Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1892 — STILL ANOTHER. [ARTICLE]

STILL ANOTHER.

Calamities Follow Other in ~ Rapid SuccessionMany Persons Killed and Drowned by a Falling Bridge Near Covington, Ky. - " d » One of the most fearfnl accidents in the history of that vicinity was that of the' fall, on the 15th’ of the bridge which was in course of construction over the Licking river, between Covington and Newport, Ky. Forty-five workmen were on Hie structure. So far as is now known only two escaped unhurt. The others were either killed or injured bs3he crashing of the iron and timbers, or were drowned In the water. The cause is sufmised to be the weakening of the wooden., false 'work. The high river has washed qnt the earth about the supports, and it is said one of contractors said a day or two ago that he was afraid the structure would not stand under the weight of the heavy material. But still they kept at work. On the 15th a force of forty-three men, was engaged In putting in ptace the heavy Iron work on the main span. Suddenly, without warn* ing, there was a crankling sound of breaking timbers, a sadden swaying of the structure and a headlong plunge of the mass of timbers, iron and helpless workmen into the muddy waters of the Licking river, fifty feet below. It was alt most like the foundering of A few forms were to be seen the surface; the others weref drowned or "crushed by the material. • 1 In a short time the river was lined with rescuers on both sides, and by their efforts something of the horrible story was revealed. At this writing seventeen boddies have been rescued. At the hour of the accident there were , few other than the workmen on the bridge or near the scene, which leaves the few survivors among the victims as the only ones to tell the story. Bruce Thomas wa9 working on the truss. He says: “I was Bitting in a sling working a racket. The first thing I knew I was falling. I heard no cracking of timbers, no outcry of hu- i man voices. I only knew I was going down. I had hardly time to think when I found myself on the bottom of the river In ten feet of water about twenty feet from shore. I arose to the surface —I don’t know how. Then I heard cries for help. A young man near me, whose name I don’t know, shouted: ‘l’m kiUed. I’m killed.’ He only had an arm broken. I helped him out. I helped three others out. I have heart disease add I worked till I got deathly sick. I got bruised a little on the legs. I saw several others that escaped. I don’t know their real names. We know each other by nick names.” At a cottage on Thornton street, Newport, not two hundred ya*ds from the bridge, lay the dead bodies of John R. Roby and his brother, William Roby. Mrs. Catherine Baer, the occupant of the house was the mother-in-law of John Roby, a sturdy man of who leaves a wife and two children. The two brothers were taken there to die, □ Never in the house of royalty, riches or greatness was there snore real mourning than in that house to-night. John died' first. His dying brother, William, said to the young widow: “Don’tcry,sAnnie, John will getwell.” When told that John,was dead he said: “Then I wan’t to die, too,” and these were his last word 9. In the same house was C. H. Fetters, of Irohton.O. His back was injured and his left ankle was crushed. He talked freely. He said: “The crash came without warning, I heard no sound, saw no excite, ment, only knew that we were all going down in a heap. I scrambled on some timbers and some one rescued mo in a boat, and here I am.” >