National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-09-23
A Frightf'ul Accident.

Our readers are already familiar with
the sad affair which took place at Toms
River, New jersey, by winch eight per-
sons lost their lives. A reporter says =
The Sunday school connected with the
NJ f. Church of Long Branch left there
III "a special train of ten cars on an eXcur-
sion. A happier, merrier gathering, in
tent on days recreation, 1t would have
been difficult to find. They had music
and banners, and at Branchport, Ocean
port, and Eatontown the train stopped
and received large accessions to the num-
Der. Altogether the excursion party
numbered 375.
TO reach Toms river from the depot,
two bridges have to be crossed. The first
one from the southern bank to the island
is "A covered road bridge with sixty feet
span, having an open foot bridge adjusted
to its side. The second bridge is open,
and heads directly to the foot of Main
street. From the island "A pebble rolled by
"a child from the railroad track will reach
the first bridge, while "A stone can be
thrown by a stout arm from either bank
of the river to the island
The covered bridge is an old and stout
structure of some fifteen wears standing
Last fall the supplemental loot bridge was
added to it. The latter was made from
soft white cedar 1t was secured to the
covered bridge by two iron pins and
rested on two stringers four by ten inches
III thickness. These stringers resting on
stone abutments with the IRON pms be-
fore mentioned, were all its builders had
deemed necessary to its security.
As soon as the eXcursionists left the
tram they started for the foot bridge, the
band marched in advance and passed
safely over, but halted when they reached
the island, this caused a general closing
up ON the foot bridge which was seven
feet in width.
An attempt was being made to form
the procession and some persons had
halted the music to allow time for all to
get off the tram. The first result was
that every inch of space on this slenderly
constructed bridge was soon taken up
with "A dense throng of eager humanity.
In moment there was an awful crash
the stringer at the north end snapped
with lond report, and then followed "a
scene which challenges description.
The great mass were hurled into the
swlft-runuing stream below, and those
who could not swim shouted for help as
they sank. The greater number OF those
who were on the bridge when 1t gave way
were young men and women. They
I clutched each other in the water in their
efforts to save themselves. Many of the
women lost their presence of mind, and
either tainted or screamed like maniacs
\ panic seized the villagers when the
4 .,g l.. r.,,i,.l tI.,,, Il
almost Immediately afterwards the banks
were lined with people Offering assistance
Boats pushed OFT and picked up many of
the sufferers. Long poles were stretched
out, and by this means many others
reached the shore.
The Rev. J. b. Graw, the pastor of the
Centenary Church, who was with his
flock, stripped of his coat and jumped
into the water, and brought several
ashore. Many of the villagers who were
expert swimmers did the same thing
When all who could be seen Were res
cued, the anxiety became intense in re-
gard to several who were yet missing,
Oyster tongues, such as are used to scoop
up bivalves from the rivers bed, We're
brought into reqmsition, and III the ten
minutes eight bodies by their use were
drawn out
Heart-rending scenes followed their
identification, and superhuman efforts
were put forth to recuscitate them. Mrs.
Sidney Throckmorton, woman about
fifty years of age, was dragged up linked
arm III arm with Miss Dora Stillwagon, a
beautiful girl about fifteen years of age.
Both We're apparently alive, and blood
al 80.
drowned girl when the prongs of the
oyster tongue had penetrated, After
two hours of rolling and fagellation OF
the feet the girl showed signs of life. She
was the only person out OF nine whom 1t
was found possible to resuscltate.
The names of the othcre are Peter
Howland, carpenter, age %; Mary +.
Styles, age 10 james Martin and Alta
retta Martin, brother and sister, aged II
/. and 16; Helen Lane, age II Ella Maple,
age y and Maria Martin, age -. All
of these We're connected with the Long
Branch Centenary Church, and resided
IN that village.
The utmost sympathy was displayed
10y the citizens of Toms river Village fol
tha afflicted eXcursionists. All the physi
clans rendered their services gratultouslN
and worked energetically to resuscitat,
the drowned.
At one clock the bodies of the drown
ed We're placed in boxes and put on th,
cars. The locomotive was draped il
black and slowly and sadly the sorrow
/, stricken pleasure seekers returned to the
, train which soon started for Lonl
Branch
/ Their dispatches had been received
{ announcing the disaster, and multitude
4 of persons gathered at the depot to re
I ccive the bodies. A sad incident i'll whicI
Q there is a touching stroke of romance re
= ma ms to be told.
i Peter Howhnd and Mary f. Styles
$ two of the victims, were bctrothed lovers
e and were to have been married soon
I They fell together when the bridge wen
down Peter was rescued III an exhauste
condition. When brought to shore h
turned and saw Miss Styles yet strul
u Cling. In the water in another minut
s he was bravely swimming to her side
: He reached her, and while turning
/ bring her in woman whose name
u unknown, was seen to clutch them. IN
:, the three went down together, llowlan
O and Miss Styles never to rise again aliv
Is Terrible Boiler Explosion.