The New York herald., 1870-09-09
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Falling Of Bridge Over Toms River with
Party Of Sunday School Excursionists-
Eight Of the Party Drowned, Foar
Missing and Several Injured
Full Particulars Of the
Distressing Casualty.

DlstressluS CRSualty'
LoNG BRANCH, Sept. 9. 1870.
pail Of gloom darkIy oyershadows this place.
blight Of woe bows down under It's crushing weight
many gret.strlcken hearts. Desolatlon and despair
pervades many households. Rachel mourning for
her children and refusing to be comforted has now
here its sad parallel few words tells the painful
story; but it will be many years before the mean-
choly events Of to-day are forgotten. At abeut
halfpast eight O'Clock this morning. while party OF
Sabbath school exoursonists were crossing q foot
bridge over Toms river the bridge suddenly gave
way. precpitatng them into the river. Eight were
drowned, several are missing. and q number sus.
tained more or less injuries by pieces OF the
bridge falling them. The following are the facts
OF the terrible disaster as given In detail. beginning
with
TIE EXCURSION PARTY.
The occasion was the annual excursion OF the
Sabbath school attached to the Methodist Centenary
church OF this place. of which Rev. Mr.. Graw Id
pastor It has been the habit for years OF making
special feature Of this yearly holiday turnout Of the
Sabbath school. This year moro pains than usual
was taken regarding 1t, and for this purpose tho
Sabbath schools of Methodist churches at Atlantic
vilie EatontOn, BrOckpOrt and other places In the
vicinity were invited TO participate In the days fes-
tivities. A band Of music was engaged from Red
Bank, and the expectation was o most pleasant one
to the participants. While the majority OF the ex-
cursionists was made up OF the Sabbath school chill
dron ana their teachers, many OF the parents and
others Of tho various congregations also went.
LEAVING L0N0 BRANCH.
The party left the railroad depot here at quarter
past seven O'Clock There were eleven cars filled
with the ex0ursonists. MOST Of the children were
dressed In white, and happiness and innocence
we're large baskets filled with cold meats cakes and
other appurtcnances Of their expected midday
as river twenty-five miles % rom Where Where during the
summer and all months, frequent picnics are held.
swiftly onward sped the train. All were happy, ana
looking forward to q day OF rare and complete en-
REACn1Na TOMS RIVER,
the train st0pped aud the excuri0nists left the cars.
or course, as Is usual In such cases the children
parallel with the rver The grove where the picnic
was 70 be held was across the river, which Is,
Oh ia'hef' was THE r.r., pn,nor
This bridge ts sort Of double bridge, that is the
foot passengers. Its length about sixty feet and
the part used by foot passengers were sme six feet
leaving tho cars nrst and their teachers and other
attendants hurrledly rushed. The bridge was
nearly compact with them. A number had passed
over and others came crOwding on. Suddenly there
was was cteak, then giving way ana down came this
A TERRIBLE CRASH.
IL was but the work OF moment. Quicker than
can write II the tragedy was at Its completion.
and thirty feet deep went this mass OF human
beings. The fearful noise Of creakIng and falling
scene was indescribable. The wide but Sluggish
stream was filed with floating children and grown
help. There was all possible promptness tn
RENDERING ASSISTANCE.
Men who could swim jumped into the water and
Immediately began the work OF rescue Some ran
for boats Some hurried for boards and poles, any
thing that would serve to buoy up those In tie
shreks to render their aid But for this prompt
action . large additional number would have been
LIST OF THE DROWNED
reaches eight, as foows:-
.irs. sidney Throckmorton. aged thIrtyfvc.
Mary Elizabeth styles, aged eighteen.
Peter Rowland, aged lwenty.one.
Maria Martin, aged eighteen.
Laiifa Martin, aged fifteen
James Martin, aged thirteen.
Helen Lane, aged fourteen.
Ellen Maple, aged twelve.
AS VIII be seen, no very young. persons were
drowned.
THE INJURED
Those sustaining the most severe injuries were:-
james N. Throcknorton.
Miss Gonna SCiilin9er.
Mrs. George Lippincott
THE MISSING
Securing tho river continued several hours after
the casualty II Is SAID that four are still missing.
but it Is hardly believed possible any more were
drowned so thoroughly was the bed OF the river
secured with graphing Irons.
Columns might be Tiled detailing Incidents CON.
nected with the casualty. Mrs. ThrOckmorton hoated
mef tho Cavx bns a ana was when taken
after. The young man, Peter Howland jumped
into the river TO rescue the young lady, Miss Styles
two weeks. he reached her, she threw her arms
about his neck and both were drowned together
But VIII not dwell on these sadly touching Incl
dents, but come to the
DISPOSITION OF THE BODIES.
These were placed IN PLAIN pine boxes and at five
O'Clock the train brought them and the sorrowng
excursionists back here. II was truly fearful
being brought here the bodies were all taken to theft
late homes nearly all having been residents OF tie
gloom prevailing here incidental to this cas- ualty
Brief inqusltiOns will he made by the Coroner 10.
morrow, and the bodies prepared for burial. The
funeral will probably he Sunday, and 1t IS unnec
essary to add that sadder has never been hero
before,