Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-14
GREAT CALAMITY.

THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY RAILROAD BRIDGE
DESTROYED nv FIRE.--Loss OF LIFE The fol-
lowing account of the destruction of the great
Rail Road Bridge at Harrisburg is copied from
the Democratic Union of Thursday last
"On yesterday our town was scene of the
most unfortunate conflagration that has be- 3
fallen it. Between and o'clock in the after
noon, the cry of fire resounded through our
streets, and dense volley of smoke was obser-
we'd in the direction of the river. 1t was soon
discovered that the sparks Of locomotive that
had shortly before passed over. had communica-
ted fire to the SPLENDID railroad bridge erected
by the Cumnberlad Valley Company over the
Susquehanna river and that its utter destruction
was almost inevitable. The fire having origina-
ted near the Cumberland shore, comparatively
little assistance could be rendered from this side
by the efficient corps of Harrisburg frc-men, who
were compelled to as almost passive spec.
tators ofthe dreadful scene. The circumstance
that the bridge hal received thick covering of
pitch, designed to protect it from rains also con-
tributed greatly to the rapid stride of the flames.
This created most intense heat, so that our
fre.men, who usually subdue the most formda-
bic fires, were compelled to yield to the devour.
ing element an almost unmolrsted dominion.
The me ting of the Electoral College. and the
Jubilee Of the Democrats, had attracted an inn
mcnse concourse to the scat ofgovernment. The
rivers bank consequently literally lined
with thousands OF spectators. As span after
span of the costly structure was enveloped in a
sheet of flame and fell with tremendous crash
into the boiling abyss the scene was alike ter
rifle and sublime.
But the most fearful part of the calamity re-
mains to be told. a large concourse of persons
had conceived the project of dlsconnectng one
of the spans by sundcring it with axes. This
partially effected they remained upon the por.
tion lot yet reached by the flames. No sooner,
however, had the consumed part fallen, than the
remainder necessarily yielded to the weight of
those who ot cnpied t-who. numbering not less,
probably. than from so to G0-,cere instantly
/ prcc.ptited 10 HE botiom \ scene like this
may be imagined. but dciies description An
involuntary eXcIamat on ofhorror proceeded from
every tonguc--a sensation of indescribable alarm
! vhrated from nnart To heart The roaring flame
( bursting from pier to pier with incredible rapid
! ity. coiIing in and around the noble structure
/ and destroying whatever il touchcd-thc strug-
! giles of the fallen TO escape from their pcrious
stuation-was a scene both melancholy and
citing. For considerable period it was hard TO
/ con lecture Uh0 had been lost-what frcsidr had
been robbed of its protector or ornament Here
| might b, seen n widowed mother looking for her
son--hcre wife for her husband-and there
sister for brother.
As ifby Provid,ntial interference however,
the loss of life was not near great as apprehen-
dcd by those on shore, a large number of the fall
len having clung 10 the pier, and others being re-
licvcd from their pcrious situation by means of
boats. The following are the principal sufferers:
Iouv YovsLrNG-instantly killed.
Son of TuoNAS De Moss lad about / years
of age, not expected to survive
JouN BRowN, lboy) dangerously hurt.
Mr., RuoAps ps-considerably injured.
Mr.. VAN CANr, badly hurt.
4 number ofothcrs more or less hurt.
The bridge was a connecting link in the great
chain oC improvements between Philadcp phia AMI
Pittsburg thas been muse since January, lS3o
and was originally constructed at 4 cost of not
less than SlO0, 900. Ii covered twenty yfvs piers,
a full mile in length. Eut four spans have been
/, preserved Whilst ia" loss Of the company is,
of course irreparable the business and travelling
community will long have reason 10 lament the
catastrophe.