Joy-Bells Silenced

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1032, 24 July 1930, Page 11

Joy-Bells Silenced

FORTY KILLED IN GERMANY Pontoon Bridge Collapses TRAGEDY AT RHINELAND FESTIVAL THE gay illuminations which were used to brighten the celebration of the Rhineland liberation at Coblenz were employed a few hours later to assist in clearing up a grave tragedy, when a pontoon bridge collapsed, throwing 100 persons into the water and killing 40. Many of the victims were struck by falling beams, and others were drowned in the pitch darkness before rescuers could reach them.

United. P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyrigli LONDON, Wednesday. Dispatches from Berlin state that disaster marred the celebrations at Coblenz last night of the liberation of the Rhineland. At least 100 people who were viewing the illuminations in the town of Ehrenbreitstein, on the opposite bank of the Rhine, became jammed on a pontoon bridge situated at the junction of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. The bridge collapsed and the spectators were thrown into the water. Twenty-four bodies had been recovered by midnight and the death-roll was stated to be 40. The flares which earlier in the evening had illuminated merry throngs on the banks of the river were used to light the tragic scene as weeping relatives identified bodies and police and firemen used drag-nets in the stream in the search for others. The Coblenz correspondent of “The Times” says the bridge suddenly crumpled at about 11.15 p.m. Numbers of people were struck by falling beams and others were drowned in the pitch darkness before there was any possibility of rescuers reaching them.

The news of the disaster was not generally known for some time owing to the police having closed the cafes, the proprietors of which originally had been authorised to keep them open all night. When the news spread flags were flown at half-mast. Thus sadly ended a day of picturesque ceremonial and rejoicings. President Hindenburg had travelled down the Rhine amid white-clad rows of children gathered along the river side in front of historic villages known as “Romans on the Heights,** whose ruined castles were bedecked with flags. The climax of the journey came when the President reached Coblenz, where he stepped ashoie amid roars of cheering and the bursting of maroons. The President drove through streets packed with tumultuous crowds to the Stadt Halle. The city and the fortress dominating it were illuminated in the evening. This 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 the Rhineland.