The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-14
Another Fearful AccideIt-FaM Of q
Span OF the Free HrisiSe-Eoar Lives
EosE-gnci,Ec;its OF eile Disaster.

Another Fearful AcciGeflt-Fall Of q
Span OF The Free nr,iSe-Eoar Lives
Lost-anci,Eciits OF tile Disaster.
We are to-day called upon TO chronicle
another OF those fearful accidents by "llood
and field" with which our city has been
visited within the last four years.
AUc,t il o'clock ytSI erday one of the spans
Of The free bridge now building between this
city and Manchester was washed away by
the rising waters OF the James river, carry
ing with it ten OF thirteen Yorkmeu VIII O
were engaged thereon.
To givea correct account of this appalling
disaster short
DESCRIPTION OF TIE BRIDGE
will render it more inteligiDle :;
The contractors, Me;srS. J. Il. Corfrode &
Co., had already put up fourteen spans from
the Manchester side, and Were in course of
constructing the fifteenth when the accident
occurred. The tops oftLo stone piers, upon
which the bridge rests, ale fourteen feet
above low.Water mark. On these are placed
the lower chords OF the bridge, the main floor
being seventeen eetabove this. Under this
lower chord the scaifoldins or false works
are placed, upon which the Workmen are en-
gagged in building. They were thus en-
gagged in putting together this lower chord
yesterday, working on the scatiold. with the
iron material for the whole span in detached
pieces lying on 1t, when the crash came.
CAUSE OF TIE ACCIDENT. :.
Owing to the recent rains the river was
very much swollen, being fully six leetaboye
the ordinary current. and it is supposed that
awater-logged piece Of timber, rushing down
with the mad current, struck one OF the main
beams OF the scatiolding, knocking it out, and
hurting the whole mass of material and men
into the river, a distance of eight or ten tcct.
THE CRASH
came without moments warning, and amid
the roaring Of the waters, the falling and
crashing OF timhers, the shouts aud cries Of
the victims, the whole mass was prcciptated
into the foalniDg caldron. Me>srs. William
NJ. Gibson, Ross Lowry, and j. l.. Stickley,
who were ON the bridge when it went town,
had barely time by almost supurhuman ci-
forts to reach the pier in time to escape.
They chung with desperate energy to the re.
mains, ami rendered valuable assistance TO
taeir less fortunate comrades.
THE VICTIMS.
The following workmen were engaged on
this span ut the time OF the accident and
We're pceclpltated into the river: Messrs
Jessie Cortrode, Philadelphia; Harry T..
Get'ys, Harrisburg, PenG.; u. NJ. Handey,
Medla, Delaware county, Pa. John Crouch,
Richmond, Va; G.P. Lipscomoe, Virginia !;
J. Z. Eaddop, stony Greek, Sussex county,
Va; Peter Nernam, New Orleans, La; b.
Z. Shaw, Sussex county, Va; w. +. Cook,
Massachusetts; John Harrison, Lunenburg
county, va: Messrs }. Z. Stlckney, Penn
sylyan!a; Ross Lowry and William III. Glib
son, Virginia, who were also present, lnau-
aged to escape as above described.
Considering the. circumstances attending
this disaster, 1t is miraculous that there was
not a greater number OF lives lost, but
through the. almost supsrhnlan efforts Of
| those who Witnessed the accident lrom ihe
shore and came promptly TO the rescue all
ex ept tour We're saved. Tue, following are
| TUE LOST. &
John Harrison, OF I1nnenburg county, Va.
| who WA standing near ths edge soi Inc