New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-04
S}qp Orleans 92tlg QFea ert.


PARTICULARS or THE DESTRUCTION OF THE sUs-
QUEHANNA RAILROAD BRIDGE.
HAyRE DE GRACE, July 27-At 7:15 p. NJ, on
the 25th, tornado came down the river striking |
the bridge first at the east side Of the draw. It
first lifted the seventh span-the one next to the
draw-which it hurled into the river, and then
successfully the sixth, fifth, fourth, third and sec
Ond spans. The ninth span, or that next west of
the draw, was not raised the storm then took
the tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth spans
in order. About one half of the timber will be
used again. The bridge will be open for travel in
about Six months from this time
The Philadelphia Ledger of yesterday says:
AT seven o'clock on Wednesday evening a tor
nado swept down the Susquehanna river carrying
with it the magnificent bridge of the Philadelphia
and Baltimore railroad company, designed to CON
meet PGrTyyiile with Hayre de Grace, and dispense
with the use of the ferry boat. The storm was
short in duration, 1t made its first appearance to
the north, and first broke over Fort Deposit,
where shower Of hail destroyed crops and broke
glass in the windows Of the houses OF the village.
Then, following the course of the river it reached
Hayre de Grace, and after destroying the bridge
seemed to be content with its work, and did no
further damage beyond unrOohng a barn at Perry
vile.
In order to fully comprehend the force of the
storm, the size aud construction Of the bridge
should be understood, 1t was one of the finest
specimens of bridge architecture in this country,
and, next to the great Victoria bridge, the most
expensive ever erected by any corporation.
Crossing the Susquehanna at u point 3l95 feet
from shore to shore, thirteen spans were required
These spans rested on piers fourteen IN NUMBER
and the magnitude of the work may be imagined
when it is kuown that some Of these piers stand III
forty feet Of water. The piers We're copmchceu
in l5Gl, and not ready for the superstructure
until October last when the engineers began the
construction Of the woodwork. The bridge was
known a. the Howe truss, each arch consisting OF
four ribs 8x9 inches, making, with the nteTstiGes,
q beam Of 375 inches deep. The traaers and grid
ers connecting and strengthening each span made
a huge mass Of timber, sufficient il appearance to
resist almost any amount Of pressure. There are
twelve of these immense spans, each Two hundred
and fifty feet in length, while the draw was one
hundred and ninety fart in length All the spans,
with tlG exception of one To tie west OF the draw,
were in place, aud the u finished one was RAPIDLY
approaching completion when NE storm occurred.
AS before stated, the Storm gave no warning,
and tie residents in the ncighuOrloOd at Perry
vile and Havrc az Grace, looked upon it o. an or
binary summer gale. II commenced with shower
of rain. The wind gradually Increased in force
until two Of the Worinen employed Oh the bridge
went upon the structure for the purpose Of secur-
ing some loose timber. They were on the span
next TO the draw when the tornado broke over
them They represent the work of destruction as
almost instantaneous. First there was an easy
sWavug to and fro OF the heavy woodwork, and a
straining OF the timbers; next one Of the large
pieces IN the arch Of one Of the spans snapped,
and then the entire structure on the eastern end
lifted from the piers aud hurled into the river,
leaving but the one span nearest 70 the shore
standing.
Having thus disposed Of the eastern portion of
the bridge, the wind cddad back TO the west and
lifted the remaining spans and sent them into the
water. The two workmen had no time to escape,
but as the bridge was falling they sprang into the
water. and with rare presence Of mind Owed down
far below the mass Of timber. They were rescued
by boats sent from shore. The different spans
seemed to remain intact until they reached the
water when they were broken aud foated down
the stream. The destruction OF the bridge was
complete in almost less time than it has required