Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-08
General News.
Terrible Accident n lNxsa. m.


A terrible accident, involving fearful
loss Of life occurred at Dixon, H.. Sunday
afternoon. The rite of baptism was being
administered to number of recent con-
verts to one OF the Baptist churches, at a
point In Rock river, Just below the
Trustelle iron bridge, and about 200 per-
sons. including many ladies and number
Of children, had gathered on the bridge to
witness the ceremony. Suddenly and
without warning, the bridge gave way
and precipitated its living freight Into the
stream below. The scene which ensued
was indescribably terrible as the strug-
Cling victims vainly endeavored TO free
themselves from the ruins OF the bridge
and from each other. Large crowds of
people on the banks rushed to and tro,
many of them SO distracted with terror as
to be unable to render any assistance.
Others were selfpossessed and speedily
brought ropes. planks and boats and went
nobly to work to rescue the living and re-
cover the dead. Some of those who were
on the bridge when it tell were So near the
edge that they were able to reach land
without assistance, while Others were
fortunately in reach of those on shore,
but up TO 6 O'Clock Sunday afternoon 81
dead bodies had been taken from the river.
obh IL 10 hituost CcTtaiu TINT tneTt aft
others, still under the wreck of the bridge.
OF those who were saved twenty -four were
more or less injured, some fatally.
No other bodies of the bridge disaster
were recovered up TO Sunday midnight,
but several bodies were picked up at Stcr-
ling, six miles below. and doubtless the
swim current has borne others down the
stream. The general estimate of the loss
Is from 30 TO 100. Five bodies hoated past
the men at work at the wreck, and have
not been found. 1t is supposed that at
least fifty bodies are still in the water
Most OF them are supposed under the
wreck OF the bridge. The bridge was of
iron. Truesdall pattern, of spans elevated
about IS feet above the river. which is from
fifteen To twenty-five feet deep Only the
tive end spans fell. The three middle
spans are standing. but In such a condition
that ii is thought they will fall when the
wrecked spans are removed. workmen are
busy putting up derrick, In order to clear
the wreck, and make arrangements to
secure the bodies beneath il. II is now
said that there were 800 persons on the
bridge at the time Of the accident. and a
greater number escaped than at first sup
posed.
LATkR,-NrARLr ONE HUNDRED LIVES
DIXON, H., 5,-MIDNIGHr.-No other
bodies ofthe victims of the terrible disaster
by the breaking down of the bridge across
the river here yesterday during Baptis-
NAL exercises, have been recovered up to
the present hour. but several bodies we're
picked up at Sterling, six miles below. and
doubtless the swim current has brought
others down the stream. The general esti-
mate of the lost is from ninsty TO one hun
dred souls. Five bodies foated past the
men at work at the wreck aud the bodies
have not been found. Its supposed that
at least 80 bodies are still In the water
Most of them are supposed under the
wreck OF the bridge.
THE WRECKED BRIDGE.
The bridge was of iron. trestle pattern.
five apans. elevated about - feet above the
river, which is from Is to % feet deep.
Only the two end spans fell. The three
middle spans are standing, but in such a
condition that 1t is thought they will fall
when the wrecked spans are removed.
Wofkmen are busy tonight putting up a
derrick in order TO clear the wreck, aud
making arrangements to secure the bodies
beneath IL. II is now stated that there
were 300 persons on the bridge NJ the
time OF the accident, and a greater number
escaped than at first supposed.
TIE CRASH AND TIE PANIC.
When the bridge gave way most of the
people were gathered at either end. A
large number were near the centre, and
some OF the latter remained where they
were after the crash and were taken of in
boats. Several persons jumped from pre-
carious places and were drawn ashore.
Two horses attached TO a buggy on the
middle span when the crash came and re-
manned there still as there Is no way OF
getting them of.
REMARKABLE ESCAPES.
There were a number of remarkabl es-
capes of children OF whom there were not
less than iifty on the bridge. One little fell
| low. aged -. was caught by both feet in
| the rigging of one of the spans and had a
| leg broken; but he managed by sheer
strength 10 pull one of his boots off and
| then coolly took out his knife and ripped
the other boot FROM he crippled leg and
swan ashore. Two little gsrls. sisters
standing side by side, went down together.
| The elder caught the other by the dress
with one hand and with the other hand
seized a part Of the wreck and maintained
their head. above water.
THE LOST rNKNowS-CRowps SEARCHING
FOR FRIENDS.
No additional names of the killed are vel
known. During the night the workmer
got the derricks in position to raise III,
bridge and until that tedious work Is &C.
complshed hardly anything further can be
done. There are crowds of people on the
banks Of the river this morning viewing
the scene of the disaster. the majority oil
whom are looking for missing friends.
ACITY IN MOURNING.
The telegraph Is kept constantly In use
with messages from oil parts of the United
States. Every house in the city is In
mourning. Mr.. Z. NJ. Alexander and Mrs
Vann died this forenoon from the effect.
of their injuries.
Among the killed was Miss Bessi.
Payne, daughter of Mrs. NJ. l.. Payne
Editor Of the Chicago Ladies' Magazine
FEARS THAT THE WORST Is NOT LEARNED
Ii is feared that the extent of the calami
ty is not learned for there may have beer
many on the bridge from the countr,
whose names have not been obtained
The bridge, torn and broken, hangs from
the piers and is an appalling sight in itself
At each end men women and children wer'
crushed into the river while at the nortl
end where the loss Of life was the greatest
the bodies were held nrmly to the bottom
OF the river in the net work of iron. Al
those reported missing are probably in tn
net work OF the bridge at the bottom o
the river.