The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-23
DESTRUCTION OF THE WHEELING SUS
PENSION BRIDGE.

We copy from the Wheeling Intellieencer of the
18th inst, the suboined account of this disas
ter
During theforenoon of yesterday, q high storm of
wind prevailed, which towards noon increased To
almost hurricane along the valley of the river
breaking vessels at their moorines and causing
great devastation. About 3 o'clock we walked up
towards the suspension Bridge, and went upon il
intending to take walk across it for pleasure as
we have frequently done, enjoying the cool breeze
and the undulating motion of the bridge We dis.
covered that one ofthe guys, or small iron cables
extending from the flooring TO the wall near the
base of the east abutment was broken from it's fas
Jennings and several of the stones wrenched apart
About hundred yards further on we saw that
one, and only one OF the suspenders to which the
noor Is SWING, was broken These were but slip ht
damages, but we had never before seen the
bridge effected even to this extent by gales and as
itbegan to sway violently wethought il prudent
to retrace our steps. We had been off the floor
ing only two minutes and was on Main street when
we saw persons running towards the river bank;
we followed just in time to see the whole structure
of cables and flooring heaving and dashing with
tremendous force.
For few moments we watched it with breath
less anxiety, lungiug like ship in the storm; at
one time 1t rose to nearly the heighth ofthe towers
then fell. and twisted and writhed and was dashed
almost bottom upward. At last there seemed to be
determined twist along the entire span, about
one half OF the flooring being nearly reversed and
down went the immense structure from its dizzy
heighth to the stream below, with an appalling
crash and roar Nearly the entire structure struck
the water at the same instant, dashng up an unbro
ken column of foam the river to the heighth
OF a I least forty feet. -
Amid the confusion of the wreck we cannot &C.
curatey estimate the extent of the damage All the
cables, except two on the orth SIDE torn from
the towers On the South side, all the cables ex-
cept one small one, are torn from their anchorage
in the heavy masonry on Main street, and with
such violence were they jerked from this piece OF
masonary, that one stone weighing about 1,500
pounds, was thrown distance OF some feet. The
large iron gate a. this end of the bridge, was
shivered to atoms and the toll house completely
demolished. Mr.. James Bell, the toll keeper, max
ing narrow escape with his life. On the Island,
at the west end of the bridge, we learn that but
one cable broke from the anchorage. The entlre
wood work lies in the river and on the shores The
cables also stretch across the river, sunk 10 the
bottom. So far ae we discover, only two OF the
cables snapped asuuder, and that the outside OF
the towers the rest OF the breakage being at their
connections with the anchors.
The following are the resolutions adopted by the
company which built the iron suspension bridge OF
Wheeling:
son motion it was unanimously resolved That
the Wire Suspension Bridge of this Company be
rebuilt as speedily as possible.
Resolved further, That committee of five
members of this Board, TO be called the COMMITTEES
.ofReconstrnction. be appointed to take into con.
alteration the subject OF rebuilding the said Bridge
and to report this Board the earliest practical
day, what measures should be adopted 70 effect that
object.
The Wheeling Times states that 10 one hour alter
the bridge fell the company had il cut away 90
that navigation was un0bstructed BY It.
This Bridge had been = great eye. sore Pitts.
burg, who has stimulated all the proceedings
against if The Pittsburg Gazette In notice Of the
cefs ~ routo hotveyer nho We rather baral enirit
and expresses tho hope that Ia its reconstruction
the altafude fixed by the supreme count may be
adopted md thus all grounds for controversy be
avoided.