The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1870-12-31
FRriHTFUL ACCIDENT AT
FRANKLIN!
FALL OF THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE
SEVERAL LIVES LOST.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MARSHALL
HOUSE.

About half past eleven o'clock yesterday
morning, fire broke ont In the Marshal
House. situated Of the Franklin end the
Suspension Bridge ~ tina: point, which con-
nec,s the Allegheny Valley Railroad with
the town. Though the most strenuous ef-
forts we .e made to save the structure II was
entirely destroyed. Daring the bur ding OF
the hotel the flames communicated 10 the
bridge, upon which were from twenty to
thirty individuals in the act Of crossing, or
watching the burning building. Suddenly
one Of the large cables supporting he bridge
parted, aud in an instant the structure tip
ped, throwing oil those upon tho same into
the river below, and then fell, burying them
in its ruins Although several were seen
TO escslo it is supposed that some are still
beneath the wreck, while. othefs must have
drowned. and gone down the river beneath
the ice which partially fiisi .ths chsnuel at
that point. From an eye witness OF the dis.
sster, we learn that the cable which parted
WAS upon the lower, or down the river side,
And its breaking was doubtless due to the
the beat. which is supposed to have melted
the lead used to fasten the end Of the cable
to. the stone abutment at tho end. or melted
the wiles Our informant says there were
about twenty ur persons upon the bridge
who were first presipitated to :be river
by the, sudden incline Of the bridge, which
then fell buryiog all beneath it.
TIE VICTIMS
were wm. F. Neill, Of Franklin. who vas
rescued, but lived only short time. Nr.
Allen, freight ssent OF the A. v. R. r., is
among the missing, and supposed TO BE- kill.
ed. Mre. Mcintyre and daughter, aud sis
ter oitbe toll gate keeper Of the bridge.
were fatally injured, and cannot live
through the night
Though several 10 the confusion doubtless
sscsped, it is supposed that's number are
still beneath the bridge, or were esrried
down the river. Some days will doubtless
.lapss before the correc, plumber Of killed
and injured can bs obtained. The excite
men. in the vicinity after the accident was
intense, aud crowds gathered to assist in ex.
Treating the living and dead.
THE LOSSES.
Aside from the fearful loss of life the
amount Of property destroyed was large
The Marshal House will foot up S., 900 with
no insurance, while the bridge itself ccst
..about $50,O0O, and the exception OF the
piers, wsic are still standiag, will prove
a total loss. The old wooden bridge which
formerly occupied the site of the snsp ensiou
bridge. twas destroyed In 1865 at the time
Of the great Ere In Oil City, by barge Of
burning oil from above floating down and
firing the same.-Herald
LATER.
We learn that the body Of Mr.. Kilgore,
A. v. R. R. freight sgent, was taken from
the river this morning. This makes the
Dumbsr Of killed % far ae sscertIiued two,
Mr.. Neill having been taken out yesterday.
Mrs. McIntyIe and daughter cannot possibly
recover. There was at least 80 persons on
the bridge at the time 1t went down, and .
namber Of these are missing apd are prob
ably killed. The bridge went down by
spans. leaving not tae least chance OF es-
cape for the unfortunate persons. From
the fact that many strangers are 10 Frank
lin at present, It is probable ths, some o.
them are among the missing A large mum
ber of people are engaged in removing the
debris of the bridge in search of the bod
les. This sad event has cast . gloom over
the entire city.
STILL LATER.
ESPECIAL TO THE RECORD