The Lincoln County herald., 1873-05-07
4 Bridge llovsst-
Two sPundi I'd Msn. Women ana Shnd!eN
on q Failing Bridge Between EighS
And Ninety Supposed to be KILLED.

4uO Nlucty SuFYoscu w wv
An appalling accident occurred I"
Dixon, Illinois, last Sunday afternoon,
which resulted in the death Of between
seventy and eighty persons. A dispatch
from Dixon, dated the 4th, snys: Sew
eral converts to the Baptist faith were to
be baptised, and at one o'clock the north
bank Of Rock river, in which stream
they we're to be immersed, was lined With
people. The baptism took place near
the Eve span trestle bridge, and several
hundred people occupied available posi-
,ions upon it. After two of the converts
had been baptised, the span of the bridge
nearest the shore suddenly gave way,
precipitatipg
ABOUT TWO HUNDRED
men, women anj children into the water.
Quite number we're buried, and others
were drowned BY being pulled down by
the wreck. The water was about five
feet deep and hence it was difficult to
rescue those who were rendered uncon
scious BY coming IN contact with the
fragments in falling. The greatest ex.
citement prevailed. Meu aud women
screamed aud seemed incapable OF doing
anything to assist one another, or help
the children. The going down was SO
sudden that all lost their presence of
mind. Those on the shore realized the
situation at once. and did all in their
power to rescue the uhiortunates. Over
one hundred we're saved through their
efforts.
Forty one bodies were recovered up to
six o'clock, and it is believed that Ten or
fifteen more were drowned. Many are
missing, and it will not be known before
tomorrow who escaped. There were a
dozen miraculous escapes of children
being pulled out by The hair. Such O
large number Of people had seldom as
sembled In Dixon. They came from all
the neightoring cities and villages, and
the accident will cause grief in many q
household In Illinois.
MIDNIGHT
Up to this hour no other bodies or
victims have been discovered at this
point, bat several are reported to have
been picked up at Stirling, six miles be-
low, and doubtless the swift curren. has
borne others even farther down the river
There are supposed to be at least fifty
bodies still uniound. Most of them, i,
is thought, are under the wreck Of the
bridge. The general estimate of the
lost is from 90 to 100
There we're q number Of remarkable
escapes Of children, of whom there were
probably not less than fifty on the bridg.
when it went down. One little fellow
about thirteen years old, was caught BY
both feet in the iron rigging Of one of th'
fallen spars, and had one of his leg
broken. lie managed by sheer strength
to pull one of his boots off, tearing the
cole off in the process, then coolly takiu.
out his knife, ripped the other boot from
the foot of his wounded leg, and, crippled
as be was, swan ashore. Two little girls
sisters. were standing side by side, an,
went down together. AS they reached
the water the eldest caught the other b,
the dress with one hand, and with th
other clung to a portion Of the ironwork
and clung fast tn it, up to the neck il
icy water, until they were both taken OF
by boat. There is SO much excitemen
and confusion that it is impossible to
night to procure more definite informa
tion in regard to the number lost, but tn
estimate given above is believed to b
nearly correct.
SAD SUICIDE But short time ago NJ