the pondeious draw swung open and the steamer passed into the opening, but as she got through the draw broke in two immediately over the center of the pier upon which it rested, and both wings, with their weight of iron and human beings, fell forty leet, and in an instant sank beneath the surface, amid wild sbr cks from the doomed workmen. Many of the unfortunates had their limbs an d necks broken befoie the draw reached the water, and all were thrown downward upon the iron track and beams, or, entangled in the debris, were borne beneath the water. The passengers of the steamer saw three men crushed by an immense beam as it broke, one being transfixed upon an iron spur. In falling the draw only missed the steamer a few feet, and came near capsizing it in the water. Where the structure sank the water is thirty feet deep. Boats were at once lowered, and a little steamer, the Corinne, put out from the shore to rescue the drowning men. Many came to the surface at once, some swimming and others apparently lifeless, who sank again. About eighteen were taken out, who were all that could be found. It is thought that twenty persons weie drowned. EX-MINISTER BELL DEAD. The Suffjrer Passes Away at His Home in New York. Isiac Bell. Jr., ex-United States Minister to the Netherlands, died at St. Luke’s Hosp tai, in New York City, from the illness with which he had suffered for several months. Mr. Bell was born in that city in November, 1846. His father, Isaac Bell, Sr., now lives in New York. Young Bell was educated at Harvard, and entered the banking house of Brown Brothers & Co. In 1870 he organized the firm of Isaac Bell, Jr., & Co., co.-

ton dealers, with houses at Charleston, Savannah and New Yo k. This business flourished until 1877, when Mr. Bell retired. The next year he married Mbs Jeannette Bennett, a sister of the proprietor of the New York Herald. For two years Mr. and Mrs. Bell traveled in Europe and returned to live in Newport. and while there he became active in Rhode Island politics. During the campaign of 1884 he worked industriously for Cleveland’s election. When Mr. Cleveland became President one of his first official acts was to appoint Mr. Bell Minister Resident to the Netherlands. This post he held until May of last year, when he resigned on account of ill-health. He had been troubled for several years with chronio Bright’s disease. Legit me Losing Ground. Capt Dahm, of the brig Alice Bradshaw, which left Aux Cayes Jan. 1, has arrived at New York, and reports that Gen. Paul of Legitime’s forces has deserted from his army of 3,000 men and joined his fortunes with those of Hippolyte, outside of Port-au-Prince. The standing collar is with us, but there is the mitigation of round points, for which all men with necks will give thanks,

ISAAC BELL, JR.