The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-09-07
DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.
On Thursday morning, as the stage-coach or
omnibus, kept by the Fredericksburg and Wash
ingon Steamboat Company for the conveyance
of passengers between the railroad depot and
their boat had assembled the south section of the
18th street bridge, that part of the bridge on
which the omnibus then was suddenly gave way,
and precipitated the omnibus and horses, with
about thirty-fve passengers, into the canal, which,
at the place where the accident occurred, was, it
being at high tide, about eight feet deep.
1t greves us to state that Francis Steaoart, a
youth about nineteen years old, employed in the
boat as deck hand, and whose duty ii was to as
slst in the removal of the passengers baggage to
and from the omnibus, was found under the vehi-
Gle aboutwo hours after the accident occurred quite
dead; whether he had received any injury by
falling against the tmbers of the bridge or not
could not be ascertained by the appearance of the
body. Several of the passengers received slight
wounds from the broken glass, but we learn, with
great pleasure, that none of them or of the other
attendants of the omnibus were seriously injured.
The fate of poor Stewart has excited much
sympathy and commisseration, as Captain Black,
of the steamboat, stated before the Coroners In
quest, held over the body, that he was youth OF
excellent conduct, and was in the habit Of appro-
priatng nearly the whole of his wages to the sup
port Of his widowed mother, whose principal de-
pendence was placed in him. The jury unani-
mously directed the coroner to pay over the
amount Of their fees, (about Is or II dolIars,) to
the poor woman. We sincerely hope that the citi-
zens generally will follow this example +; mere
would serve to soohe her sorrowful heart, and re-
pair, in some degree, the heavy worldly loss she
has sustained in the death of dutiful son.
We have heard much censure cast upon the
Corporate Authorities, on account of the condition
of the bridge; but, we think the verdict of the
jury of inquest, which we subjoin, fully exoner-
ates the officers of the Corporation from blame
NO suspicion was entertained by any body thai
the bridge was in an unsafe state; on the con
trary, it was the universal opinion that it was the
best built and safest bridge over the canal and tn.
defects. apparent after the accident, were matte
of surprise to every one.
The bridge had been planned by the architec
OF the United States buildings in this city, erected
under the direction of the late Commissioners o.
the Washington Canal, amongst whom was one
OF our most respectable and experienced builders
and the materials selected and put together under
the immediate superintendent of a workman o
ESTABLISH rspnt,tnn Rac;Loe IL 10 hnt 81,
more than year since considerable alterations
were made in the bridge, and yet no cause appear
ed to doubt its perfect capability Of supportin!
any ordinary weight which might be put upon it
The weight of the Omnibus alone, was stated t
the jury to be about 1000 pounds, but, as W,
learn otherwise, It's actual weight was 200 pounds
Add to this the weight fthirty-fve persons, with
all their baggage, and four heavy horses, all upor
one section at the same time, and we cease to b,
surprised that wooden bridge, six or seven years
old, should yield to the undue pressure.
VERDIcT.The Jury find that the deceased came to hi
death by the falling Of the bridge in Twelfth street West
over the Washington Canal, whereby the steamboat ON
nbus, represented BY of the to be 400
lbs weight. drawn by four horses containing includins
the driver, the deceased and the luggage hands, frou
thirty to thrtyfve passengers, precipated into tn,
canal.
1.-THE jury, giving this verdict deem their duty t.
say that the falling of The bridge resulted from the
tremey decayed state of the timber resting the South
abutmen and of of the principal Orders So far
the jury enabled to form an opinion from their
observation and the testimony of witnesses before them
they believe that the defective state of the timber
easily dscoverable from any external examination.
''The jury do not fad that the driver of the omnibus
at all deficient care and attention to his duty
~ Washington Lyceum, No. l, will hold its
regular weekly meeting Monday next, Sept 9th, at