Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-23
DISTRESSING DISASTER AT wALPoLE


others were placed in the greatest jeopardy.
The Southern mail Stage from Brattleboro'
via. Wapole and Charestown, N. II. to
Windsor, VT loft Walpole early in the fore
noon Of Tuesday with the following passen-
gers-Mrs. Hannah Chelsey and Miss Re-
becca Tasker, Of Charlestown, Mass, Mrs.
Durham Of Woodstock VT, a Mr.. Swain
and we believe another gentleman, whose
name we have not learned. The two first
named females were sisters, and on visit to
their mother, the widow of the late James
Tasker OF Cornish. After the stage had pro-
ceeded a mile or two out of Walpole, and
was crossing a small bridge about hundred
and Fifty feet in length, over Cold Water riv-
er--a little stream running into the Connec-
ticut-the tressel, planks and string pieces
of the bridge gave way, and sliding from the
abutmcnts, went into the river, carrying the
stage upon them. Owing to the recent rains
the stream was high, and the inclination of
the bridge in sliding upon the water was not
sufficient to capsize the stages that it stood
upon the raft in precisely the same position it
occupied upon the bridge, before it gave way.
As soon, however, as the planks, string pie
Gee, &c. forming the top of the bridge, settled
upon the water, the whole suddenly wheeled
about length wise, and the passengers found
themselves sailing rapidly towards the Con-
nectlcut some forty or fifty yards Distant
Every attempt was made to get the terrified
females ashore, but they all proved abortive.
The horses were embarrassed, and it was be-
lieved the bridge would hold together till II
should pass out of Cold Water river into the
Connecticut and reach the Vermont bank Of
/ the latter When, however, the floating
bridge reached the point where the small
stream flows into the larger, the whirl Of the
opposing currents was so strong and rapid as
to sever the planks and string pieces asunder,
and completely destroy what had hitherto
been relied upon for safety. The scene that
followed must be left to the Imagination Of
the reader. The passengers, driver and hor-
ses were suddenly precipitated in the stream.
The cries and shrleks of the females were ap-
palling beyond description as they clung to
the gentlemen and tried to grasp a piece OF
ice, timber,or any thing that would give them
support But alas! for these unfortunate
creatures. There was 10 arm in this agoniz-
ing hour that could bear them up and render
them assstancc-that could rescue them from
watery grave, and restore them to their
friends, husbands and children! Mrs. Chel-
sey, and her sister, Mss Tasker, sunk 10 rise
no more!
| Mr.. Swain states that after succeeding in
getting upon portion of the bridge, he eX-
erted every effort to save Mrs. Durham and
carry her to shore. He held her by her cloak
and shoulders against the plank and as high
above the water as possible, and hoped in
that position TO save her. But as he proceed
ed down the river Il cake Of ice struck her
violently on the breast, and soon after another
crushed her head, mangling the poor creature
so horribly that she expired almost mmcdia-
tely. Her groans and cries were agonizing
beyond utterance. Mr.. Swain let 90 his hold
OF her lfeless form (now found we beIieve)
and succeeded, after being some hours at theI
mercy of the currents, in reaching the west
ern bank of the Connecticut The other
gentleman also saved himself The driver
(Symonds by name mounted one Of the hor- |
ses, plunging and swimming among the ice
cakes till he was finally obliged to abandon
him, and run his risk in getting ashore. After
much fatigue he succeeded in getting so near
the bank as to catch hold Of twig Of tree
projecting over the river. AS he was about
being driven from this irail support to be en-.
gulphed in the bosom of the river, a cake Of
ice came so near as to buoy him up, and
throw him forward so far as to enable him to
grasp the trunk Of the tree, and get ashore,
exhausted, bruised, and severely injured
Three Of the horses (owned by Whipple e.
Skinner) were drowned The fourth finally
came ashore, though so much injured as to
be utterly unfit for service. The mail was
for long while missing, but the papers and
letters it contained due this town, arrived on
Wednesday. Our southern papers, reduced
almost to their original pulp, bear ample evil
dence that the mail had severe soaking
We understand that the lettcrs-twenty. five
or thirty, destined for Claremont-were un-
injured.
We have never known any occurrence
that had produced a stronger sensation among I
our citizens than this The sympathics Of
all were reused, and the intelligence sent
thrill of horror through every bosom. The
circumstances are peculiarly distressing
Two Of the unfortunate women who perished
N this melancholy manner, have families, we
ire told, and are the mothers of young chill
lren. They were returning, after an alb
ence TO the bosom of their friends Heart
ending indeed must be the intelligence of
his bereavement to their husbands, children
md relations!
The town Of Walpole is much to blame for
uierng such crazy bridge so long within
is borders. 1t is a miserable affair, almost
hundred and fifty feet in length-which, if
unfit for repair ought to have been pulled
lown long ago, and a new one built in its
place. The recent rains had swollen the
liver, and started The bridge; and probably it
was just ready to be carried away, when the
stage horses coming furiously upon it, shook
i, and did at once what the ice must soon
have done. Walpole has made itself liable
or heavy damage to the owners of the stage,
md those gentlemen who escaped with their
ives on this occasion.
.3ccident on The Worcester Railroad.-We
earn from passenger, that os the morning
rain was coming down from Wnrcester To.