Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1895 — FIFTY ARE INJURED. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY ARE INJURED.

Three Hundred Persons Break Down a Bridge at Bristol, Ind. At Bristol, Ind., while about 300 of the population were gathered on a bridge spanning the St. Joseph River watching a tub race, 100 feet of the sidewalk of the bridge went down, carrying with it 100 persons. The fall was about thirty feet and the iron fell on many. As the racers got into their tubs and prepared for the race the immense crowd on the bridge grew wildly enthusiastic. As the crowd surged up against the railing there came a fearful crash and roar. The whole side of the bridge gave way, slowly at first, and then with frightful speed, carrying the panic-stricken and shrieking crowd down forty feet to the river. For a moment there was almost absolute silence before the horrified crowd on the banks could realize what had occurred. Then as the cries and groans of those who had struggled out of the water were heard the farmers and their wives rushed to the rescue. The water is onlyfive feet deep at this season and the rescuers hurried into the river with boards, tubs, and anything that would help the wounded to keef> afloat. As rapidly as possible they were carried to the shore, while those who escaped injury scrambled out and assisted in the work. Messengers were hurried away for doctors and surgeons and every house in the town of Bristol was turned into a hospital. When the surgeons made a hurried examination they found thirty-eight people laid out along the shore and in the residences, many of them insensible. Broken legs and arms, hands smashed, and serious bruises were found to be the injuries in the majority of cases. The bridge which gave way has been used for years. Only last spring it was repaired, and considered able to bear any strain that might be put upon it. Thugs on a Picnic Train. In an attemptto murder the crew of a Santa Fe picnic train as it pulled out of Chicago by eight members of the “Henry street gang” a conductor was wounded and two of the thugs bruised and beaten seriously. Over twenty shots were fired by members of the gang and the passengers were terrorized and several women fainted. Many Are Hurt at Buffalo. While the riders were taking the track of the fivc-mile handicap in the bicycle races at the Buffalo, N. Y., driving park a section of the grand stand fell in. It caved from the very center of the stand, taking with it a section stairway, two private boxes and about sixty people. George H. Murphy, vice-commercial agent of the United States at Luxemburg, Germany, reports to the Department of State a decree of public works discontinuing wherever it is practicable the use of petroleum at railway stations in consequence of the rise in the price of American petroleum. Dennis'O’Connbr. 21 years of age. married, was instantly killed at Pueblo, Colo., by lightning while putting up a pole for electric light wires. -s i I. .ir 1 Corbett had his diamonds stolen last year and now is playing the divorce racket. Oh, James is an actor, all right.