JOY TURNED TO SORROW.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18627, 24 July 1930, Page 9

JOY TURNED TO SORROW.

Rhineland Rejoicings Marred. CROWD PUSHED INTO RIVE*. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 23, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, July 23. The Rhineland liberation celebrations at Coblenz were clouded by disaster. The crowd watching the illuminations in Ehrenbrutstein on the opposite bank of the Rhine became jammed on the pontoon bridge, which collapsed. At least one hundred were thrown into the water. Twenty-four bodies had been recovered by midnight, and the death roll is forty. Flares, which had earlier illuminated the merry throngs on the river banks, were now lighting a tragic scene, as weeping relatives identified the bodies, and police and firemen drag-netted the stream for others. The disaster was not generally known for some time, owing to the police having closed the cafes, which were originally authorised to remain open all night. Flags were then flown at half-mast. DEATH STALKED INTO THE SCENE. GRIM RIVER TRAGEDY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (“The Time*.’’) (Received July 23, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. The Coblenz correspondent of “The Times” states that there were at least a hundred people on a small bridge, which was situated at the Junction of the Rhine and the Moselle. The structure crumpled suddenly at about 11.15, and number were hit by falling beams, and others were drowned in the pitch darkness, before there was any possibility of rescuer® reaching them. Thus sadly ended a day of picturesque ceremonial and rejoicings. The President had travelled down the Rhine amidst white-clad rows of children gathered along the waterside, in front of the historic villages known as “The Romans on the Heights,” whose ruined castles were bedecked with flags. The climax of the journey came when the President reached where he stepped ashore, amidst roar® of cheering and the bursting of maroons. He drove through the packed tumultous streets to Stadthalle Town. The fortress dominating it was ilium-* inated in the evening, and offered a fascinating sight, fantastically reflected in the waters, until death stalked suddenly into the scene, with black mourning in its train. It is possible that President Hindenburg may abandon his tour of th® Rhineland.