The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-10-05
Tho Terrible Disaster in New
Jorsey-Further Particulars.

ing accident occurred on Thursday
morning, 9Th instant, at Toms
River, near Long Branch, New
Jersey. A large picnic party, be-
longing to Contonary Methodist
Church, Of Long Branch, had vis-
tied tho spot. About sixty per-
sons woro standing on bridge
over tho river, when it gavo way,
and they were precipitatcd into
the water. Eight persons wcro
drowned, all belonging 20 Long
Branch. From q dotailcd account
Of the disaster VIC taIe tho follow
ing:
| Toms Rivor Is a village Of about
$500 inhabitants, situated upon
the, banks Of tho river Of that
name, about six miles from its
mouth. 1t has become Of late
quite Il summer resort, and Il largo
hotel has been built there. 1t is
also much frequcnted by the pco-
plo of tho neighborhood for pic
nicing purposes. The depot Of tho
Southern Now Jersey Rail Road
is on tho opposite side of the riv-
er, and'is connected with tho vii.
lagc by two bridgcs-onc Il wag-
on and tho other Il foot bridge
on trcstlcs, about fifteen feet a.
part. 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 be-
meath it is at least ten fccL deep.
Tho bridge has been built about
one year, and its safety has never
apparently been doubted. On
Thursday morning at G.30 o'clock,
some five hundred mon, women
and children connected with the
Sunday School of tho Centenary
Methodist Episcopal Church Of
Long Branch, started on tho cars
tor q picnic and clam bake ut
Toms River. On their arrival at
the depot they began to saunter
leisuroly across tho bridge in
groups.
| THE BRIDGE GIVES WAY,
When but few had actually cot
over, and somo GO were on the
trcachcrous support, tho pins on
tho depot sdo suddenly gave way,
and the whole affair, with its liv-
ing freight, swung over towards
the village. The looscncd end sank
beneath the water, while tho 9TH
cr rcmuincd fast. If both ends
had given way tho slaughter
would havo been frightful. Tho
incline plano which the floor Of
the bridge made lay at such an
angel that about half tho endan-
gcred people wcro enabled to
Chamber up on tho village side.-
They scrambled up on their bands
and knees-an indescribably con-
fused and terrified mass Of hu-
manity-somo looking out for
themselves, without much regard
TO others, some pushing down to-
wards the river TO rescue tho less
helpful.
STRUGGLING FOR LIFE.
Meanwhile thirty persons were
struggling in the water, clutching
at each othor, and at the frug,
mcnts Of tho bridge. Some wore
even under tho bridge. Those Of
the multitude who were on the
depot side could only stand there
in painful hclplcssness those on
the other sido managed to save
all but eight persons.
ACTS OF HEROIsM.
AS is usual in such cases, there
were striking instances Of hero.
ism. Potter Rowland, u carpcn-
ter, had already saved his nephew,
boy Of II, when he saw Miss T..
Styles struggling in tho water
AT once, blind to all other sights,
needless of tho almost certain
death from desperate clutching
hands that awaited him if he
plunged amid that mass Of frantic
humanity, he dashed into tho wa
ter. The sight Of her there, gasp.
ing for breath, was uncndurablo
for she was his hearts delight
she wore his ring upon her hand
-ho had been but yesterday look
ing at her wedding garments, in
which she was so soon to stand
up proudly BY his side. "They
were beautiful in their lives, and
in death not divided )" for ho had
seized and was bearing her safely
to tho shore, when Mrs. Sidney
Throckmorton, in her dcspuiring
agony, seized him by the arm,
and so hampercd him that all
three sank together, although he
was an excellent swimmer.
THE WORK OF RESUSCITATION.
Probably not more than II quar-
ter Of those who fell into the wa.
ter were men the rest were wo-
men, boys and girls. Many Of
those who were rescued had to bo
rubbed and treated in the ways
usually adopted in cases Of drown
ing before they recovered their
breath. One girl Of fourteen, who
was rakcd up from tho bottom Of
tho river, was considered quite
dead, but careful troatmrnt fnolIv