Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-13
Terrible Accident.

One of the most terrible calamities
that has ever happened within the limits
of this city occurred on Saturday after
noon last, about half past two o'clock.
The draw of the bridge at the foot of
Ohio street gave way with crash, pre-
cipitating to the river beneath eleven
persons, two wagons, four horses and
number of cattle, and causing the death
of three men, three girls and one boy.
The immediate cause of the draw break
ing through was the rush of drove of
cattle on the lower side Of the passage
way. The cattle were coming to this
side, and at the same time two wagons
were going west, one containing the
three men drowned, the other Mrs. Fran
els Thralls, her son and daughter, and
two little girls of Mr. Henry Miller of this
city. Directly behind one of the wagons
were three small boys who were going
over in the bottoms, nutting. The wagon
in which Mrs Thralls with the children
was seated, and the boys, went down in
the draw. The horses swan down about
one hundred yards and were rescued.
The east portion of the draw tilted and
sent the other wagon with the three men
through the bent east of the draw,
drowning or killing the three men and
the horses
The news of the accident soon spread
through the city, and in short time the
bridge and banks of the river were filed
with people, anxious to learn the extent
of the accident, for at first it was not
known how many lives were lost. A
number of persons Immediately went to
work in small boats, with polls and
hooks searching for the missing, and by
dark all the bodies were found. 1t was
indeed sorrowful sight, as one by one
they were taken up and lain on the river
bank Nearly all the unfortunate ones
were sorely bruised by the falling tim
bers, or by striking the rocks below, and
to these causes, undoubtedly, may be at
tributed the great loss oflife.
The names of the killed and drowned
are, Patrick Monk, James Slaven, Pat
rick Kearney, Missouri and Annie Mil
Ter, Willie Brecount, and daughter OF
Mr.. Francis Thralls, who lives near St.
Mary's.
The three first named were teamsters,
and all, we understand, in the employ OF
VIM. McQuilkin, coal dealer, about four
miles out from the river The next two
were daughters of Mr.. Henry Miller Of
this place, and the boy son of Mr.. Bre-
count, living opposite the Stewart House.
The persons saved were Mrs. Thralls
her son, and two boys, Edward and John
Dunn. Mrs Thralls caught on some
timbers ad was taken in boat Her
son held to the horns of one of the oxen.
Eddie Dunn was saved by his dog, which
grasped him by the collar and carried
him safely to the shore, whilst John Dunn
swan out
| One incident connected with the re
covery of the bodies is worthy of more
4 general publicity. All had been found
with the exception of that of Miss Thralls
and the approaching night was about tC
compel the search to be abandoned
when some one suggested that by placing
quicksilver in loaf of bread and putting
it in the water, it would stop directly
over the body.
Accordingly loaf of bread was pro
cured, and two ounces of quicksilver
placed in it, then taken about fifty fee
above the bridge and thrown into the wa
ter. 1t hoated down in the current
which is quite strong at that place, wher
suddenly it stopped and circling around
was apparently about to sink, when {
gentleman in boat caught it, and crap
ping hooks being put down, the body
: was found directly beneath, in from eigh
to ten feet of water. We have read O
this mode some years since, but sup
posing it one of the many superstitions
had almost forgotten it. What the phi
,osophy is we cannot tell. Will som,
one afford some light on it7-Terr
Haute Express