Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-17
DAVENPORT. IOWA. TUESDAY, MARCH II. 1856
R. Bridge in Ruins

R. R. BRIDGE in Ruins!
A Gale Of Wind Destroys
the Draw.
Six Men at the Capstan 50
AoWn With the Ruin.
OWE MAN KnlLED AND POUR
WOUNDED.
The Search Anong che Daans.
Last sysnipg our city was again startled
BY the fearful asd almost incredible intslli
gsnce that the dsaw on the Railroad Bridge
had gone and six men were in its ruins call
ing for help. Nr. Z. A. Tilsbein, who lives
just s5ovs the Bridge first heard their cries
and started towards the city for assistance
1t was with difficulty that no could make
the people believe that the cries were for as.
distance, SO confident were they that the
draw could stand any tornado that might
strike il. Arriving at the Post Office he
told his story and Ia company with the
Bridge Master, Mr.. Preston; Capt. Adams
and our reporter. he hurried 10 the levee to
signal the Ferry or the "Jamss Means
but either they did not hear, or owing to
the darkness Of the night, the rain and Wind
on the river they thought it unsafe to start
out. After some delay the Captain Of the
David Watts, whose boat was lying at the
lsvse somewhat damaged BY the gale, low
cred yawi and into THE the party except
the Bridge Master who vent for ncss help,
with tho Captain and thres Of his men hur-
ried and we're soon pulling over the dark and
troubled waters towards the ruins.
The boat reached the draw just ~ anoth-
Or boat, with three men from Mr.. Rsckord' .,
who lives just above the bridge, came
round into the eddy formed BY the water
sircling GROUND the ruins. II was . fearful
looking scene. The gale struck the lower
side Of the draw, which u che time was ia
position for the passage sftsains, and, a. il
seemed, had tipped Il partly over towards
shs house on the point, and in this position
IL had broken. The broken parts still huns
to the pier, while the sxtrsme ends rested
in the waters. Through these ruins ths
damned up waters surged and roarsd, ma
king II most uuinviting place for the two
boats below. % the wreck was liable to civ,
way at any moment, and sweep them dowr
stream. The two bosts were made fast
and the occupants Of Rsckord's boat and oul
reporter commenced the ascent Of the pisl
BY clambsring up "coon fashion" over tn.
broken timbsrs. After some difficulty they
reached the pier, and crawling through III.
wreck Of broken timbers, they reached th,
house, and found that oil had escaped bu
one man. and he, they feared, had beor
washed away.
The condition Of the wounded men Wal
ascsrtained a. near a. possible, and one o
the party clambered back over the broker
timbers and reported to the captain Of tn,
boat, who Immediately backed out Of tn,
eddy and pulled for shore to bring sur
gson to the assistance Of the wounded.
THEIR ACCOUNT.
M. T. 4. Smith, Assistant Bridge Mas
ter and five men were on the draw. Tn,
wind had been blowing from the south, ant
It was not nscsssary to make shs draw fas
BY lines. About seven o'clock The wint
vssssd around and hlsw with terrible forc'
directly up stream. The six men hastsnet
10 the levers. and we're holding tho draw il
its place, and had not the least thought tina
it could bs started from its fastenings, - il
had stood manv heavier blows; but its fss
Jennings we're probably loosed by the ic,
gorge. They were in this position whel
the crash came. Mr.. Smith heard . terrii
fic crash on the Island side which was close
ly followed by another on this side wher
he was standing, and the whole structure
gave way. The lower timbers and the mas
sivs roned chords snapped like reeds, ant
the upper structure broke and fell ell in on
confused ruin, and down they went eacl
one expecting instant death. The noise O
the crash followed BY the cries Of the mel
was heard on both sides Of the river. How
amid the falling and breaking timbers fiv
out Of six men could come out alive, an,
one unhurt, it is impossible to tell, yet sucl
was the case. T~o, the least injured, Ok
trieatsd themselves from their perilous cit
uation, and lead through the darkness b,
the cries and means Of the others, tho sue
eeedsd in helping three of them into th
house, and made them - comfortable y
possible on beds end blankets hastily throws
upon the floor, and in this condition the
were found BY the party from the boats.
After dsisg all that could be done fo
them without surgical assistance, lantern
and torches wsrs risgsd up and tborsuel
search was made for more than an hour 70
ths missing man, but all search WAS sua
vailing, the body Was either buried in II
fallen timbsrs OK wsshsd away. The toscl
- Pickering thressh the darkness and rain
the men daobssins among the fuihs, th
waters rushing threugh the wreck and u
lights glimmsring along ths fivsr's bank
made the scene one Of strange and weird 10
tsrsst. The ssasshing party we're now On,
then startled By the crackiog timbers a. IL
wassss Aooded against them and hastil,
elaassesd svse their slippssy surfaces 10
plass Of safety, szpsoting to - them wash
I'd away, and only returned to The searcl
a. daty called them to assiat the misainl
man who might be suffering The sgoniss o
death or clinging speschlsss ts The floatin,
timbsrs.
An hour bed passed, when The boat ,ha
had gone ashore for assistance was sie,ale,
and guided into the eddy below the wreck
bringing Drs. W. r. Peek end W. L. Mid
dlston, with surgical isstsunsnts, bandassa
etc. They were assistsd In climbing up ID
ruins and shows 10 The house, whore thsi
szaminations showed the following results
- Saith Aa~saAArA Q.:l-. M>.a -