Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1893 — A FRIGHTFUL FALL [ARTICLE]

A FRIGHTFUL FALL

Collapse of a Span of the New Jeffersonville Bridge. A* Least Twenty-Five M n Cause of the Accident. At 10:15 o’clock, Friday morning, an entire span of tho new Jeffersonville Sc Louisville railroad bridge fell, on the Indiana side, causing a great lass and the leath of a number of workmen. The accident was due to the insecure placing of the “traveler.” The wind still further loosened it, and the order was given to draw it back into its place, and the engines were started. ' The wind was high and the swaying of the false work forced tho “traveler,” from the piles on which it was placed. When the ends slipped off the men realized their danger. The engineer called to the men to/run, and ten of the fifty-one on the span-escaped. Forty-one feli 110 feet into the water. At 11 o’clock It was known twenty-five men had been killed, as that many dead bodies had been recovered. The bodies were most horribly mangled. At that hour the number of wounded could not he ascertained, though it wusknown to be large. Tho shocking accident was witnessed by men employed along the river front and on the boats plying up and down theriver. The ferry company at once senttwo boats to assist in sdburing the bodies of the dead and dying, and rescuing the workmen still alive. The officials of the bridge were soon on tho ground, but refused to answer any questions put to them. Both banks of theriver were crowded with people. Many women were in the throng, and it was apparent there were present the wives and children of those who had gone down to death. Three patrol wagons were kept busy, and the guards were assisted by .the fire department in carrying off the dead and the injured. The wagons could not go to and from the hospital fast enough to receive those taken from the river , A reporter saw Harry Pugh and A) Moore, two of the iujured men, at the infirmary in Jeffersonville. Both men, although badly injured, were able to give an account of what they saw. Pugh said he was on the span when the cracking began and with the other men made a rush for the other span % When he bad gotten within fifteen feet of the span the false work gave way; he remembered no mom. As near as he can judge he thinks there were as many as one hundred men went down. Twelve men have been taken to> hospitals, two of whom have since died. The others are all unconscious and their names can not be ascertained. The bodies in the river are held down by tons of iron wreckage. It will probabaly be several days before they can be got out. How many are there nobody knows. All accounts agreo that the main cause of tho casualty was the unusually high wind, which had been blowing a terrific from the southwest all morning. The bridge has been under construction for annmber of years. Several times work has been suspended for want of funds. Two years ago the Masonic Savings Bank of Lonlsville failed because of its connection with the bridge company. Recently financial! assistance was obtained and work was resumed. Threo years ago, in constructing the piers, a dreadful accident happened at the caisson, resulting in the death of twelve men. Accidents have been frequent, and from first to last it is said that fifty men have been killed on and about this structure. The smallpox scourge cost Muncie *21,000. The State donated *3,400, leaving *17,600 for the city authorities to settle. This is exclusive of the incalculable damage to the trade of the city. OUR MARKET REPORT. Dee. 16, 189& Indianapolis. •f GRAIN AHD HAT. Wheat— No. 2 red, 53c; wagon wheat, 50c. Corn— No. l white, 36c; No. 3 white, 35%c;ear corn, 35c. Oats—No. 2 white, 32c. Hat— Choice timothy, *12.00; No. 1, *11.50; No. 2, *9.50; No. 1 prairie, *6.75; mixed, *8: clover. 99. Rye—No, 2, 45 c for car-lots; 40c fear wagon rye. Bbah— *l2.7s, LIVE STOCK. Cattle—choice shippers 92.75@5; cows, *[email protected]; milkers, *15.00@*35.00. Hogs—Heavy roughs to light, *405.30. Sheep— Common to choice, *1.50@3; lambs, *203.75.

COUNTRY PRODUCE. . [Buying Prices.] Poultry Hens, 5c per ft; young chickens, 5c per ft; turkeys, toms, 5c per ft; hens, 6>fc per ft; ducks, 6c per ft; geese, *4.30 per doz., for choice. Egos—Shippers paying 22c. Butter—Choice. 15@16c; mixed, 10@12e. Honey—New, IB@3oc Feathers —Prime geese, 40c per ft; mixed duck, 20c per ft. BeesWax—2oc for yellow; 15c for dark. Wool—Unwashed medium wool, 16c; unwashed coarse or braid, 13@14c; unwashed fine merino, 10@13c; tub-washed, 18@23c. Following is the price list for central and northern Indiana for prime skins: Extra coon, *1(932; large coon, 80 •; medium coon, 60c; small coon, 40c; large mink. *1.25; medium mink, 80c; small mink, 50c; black skunk. *1®1.25; half stripe skunk. 80c; narrow stripe sknnk, 35c: broad stripe skunk, 15c: opossum, 5® 20c; rat. 3@l3c; mi fox, [email protected]; grey fox. 40®65c: otter. *3@B: Kentucky skins 10@30 per cent, lower than above. Hides— No. 1 green hides, 2Kc; No. 1 G. 8. Hides, 3%c; No .2 O. S. hides, 2«c; No. 1 calf hides, sc; No. 3 calf hides, 3)^c. Tallow—No. 1 tallow, 4?£c; No. 2 tallow, 4c, Chicago. Wheat— corn; 35#c; oats. 28){e; pork, *12.75; lard, *7.97>*; ribs. *6.70. New York. , Wheat—C7?fc; corn. 45^c; oats, 33?£c; butter, Western creamery, 28>{c. Cincinnati. Wheat— s9Kc; corn,4oc: oats. 32c; pork, *l3; lard, IS. 10; butter, Elgin, 30c. , Philadelphia. Wheat— corn, old yellow. 47c; oats, M;4e; butter, creamery,2Bc; eggs, 30c. Detroit. Wheat— G2X; corn, 38){c; oats, 32&c. Minneapolis. Wheat—No. 1 hard, 59#c. Bt* Loot*. Wheat—s%c; corn, 34c; oats, 28%c. Baltimore. „ Wheat—<s6%; corn, 43?<; oats, 30c. Kaet Liberty. H0g5—*5.30®5.45. Buffalo Cattle—Light to fancy. *S.so@6} hogs, *5 40 '<s 5.50; sheep, *2.50®4.25.