Crushed to Death
One Killed and Nine Injured By Fall of False Work at Bridge.
Philadelphia, Dec. 28.—One man was killed and nine others were injured, two of them seriously, by the collapse here of a portion of false work supporting a new concrete bridge over Wissahickon creek in the Northwest section of the city. Martin Simpson, aged thirty years, was crushed by the mass of timbers and false work and instantly killed. Bernard Mears, received internal injuries and both arms were crushed, one of them so badly that it had to be amputated, and Joseph Layton, was injured about the spine and both of his hands were crushed. Seven other workmen were cut and bruised by the falling frame work.
The bridge, which is the largest concrete structure in the country and the only one of its kind in the world has just been completed. It is known as the Walnut Lane bridge, and was built by the city at a cost of $300,000. Workmen were removing false work from one of the spans, when the rest of the frame work under the span collapsed. The frame work fell 140 feet upon the men from the highest point in the bridge.