The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-03
Accident on the Er,s Railroad Loss Of Lie.


Accident ON the Eris lsaslroAd~-Loss Of Lie
Al the down freight train was crossing the irol
bridge over q ANAL tributary OF the Delaware
about three miles above Lackawsxen, about on,
O'Clock yesterday, the bridge gave way, precipi
tAtng the entire train into the stream, and strew
ing the freight in all directions. Sixteen out o.
seventeen cars composing the train fell through
and were smashed to pieces. Five persons wer,
killed.
The stock on board consisted of some 500 sheep
over 100 head Of cattle, and 200 hogs, all of which
were lost.
We have not been able to ascertain the names Of
the men killed. Three of them were hands belong
ing 10 the road; the other two were drovers. The
engineer aud tremen Escaped with some slight
scratches. The engine having run of the track
rested upon the abutment Of the bridge, and thus
gave time tor these mon to escape. We believe the
conductor also escaped without injury. The bodies
OF the killed were brought down TO Port Jervia last
might Fh. a,ov.,. na ,,na. q ~. r.,r c.,, ID
themselves b. jumping off a. the train went down,
and so escaped with little injury.
The loss by this accident must necessarily be Be.
we're, beside the destruction of life which, we trust
will prove less serious than is reported. The
bridge was some forty feet in height, and probably
cannot be repaired for several days. II is supposed
that the tract will be replaced by tressel work.
that the communication on the line will suffer little
interruption.
The night passenger train, due here at 81 O'Clock
this morning, had not arrived at IL m, being pro
baby detained by this accident.
p. S.-The o'clock morning boat has arrived
after several hours delay and the accounts are so
confused that we can scarcely harmonic them 1t
Is known that three persons are killed, one drovcr,
brakeman, and young man from Ohio. The
conductor was badly hurt, and was not expected to
live, and another brakeman saved. Quite a
number OF sheep, hogs, and cattle, with which the
cars were freighted, were saved, and greater por
ton of those killed had been taken out.
With the exception of the tender and engine, the
fourteen number. tn
pieces. Another account says four drovers and a
brakeman were killed. The bridge was sixty two
feet in length, and it was supposed the recent flood
had injured the abutment, and caused il to give
way. The engineer says when the iron bridge gave
way, it cracked like the firing of gun
IN Y Tribune
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
AS the locomotive of the freight train came on the
bridge, it began TO settle; the engineer put on all
possible steam, and by the increased power sue
ceeded in reaching the opposite stone abutments,
but the effort threw the engine off the track, which
alone saved it from being drawn back into the gen.
eral ruin.
The bridge fell Immediately, precipitating the
next into the abyss. The bridge was about
sixty feet in length, and the ravine some twenty
five feet deep. A stream of water in hoom
under the ridge, and saw mill just below. Fiji
teen freight dashed into the river, broken
and piled up in that narrow plain of sixty feet by
twenty five, in a most frightful manner.
1t is supposed that perhaps half dozen more
lives were lost Three men have been taken out,
and were stretched on board, horribly mutated,
lightly covered with straw-one breakman, name
not learned. The other two were in charge of the
stock, &c. MIR. Henry C.. Clapp, nineteen years
old, in charge OF sheep and swine, from Mention,
Ohio, nephew of Alex. Campbell, of Betheny col
lege Virginia, and Mr.. Bondal, in charge of cattle
from Corning, New York. Fifty oxen had been
taken out of the ruins and lay side by side in
place, and twenty five in another. Several were
seen still alive, and one all covered except the head
and shoulders, making effort every few mo-
ments to extricate itself.
had rained very hard some hours before we arrived,
which tended to increase the gloom and dread Of
the crossing
The first knowledge we had of the catastrophe
was on reaching Norrowsburgh, some seven miles
west OF the bridge. Here the passengers east and
west exchanged cars-and at the bridge; took
the train punctually and came into Piermont.
This unfortunate event Is greatly to be deplored.
The railroad inspector had but few days before
examined this part of the road, and this bridge; il
was deemed entirely safe. Judge, however, that
the timbers were too light, judging from the man
ner in which they were broken.
Besides, ravine like this should have been
archcd by stone bridge. | believe it is the only
weak place in the entire road. Honery passed
over il several times, and particularly examined
it, especially its bridge. ] deemed it one of the
most substantially built roads in the country This
failure of the bridge has by means changed my
opinion. 1t Is great mercy that the express train
just before passed safely The owner of the cattle
being in the third car when the bridge gave way,
took hold of two of his men, leaped from train TO
train, and thus escaped with their lives.
number of persons are said TO be badly in
jured. 1t is thought that the heavy rains of late
sprung the timbers at the abutments, but / think
it must have been inefhcicntly constructed. The
event is one that should cause greater in SINH
lar works, and n more rigid examination of them
from time to time.-Neo York Post