TRAGEDY IN RHINELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 11

TRAGEDY IN RHINELAND

COLLAPSE OF A PONTOON ! FORTY GERMANS DROWNED CLOUD UPON CELEBRATION’S By Telegraph—Press Rec. 10.30 p.m. Berlin, July 23. The Rhineland liberation celebrations at Coblenz ware clouded by a dieaster. A crowd watching the illuminations in Ehrenbreitetein on the opposite- bank of the Rhine, became jammed on a pontoon bridge which collapsed. At- least 100 were thrown into the water. Twen-ty-four bodies had been recovered by midnight, and the death roll is 40. Flares which earlier illuminated merry throngs oh the banks of the River! Were are now lighting a tragic scene as weeping relatives identify the bodies and police and firemen drag-net; the stream for others. The disaster was not generally known for some time owing to the police having closed tlie cafes which originally were authorised to remain open alj night. Flags were then flown at halfmast.

There were at least 100 people on the small bridge at the junction of the Rhine and the Moselle when the structure crumpled suddenly about 11.15 p.m. Numbers were hit by falling beams and others were drowned in the pitch darkness before there was any possibility of rescuers reaching them. Thus sadly ended a day of picturesque ceremonial and rejoicings, President Hindenburg had. travelled down the Rhine amidst white-clad rows of children gathered, along the waterside in front of the historic villages known as “Romans on the Heights” whose ruined castles were bedecked with flags. Thq climax of the journey came when the President reached Coblenz, where he stepped ashore amidst roars of cheering. He drove through packed, tumultuous streets to the Stadthalle, the town fortress dominating the scene. It was illuminated in the evening and offered a fascinating sight fantastically, reflected in the water? until Death stalked suddenly into the scene with black mourning in its train, It- is possible that President Hindenburg may abandon his tour of the Rhineland.