The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-13
TWO FEARFUL ACCIDENTS
CAPSIZE OF A BOAT AND THE 0C-
CUPANTs DROWNED.
FALL OF A SPAN OF FREE-BRIDGE
LOSS OF LIFE
SEVERAL MEN RESCUED FROM THE
WATER.

About seven or eight o'clock this morn
ing two men, one white and one colored,
started out in the river from the foot of
Ninth street with the intention of reaching
the end of the free bridge, two or three
spans from the Richmond shore. The river
is quite high, and the water running with
angry velocity over the rocks. the boat
was capsized and both men were drowned.
We are informed that the white man was
named Gallaher, but have not been able to
learn the name of the colored man. The
bodies have not at the time we write been
recovered. The attempt to make the pas
sage was exceedingly rash, for if a boat
could live in such a rapid current, it would
seem impossible for human strength to
guide 1t.
But two or thee hours later a still more
appalling accident occurred near the same
spot. A whole span of the free bridge
fell into the river, carrying with it eight OF
nine men, the exact number not being at
this time definitely ascertained. The wood
work was carried rapidly away down the
stream, some of the men clinging to it, the
appalling sight being witnessed by their
companions who were so fortunate as not
to have gone down with the span, and by
such persons on the shore as were attract
ed by the unusual noise occasioned by the
fall of the bridge.
Some OF the men were washed or thrown
from their places by the rushing water,
and were drowned. Two or three lodged
in some bushes Just above the Danville
railroad bridge, and were rescued alive by
parties who went to them in a boat, the
current at that point being much less
swift and dangerous than higher up.
One man chung to the iron portion OF the
span which fell in, but did not descend
with the current, and thus saved his lie.
He stood for hours, however, in the water,
clingjng to a rope which was attached to
the wreck, suffering horribly from cold, the
water coming up above his knees, while
watching and awaiting the efforts made for
his rescue.
A small boat attached to a rope in the
hands of men on the Petersburg railroad
bridge was allowed to float down to the
| poor fellow, who got into it. About this
| time the men on the free bridge, who had
made unsuccessful efforts to throw a line
to the imperilled man, succeeded in pass
ing him a small line. with which he Sc
cured a larger one. This he tied around
his body, and just as he had done SO he
was thrown out of the boat by the
surging water. The men pulled him
in and raised him to the bridge. His
name is Saylor. He resides in Manchester.
Later reports place the number of men
| who fell in with the bridge at eleven-some
say seventeen. At Haxall's mill two Of
the men were rescued by Mr.. John j.
Talbot, the blacksmith, assisted by a
brave little colored boy named Norman,
| One of these men was taken to Manchester
the disposition of the other we did moi
learn.
At the Danville railroad two men were
rescued, by parties in a boat, as mentioned
above.
At Mayo's bridge one man was drawn
out by a rope thrown to him by parties or
the bridge. A colored man named Johr
Miles, who assisted in rescuing this nan
says he saw another man sink out of sigh
IN the water. This report is corroboratet
by others.
AT Babcock's ice house two more mel
were rescued, one by Mr.. John j. Wade
and a colored man, who went out in a boa
His name is said to be Hundley. His arm
l Is DIOhtu. dllu Ic 10 OlllCl w loC pduiJ AuicSN
He was sent to west Franklin street. The
other man was picked up by Mr.. Jetel
Snead, who also went out in a boat.
1t thus seems that eight men were res
cued, and one seen to sink in the water
making it certain that at least nine me
went down with the bridge.
The cause of the disaster is said to hav
been the washing away Of the trusse
which supported the temporary structur
upon which the men were working, ant
those who were precipitated into the waite
were engaged in carrying material over t
this span.
LATER.-We have just learned tn
names of the men who were drowned fror
the boat which was capsized this morning
They were Phillip Hampton, colered, an
/, T. H. Hindon, white, the latter from Ma
i ryland.
, The following is q list Of the men VIII
fell into the river with the span of tn
, bridge: John Harrison, from Ohio
! David Hundley, from Pennsylvania O.
t Shaw, l. G. MADDEN, Peter Vernan
Harry Gettys, Jesse V. Cofrode, job
. Crouch, George P. Lipscomb, W.
Cook.
Peter Verman went down, but was take
out Immediately. He was struck on IL
back and across the knees with timbe
= and is badly bruised, but no bones broke
n W.. R. Cook was saved. He has an ar
broken. and his leg badly injured. &c
"a 2. Lipscomb is the name of Il
man who was rescued from Il
water by tying a rope to his bod
70 William M. Gibson, Ross Lowry, and
O. Stickley, were on the bridge, but VIII
they heard the crash ran to the pier,
which they chung, and thus saved thei
selves. and gave immediate assistance
l. their less fortunate comrades. The ter
Bile suspicion is entertained that there a
other victims under the wreck in I
Ii water.
RUNAWAY AND SMASH UP.-A hol
attached to q market wagon ran away
"a Second street this forenoon. On reachi
NJ Cary street, the wagon was upset a
:. smashed to pieces.
~ COMMISSIONER OF DEEDs.-Her