BIG ENGINEERING CATASTROPHE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2875, 13 September 1916, Page 6

BIG ENGINEERING CATASTROPHE

COLLAPSE OF ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BRIDGE , CENTRAL SPAN PLUNGES INTO THE RIVER OVER TWENTY LIVES LOST Anstralian-New Zealand Cable Association. Quebec, September 11. The now St. Lawrence Bridge, erected on tho si to of tho biidge that collapsed in 1907, has been partially wrecked. When the central span, ■weighing 5000 tons, tho largest cantilever in the world, was being floated into position, it collapsed. The cause is not known. Hie span foil 200 feet ■to the bottom of tho river. It is bclioved it will not be recovered. Ar-. rangements were complete for opening tho bridge in a few weeks. The structure was intended to shorten the route between Montreal and Eastern Canada.

Ninety men were thrown off the central span of tho'bridgo as it was being floated into position. Spectators oil the banks rosoued »,umbers with the aid of boats.

Dominion Cabinot Ministers saw the catastrophe, in company with the AuSttralian and New Zealand members of Parliament, who were returning from the Empire Parliamentary. Conference, and were horrified at the catastrophe.

Steamer traffic has been completely suspended on the St. Lawrence.

Except for the loss of the centra] span, which, was being 'hoisted into Elaco by means of steel chains, tho ridge..is undamaged. The Bridge .Construction Company gives tho death-roll at twenty-five. Five bodies have been recovered.

The tugs on which members and officials were watching operations rescued many. . , [The bridge acsoss tho, St. Lo/wrence is about 3500 feet long, and the central span, consisting of . two cantilever arms and a connecting member, is 1800 feet from end to end. The first bridge, which collapsed while in course of construction in 1907, had a central girder, or suspended span, 675 feet long. The new bridge was put in hand soon after the wreck, and made steady progress. The portion which has collapsed when being floatM into position, was not actually a cantilever, but the central girder portion, intended to be suspended to the cantilever so as to join them. The bridge, as originally designed, is to carry two lines of railway, a roadway, and. an electric railway.]