Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-04-15
Shocking Casuality.--rhc Free isri ge
swept Away 1.-TWO Lives Lost

One of the most painful accidents it has ever
been our duty to chronicle occurred in this place
on Friday afternoon last, the 9th inst. Early
in the day, Friday it was reported that one of
the stone piers of our new bridge over the &C.
dar, was crumbling away beneath the repeated
aud continuous shocks from the large masses of
floating ice and heavy timbers with which the
river was literally filled at that time. During
the entire day, trees, timbers andice came down
in immense quantities, and as the current at this
point was about at the rate of 6 or miles per
hour as we are informed it will readily be seen
that any heavy, floating substance would strike
the piers with tremendous force. AT about half
past four o'clock the upper tower OF the fourth
pier from the LETT bank OF the river fell with a
crash. From that moment it was evident that
that portion of the bridge must go down, yet for
an hour afterwards persons continued to cross
on foot. But it soon became apparent that no
one could cross without mourning great risk, and
a great many were deferred from making the at
tempt. ~ h.sss
At about a quarter before 6 o'clock two young
ladies, sisters, named Nancy and Eliza Black,
aged respectively l6 and 20 years, only daugh-
tiers of Joseph Back, who resides on the west
side of the river, started to cross the bridge
They were warned of the danger, but being anx-
ious to reach home and apprehensive, perhaps,
that 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 defective portion OF the bridge
the pier gave way, and the two arches of the SUI
perstructure which Unsupported fell with great
| crash. Tue two unfortunate ladies were precip-
itated into the rapid stream below, and instantly
disappeared beneath the floating mass of ice, and
| the wreck of timbers from the bridge. 1t is
probable that they were crushed by the falling
| tmbers, as they never rose to the surface. The
| bodies were borne rapidly down the stream, and
| the rushing waters sounded melancholy dirge
| to the departed. Scores of people who witness
| ed the scene from either bank were appalled, and
could scarcely realize that two human beings
had thus suddenly been deprived of life; while
| the pallor on every countenance told the shock
1 to the feelings of humanity. What seemed
worse than all was, that although the uniortu-
| nate persons were almost within reach, no hui
man aid could be rendered or could have avail
ed anything. Their bodies have not been re-
covered. CAS-
There is something singular in the circumstan.
ces Of the death OF these ladies, and it seems as
if certain fatality attended them. Had they
needed for an instant the warnings they receiv-
ed when they stepped upon the bridge; had
they been but moment later or moment soon.
err; or had they attempted to cross the bridge
ut an ordinary speed, they would have been
| saved But their anxiety to reach their home
before the only means for doing so, at the time,
was removed, hurried them to the fatal spot at
the only instant that cod have cost them their
| lives. sa
| DR. S D. Carpenter, F. P. Huntington, and a
Mr.. Knowles were upon the bridge when it com.
menced going down, and barely succeeded in
escaping with their lives. Mr.. Huntington in par
ticular was aware of the danger, but when the
ladies seemed determined to cross, regardless Of
his warnings, he ran on ahead 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 50
suddenly that he had scarcely time to clear the
/ falling arch before it went down. This sudden
catastrophe cast q gloom over our community,
and those who witnessed the scene will always
| Shudder at its recollection.-CedarR Rapids Dem.
] ocraf. - -----