Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-19
The Terrible Disaster I'm New Jer-
sey.

sey.
A distressing accident occurred ON
Thursday morning, 9Th inst, at Toms
river near Long Branch, N j. A large
picnic party, belonging to Centenary
Methodist Church, of Long Branch, had
visited the spot About sixty persons
were standing on bridge over the river,
VIXEN it gave way, and they were precip-
itated into the water Eight persons
we're drowned, all belonging to Long
Branch. From detailed account of
the disaster we take the following:
Toms river is village of about
twenty-five hundred inhabitants, situated
upon the banks of the river of that name,
about six miles from its mouth. 1t has
become of late quite summer resort,
and large hotel has been built there.
1t is also much frequented by the people
of the neighborhood for picnicing pur
poses. The depot of the Southern New
Jersey railroads. on the opposite side of
the river, and is connected with the vii
lage by two bridges-one wagon bridge
and the other foot bridge-on trestles,
about fifteen feet apart. This structure
was attached to the depot side of the
river by wood or iron pins. 1t is about
sixty feet long, and the water beneath it
is at least ten feet deep. The bridge has
been built about one Year. and its safety
has never apparently been doubted. On
Thursday morning at $50 o'clock, some
five hundred men, women and children
connected with the Sunday School of the
Ceptenary Methodist Episcopal Church
of Long Branch, started on the cars for
a picnic and clam-bake at Toms river |
On their arrival at the depot they began
to saunter leisurely across the bridge in
groups.
THE BRIDGE GIVES WAY.
When but few had actually got over
and some sixty were on the treacherous
support, the pins on the depot side sud !
denly gave way, aud the whole affair, |
with its living freight, swung over towards |
the village. The loosened end sank be-
meath TIE water, while the other re-
mained fast. If both ends had given
way the slaughter would have been
frightful. The incline plane which the
floor of the bridge made lay at such an
angle that about half fthe endangered peo-
pie we're enabled to Chamber up on the
village side. They scrambled up on
their hands and knees-an indescribably
confused and terrified mass of humanity
some looking out for themselves, with
out muoh regard to others, some pushing
down towards the water to rescue the
less helpful.
STRUGGLING FOR LIFE.
Meanwhile thirty persons we're strug-
Cling Ia ths Sater, elutohins az each
other, and at the fragments Of the bridge
Some were even under the bridge.
Those Of the multitude who were on the
depot side could only stand there in
painful helplessness; those on the other
side managed to save all but eight per-
sons.
ACTS OF HERoIsN,
As is usual in such cases, there we're
striking instances of heroism. Peter
Rowland, carpenter, had alread saved
his nephew, a boy of eleven, when he
saw Miss E. Styles struggling in the
water. At once, blind to all other sights,
needless of the almost certain death
from desperate clutching hands that
awaited him if he plunged amid that
aass af frantic humanity, be dashed
Into the water. The sight of her
there, gasping for breath, was uRendur-
able; for She was his hearts delight
she wore his ring upon her hsnd-he had
been bus yesterday looking at her we'd
ding garments, in which she was so soon
to stand up proudly by his side. They
we're beautiful in their lives, and in death
not divided" for he had seized and was
bearing her safely 10 the shore, when
Mrs. Sidney Throckmorton, in her des-
pairing agony, seized him by the arm,
and so hampered him that all three sank
together although he vas a. excellent
swlmmef.
THE WORK OF REsUsCTTATIoN.
Probably not more than a quarter Of
those who fell into the water we're men;
the rest were women, boys and girls,
Many Of those who were rescued had TO
rubbed and treated in the ways usually
adopted in cases Of drowning before
thew recovered their breath. One girl
fourteen, Who was Faked up from the
bottom Of the river, was considered quite
dead, but careful treatment finally resus-
citated her.
The Patrons Of Husbandry in Mis-
souri, have q side degree into which they
initiate horse-thieves. After the oere-
mony nothing can be seen Of the candi-
date and the ground IS all nicely sodded
over.
c.-,-.,- ,;fI;or faet nf lors had heeu