TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13997, 2 September 1907, Page 5

TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE

CANTILEVER BRIDGE COLLAPSES.

MANY LIVES LOST.

FINANCIAL LOSS OF 5400,000.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

OTTAWA, August 30.

The largest cantilever bridge in the world, which was being built across tho St. Lawrence a,t Quebec, collapsed. Nearly 100 persons were killed, chiefly American workmen.

The bridge was a mile and a-half long.

A section of 800 ft, collapsed when being traversed by a train laden with ■ iron material.

NEW YORK, August 31. (Received Sept. 1, at 4.20 p.m.)

Details concerning the St. Lawrence bridge disaster show that out of S2 -workmen who were about to leave the bridge in the evening 61 perished. Apparently the cause of the disaster was the overloading of the construction train. The driver felt a jerk, and. shut off the steam, but the engine continued on its journey.

The structure dipped at the end, and then collapscd. Tho awful completeness of the eatastrope paralysed everybody in the vicinity. Anxious crowds heard the groans and shrieks of a number of the victims pinned under the wreckage near the shore throughout the night, but were unable to rescue them or relievo their sufferings until daylight.. Meanwhile the rising tide drowned many.

The collapse means a financial loss of £1400,000, and two years' work has been undone.

Tho length of tho St. Lawrence bridge will bo 3220 ft. and the width 80ft, there being provision for two railway trades, two roadways, and two sidewalks. But Cho chief feature is tlio great central spnn of 1800 ft, which will bo the largest yet built. There arc also two approach spans of 210 ft each and two shore arms of 500 ft each. Good progress had been made, the ap-. proaclies being finished, and . work on tho bridge structure commenced by< the autumn of 1905, when operations had to bo suspended for the winter. Operations wero rceommonoed on April 17, 19C6;: and tho erection of the main cantilever span was begun during the following summer.