Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-10
FALL OF THE IRON BRIDGE AND DREAD
FUL CRASH, ON THE NEW YORK AND
ERIE RAILROAD.
STEAMER THOMAS POWELL,

was this morning, between a and o'clock,
at what is called the iron bridge, between
NarpwSburgh and Lackawaxen, on the New
York and Erie Railroad. This bridge gave
way yesterday about half-past 10 O'Clock, as
the morning freight train, going east, was
crossing. The express had passed but a
short time before.
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 succeed in reaching the
opposite stone abutment, but the effort threw
the engine from the track, which alone saved
i, from being drawn back into the general
ruin.
The bridge fell Immediately, preclpltatlng
the next car into the abyss. The bridge
was abou, 60 feet in length, and the ravlne
some 25 feet deep. stream Of water ran
in flood under the bridge, and saw mill
ius, below. The disastrous occurrence pre-
sented some thrillingly awful scenes. One
hundred and thirteen becves, five hundred
and thirty-one hogs, and one hundred ahd
sixty sheep we're, by the breaking oil
the bridge, precipitated into the ravine.--
There were seventeen cars beside the engine
and tender.
The scene, Just after the accident had oc-
Cured, is described, by those who Witnessed
it, as being piteous in the extreme, ana nor
Tible 10 behold. There were noble oxen
writhing in tortnres, and making the whoIe
mass active by their throos, made IN the VAIN
endeavor to extrcato themselves some win
their horns broken off, some with their backs
broken. and some only held fast by masses
of the ruin being piled upon their limbs
Their cries arc represented as having been
nj the same time heart-rendng and hideous.
Some, mad with pain, their eyes starting
from their sockets with rage, seemed bent
on wreakinE vengeance on whatever obJect
was nearest 10 ,hcm. Others, subdued by
fheir sunerngs. moaucd and seemed TO I'M
s,oro release. The sheep simply blcated,
and the few of thcm that happened TO es-
cape, went quietly TO nibblmg grass by the
roadside. Quite differently the swine
They were bclliGercnt and those beneath
the ruins fought with each other as long as
there was life in them, while the more lucky
unes that escaped made for the woods, as if
flying from some impending danger As
soon as the momentary panic had subsidized,
the men who had escaped injury set &c wcrk
TO relieve their companions 1t was eoon as
ccrtaned that Randall and the brakeman,
lice, were near each ether and were both
alive ana by no means despairing. Soon
Randall's voice was heard. He called out
for water and waved his hand, which was at
length seen. A linen handkerchief was sat
uraed with water and put in,c his hand. He
Withdrew his hand, exhausted the moisture
and re,urned the handkerchief 10 sight again.
Ii was now found that powerful or, foam
ing witt. rage, and throwing his head around
in agony, would prevent the men from work
ing in The immediate vicinity. The animal
, conld not possibly be exlrfca,ed, and it was
necessary TO shoot him 10 prevent him from
Doing mischief. The OK was, therefore, shot,
and it is supposed that in his death struggle
he eansed the death Of Randall, as it was
subsequently found that the creatures hind
foot was on his person. The same OK lay
partly across Tice, the breakman; both were
dead when extrcated. Randall was about
thirty-fve years OF age, and leaves wife
and four children. His body was cofiined
and sent to his friends in The western part of
New York Tice, it is thought, was not
married he lived near Port Jervis and his
body was also conveyed TO his friends. Mr..
Bryant saw tha, every possible attention was
paid TO the remains of his assistant, young
CIapp. He lies now in quiet and beautiful
little churchyald near the scene Of the acci-
dent.
Randall behaved coully and hravely while
he lived He did not despair but conversed
as well as he could. At one time, when his
friends were cutting with an axe, he said :
abe carefulj men, don't chop my head !;
you're cutting too near my head" He did
not murmnr nor grow peevish. Tce, the
brakeman, also depOr,ed himself manfuly.-
His arm was broken, but he kept up good
spiri,s as long as his strength remained.-
They died about three O'Clock, but their bo-
dies were not released till eleven.