A BRIDGE CATASTROPHE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1916, Page 8

A BRIDGE CATASTROPHE.

CENTRAL SPAN COLLAPSES. MANY WORKMEN DROWNED. Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Ottawa, September 11, The new St. Lawrence Bridge, erected on the site of that which collapsed in l!) 07, wns partially wrecked when the central span, weighing MOO tons, the largest cantilever in the world, collapsed when it was being floated into position; An unknown number of workmen were drowned. Ottawa, September 11. Ninety men wore thrown off t'lie central span of the bridge as it was being floated into position. Some of the bodies have been recovered, and spectators on the bank:] rescued numbers in boats. The span fell 200 feet to the bottom of the river and, it is believed, cannot lie re* covered. Arrangements wene complete for the orcning of the bridge in a iew weeks. The Structure is intended to shorten the route between Montreal and Eastern Canada. Dominion Cabinet members saw the catastrophe in company with Australian members of Parliament, who were returning fro.m the Empire Parliamentry Conference. Steamer traffic was completely suspended on the St. Lawrence. The death roll is given as twenty. Except for the loss of the central span, which was being hoisted into place by the agency of steel chains, the bridge is not damaged Five bodies have been recovered. The bridge construction company gives the death roll at 2.5. The tugs on wiliicli members and officials were watching operations rescued many. The Australian and New Zealand guests were horrified at the catastrophe.