The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-24

sway violently, We though, il pruden. to
retrace our steps. We had been off the
flooring only two minutes, and was on Main
street, when we saw persons running to.
wards 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 1t with
breathless anxiety, lunging like ship in a
storm; at one time it rose to nearly the
height OF the towers, then fell, and twisted
and writhed, and was dashed almost bot
tom upward. At last there seemed to be
a determined twis; along the entire span,
about one half Of the flooring being nearly
reversed, and down went the immense
structure from its dizzy height to the
stream below, with an appalling crash and
roar. Nearly the entire structure struck
the water at the same instant, dashing up
an unbroken column of foam across the
river, to the height Of at least forty feet.
Amid the confusion OF the wreck, we
cannot accurately estimate the extent Of the
damage. Allth cables, except two on the
North side, are torn from the towers. On
Inc South side, all the cables, except one
small one, are torn from their anchorage
in the heavy masonry on Main street, and
with such violence were they jierked from
this piece of masonry, that one stone
weighing about 800 pounds, was thrown
a distance Of some feet. The large iron
gate, at the end Of the bridge, was shiver.
ed to atoms, and the toll house completely
demolished. Mr.. Jas. Bell, the toll.keeper
making a 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 entire woodwork lies in
the river and on the shores. The cables
also stretch across the river, sunk to the
bottom. So far as We can discover. only
two of the cables snapped asunder. and
that on the outside Of the towers, the resi-
of the breakage beng at their connections
with the anchors.
For mechanical solution OF the unex.
pected fall of this stupeudous structure, we
must await future developments. We wit
messed the terrific scene and saw that il
was brought about by the tremendous vio'
lence of the gale. The great body OF the
flooring and the suspsnders. forming some
thing like basket swung between the tow,
ers. was swayed to and FRO, like the mo.
ton Of a pendulum. The cables on the
South side were finally thrown off the apex
Of the Eastern tower. retaining their posi-.
ton on the tower on the opposite side of the
river. This destroyed the equilibrium o
the swinging body; and each vibration Civ
-. "a al
which sustained the whole structure, were
unable TO resis. force operating on them
in so many diff.rsn, directions, and were
literally twisted and wrenohed from their
fastenings. ,y
The submits Of the towers on each side
are several feet above the arch which
unites them. Upon the SUBMITS the cables
rested on iron rollers. and it is supposed
by some ihst the jar produced by the sud
den falling Of the cables on one side from
the roller 10 the connecting arch below
was the cause OF the disaster. Whether
this is philosophical conclusion. OF
whether the result would have been differ.
ent If the towers had not been separated
is question which we leave to future in.
vestigations.
The flooring as ii struck the water was
broken. into three sections, and extended
across the river. entirely blockading the
channel for . while. Last evening thai
portion across the channel was cut away
and removed by the steamer Thos. Swami
so that the channel 10 now free for the pas.
sage Of boats. 'si
We cannot estimate the Inconvenience
which will be caused 10 trade and travel
and the mail transit by the loss Of thi.
bridge. Itis one OF the heaviest cAlamitiel
which has ever fallen on our city, but W,
believe the enterprise and public spirit o
our citizens will repair the loss as speedily
40 any community could possibly do
Temporary ferry boats have been provided
and their places will soon be supplied b.
the best boats which can be procured
For further arrangements, we look hope
fully TO the future. s.ls
it's source Of graduation that no live
were lost by the disaster. We were anon,
the last persons who left the bridge iron
this side, and although many on both side
were just waiting to 60 upon it, they wer
fortunately deferred. We saw no one up
on il when il fell, and so far as we hav
learned, one little girl. daughter of MI
Lukens, on the Island, 10 the only one VIII
was injured, and she not dangerously
She was standing on this side, waiting 70
the wind to subside, and was struck b
something which bruised her arm. w
trust that further examinations will disclos
Z 4 q. - r a.