The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-04-16
Shocking Casualify.--The Free
Bridge swept Away---TwO
Lives LOstS

Lives LOstS
One of the m ,st painful accidents il has
ever been our duty 10 chronicle occnriec in
this place IN Friday afternoon last, the 9th
inst. Early in the day, [Friday,1 it was re-
ported that nne of the stone piers Of onr new
bridge over the Cedar, was crumbling away
beneath the repeated and continuous shocks
from the large masses Of floating ice and heavy
timbers with which the ..yer was literally
filled at that tine. During the entire day,
trees, timbers and ice came down IN immense
quantities, and as tie current at this point was
about at the rate Of 6 or 7 miles per hour [as
we are informed il will readily be seen that
any heavy, floating substance world strike the
piers with tremendous force. A. about half
past Four o'clock the upper tower Of the fourth
pier from the left bank Of the river fell with a
crash. From that moment it was evident that
that portion of the bridge must 20 down, vet
for an hour afterwards persons continued to
cross on foot. But il soon became apparent
that no one could cross without mourning grea,
risk, and a great many were deferred from
making the attempt.
AT about quarter before O'Clock two
young ladies, sisters. named Nancy and Eliza
Black. aged respectively 16 and 20 years, only
daughters of Joseph Black, who resides on the
west side of the river, started to cross the
bridge. They were warned Of the danger,
but being anxious to reach home, and appre-
hensive, perhaps, tina: every moment of delay
would increase the peril, they commenced
running, hoping soon TO be out Of the reach Of
danger. Just as they reached the then defec-
tive portion of the bridge the pier gave way.
and the two arches Of the superstructure which
it supp ,rted fell with great crash. The two
unfortunate ladies were precipitated into the
rapid stream below, and instantly disappeared
beneath The floating mass of ice, and the wreck
of timbers from the Bridge. It is probable that
they were crushed by the falling timbers, as
they never rose to the surface. The bodies
were borne rapidly down the stream, and the
rushing waters sounded melancholy drge to
the departed. Scores of people who witness
ed the scene from either bank were appalled,
ings had thus suddenly been deprived OF life;
while the pallor on every countenance told the
shock to the feelings of humanity. Wha,
seemed worse than all was. that although the
unfortunate persons were almost within reach
no human aid could be rendered or could hay,
| availed anything. Their bodies have not beer
recovered
There is something singular in the circum-
| stances OF the death of these ladies. and il
seems as il certain fatality attended them
Had they needed for an instant the warning:
they received when they stepped upon the
bridge; had they been but moment later or a
moment sooner; or had attempted to cross the
bridge at an ordinary speed, they would have
been saved. But their anxiety to reach their
home before the only means for doing so, al
the time, was removed, hurried them to the
fatal spot at the only instant that could have
cost them their lives
DR.. s. d. Carpenter, F. p. Huntington. and
Mr.. Knowles were upon the bridge when j,
commenced going down, and barely succ eeded
in escaping with their lives. Mr.. Huntington
in particular was aware of the danger, but
when the ladies seemed determined to Gro g.
regardless of his warnings, he ran on shead
OF them, thinking that any immediate danger
would be perceived in time, and that he could
again warn the ladies and keep them back
But the pier gave way so suddenly that he had
scarcely time y clear the falling arch before
it went down. This sudden cata stronhe ~ sf
gloom over our community, and those who
witnessed tie scene will always shuddcr at
its reccilection.-C Cedar Rapids Democrat.