The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-14
1oaE BRIDGE AccrDENrs.
A Nan Drowned, A Barge Wrecked.

| More deplOrable accidents have occurred
in the vicinity of the railroad bridge this
spring than for the same period of time in
many years past. We had hoped that the
disagreeable duty Of chronicling them was
over, but we are again required to pen
another loss of life and property. Inc nfs'
accident, involving the loss of liie' occur
red Yesterday morning, (the 18TH in the FOL
lowing manner. The workmen ehsaseu ~
rebuilding the draw had just commenced
o,o..,;ons for the day, when three men
Rarna,d Olson, Charles Walker, and Dou-
oo,d Mccormick, left the draw pier in
uowl to cross over to the next one adioin-
| ing on the Iowa side, and on which the re-
| naming structure of the bridge rests, to take
| more workmen across to their labor. A
strong wind was then blowing, and this, with
the heavy currents, prevented them from reach
ing the desired point, and drifted them as far
down as the foot of Main street, Davenport,
where they succeeded in effecting landing.
Walker then gave up his place in the boat
| to two others, Jasper Fisher and A. ID. HUFF,
| and by being kept close to the shore, the
yawl was rowed up as far as Renwick's mill.
An attempt was then made to float down to
the draw pier. Being unable to make the
proper distance, however, the yawl was
| swept down upon a cable which had been
| stretched from one pier to the other, from
the draw to the Iowa shore, to assist boats
in crossing. On striking the cable, Ohlsen
and Mccormick seized it in order to steady
| the yawl, but the latter was swept under by
the wind and waves. Mr.. Mccormick was
enabled to throw himself on his back, catch
ing the rope under his arms, and thus hold
| ing his head and shoulders out of water
Mr.. Ohlsen also chung to the rope, but IN a
| less fortunate manner. In few moments
| he became chilled through, and was unable
| Huff and Fisher had, in the mean time,
chung fast to the boat, which went under the
cable, and came up on the other side about
half filed with water. They succeeded most
tremendously in climbing in, although the
waves were dashing fearfully about them.
and finally made their way to shore. Oil
sen and Mccormick were now in a highly
critical condition. With gallantry which
cannot be too highly praised, Mr.. W. NJ.
HERMAN allowed himselfto be lowered from
the bridge into the water by means of rope
| being tied about his waist. But there was
no hope for poor Ohlsen. Oyerpowered by
the cold, and completely exhausted by his
efforts, he gave one despairing look at those
above him, loosened his hold, and was swal-
| lowed by the angry waters. Mr.. HERMAN
then caught Mccormick about the shoulders,
and with great exertion, held him high
enough to prevent his being strangled, for
his strength had commenced failing. At
this exciting iuncture, Mr.. Nathan J. Lamer
pushed off from shore in light skiff, boldly
dashed through the breakers, reached the
| spot not moment too soon, and lifted Nc
| Cormick into the boat. The latter was
thoroughly benumbed with the cold, and on
| finding himself safe at last, sunk back into
the boat in an almost senseless condition.
Mr.. Herman was drawn safely up TO the
bridge, and the exciting tragedy ended. At
last accounts, Ohlson's body had not been
recovered. He was Swede by birth, and
but twenty-one years Of age.
| At about four o'clock in the afternoon, the
steamer Hawk Eye State came down with
two barges in tow. The high winds render
ing it impossible that she could pass through
with her membranes, the two barges
were cast loose. The steamer and one barge
passed through in safety. The other one
struck the draw pier, and was damaged to
to such an extent that it was thought moth
ing would save it from sinking. The steam
er returned in all haste, and meeting it as it
was drifting down, towed it in to the shore
ct the foot of Rock Island street, Davenport,
where it sunk Immediately. The loss by
damage to the barge alone is fully $4,000.
What can be saved from the cargo is not
yet ascertained, but the entire loss cannot
fall short of $4,000.