The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-06
The Dixon Bridge Disaster.

Dixon, ILL, May 6.-YeSteEdAy after
noon about fifteen minutes after one
O'Clock, as Rev. Mr. Pratt was passing q
convert for baptism ia the water Of Rock
river, Just below the bridge on the north
side, there being a large crowd Of men
women and children witnessing the cere-
mony from the bridge, the iron work gave
way and without moments warning
fifty or sixty souls were launched into
eternity. A horrible panic seized the vast
crowd upon the banks Of the river and, oi
course, soon spread through our city, ior
mothers Cameto the river bank anxiOnsly
nquiring Tor children, fathers for wives
and children, and oil was horror and ex-
citcment. The bridge was torn and bro
ken and hung from the piers, an ap'
palling sight in ITSELF The butts at each
end were crushed into tho river, and the
north end held firmly to the bottom oithe
river in It's net work Of iron the children,
relatives and friends Of our people. Many
Of them were women and children. Mrs
Daniel Cheney, who was feared fatally In
jured, Is now better. Mr.. Charles Muir
roy has fractured bono Of the leg
and collar and severe flesh wound, but
Is doing well this morning. Mrs. Murray
Is also comfortable and better. Mrs. Ella
Campbell, of DementoVn, severely hurt,
is doing well. There were several buggles
on the bridge and strange to say no one In
the vehicles was injured; the horses also
escaped. DR.. @. ]. Reynolds and ]. B.
Pomeroy, Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler, John
Eustaer, Geo. Morris and MIR. Shillock
wcrO in huggiea on the hridge. The
latter's horse and wagon is still on ono Of
boats Of tho bridge, where its owner
must carry 1t food. There is report
that several bodies Of children were found
at Sterling and Rock falls, though this Is
hardly possible. Jacob Armstrong went
down in the crash and was compelled to
crawl upon the bottom Of the river out
from under the side walk Of the bridge
but being an athletic young man saved
himself, and then helped to secure several,
Charles Mcbride deserves great praise for
saving many lives. Col. d. 7. Noble
made narrow escape. He held
Mrs. DR.. Smiths little child and
went down with It and came up and
saved the little girl, barely saving him
self. Mrs. Noble was several feet from
her husband, but he could not reach her
TOR there was q mass Of human beings be-
tween him and her. Tony Brontigan, q
little boy Of eight years Of age, cluhg TO
plank, and was picked up safe hall q
mile below. Ed. Patrick leaped into the
water and saved several lives. viii
Daily. with noble energy, saved many
lives, and also pushed on plank 10 the
shore three women; then pulling of his
coat and boots, swan back and rescued
Dr.. Hoffman, who was on the bar about
half way to the railroad bridge VIM.
Dauntler saved many lives. Fred. L.
Shaw saved five or six. Henry Woodgett
swan boldly into the deep waters and
rescued many. William schuler, Jo-
sep Haden and Dave Shaw narrowly
escaped by swimming to the shore, a0er
extricating themselves from the iron work
by leaping from the bridge. There were
several bodies taken out oil tho river as
far down as below tho railroad bridge.
The body ofFred Hope was fo1nd floating
nearly q mile down the river this morn
ing. We learn that all those who are re-
ported missing are probably in the net
work Of the bridge at the bottom Of the
river. After Q nights work under the gu.
perintendence OF J. @. Jacobs Of the Il
linoiS Central Railroad, who kindly rem
dered much assistance, there was der
rick erected, and II Is hoped this morn.
ing that the iron work may be lifted 80
that the bodies will be released and re-
covered. 1t Is feared that we have not
vet learned the extent ot the calamity, for
there had been 90 many on the bridge
from tho country whore names we have
not been able to get.