Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-05
THE STORM YESTERDAY.
Almost Total Destruction OF the
County Bridge.
From Daily Chronicle, May 2.

From Daily Chronicle. May2.
Yesterday afternoon between three
and four o'clock heavy rain storm
passed over our city, and by its work
OF destruction damaged the county Of
Knox at least $4,000 in sweeping
from its pillars the county bridge,
over the Holston River, which
only little over year ago was COM
pleted at total cost of about S185, 900.
About three o'clock 1t began raining
and soon 1t seemed as though the
flood gates of the heavens" had
been opened and the water poured
down in torrents,
A STORM FOLLOWED
Or rather something akin to a whirl-
wind, hurting the water in most every
direction, which, however, lasted but
a few minutes, when a crowd of men
could be seen rushing towards the
river, and the news spread like wild
fire that the
COUNTY BRIDGE WAS GONE.
A crash was heard all along Gay
street during the storm, hence the re-
port was readily believed, otherwise
but few who have gazed upon this i'm
mense structure in the past would
have so readily believed that a storm
of so short a duration, and compare
lively mild to some that have visited
our city in the past, could possibly
have moved it; and the opinion has
been pretty freely expressed that II the
bridge
HAD BEEN PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED
1t could certainly not have been blown
away by a storm which failed TO mate
rally injure any other property in the
city. But. so it IL, the county has
taken another lesson in that extrava-
CANT institution of learning called ex.
perience.
AS THE STORM APPROACHED
Mr.. Ford, the bridge keeper, and Mr..
Ellington were in the little Office, and
remained until the situation became
alarming and the timbers of the bridge
began to give, when they rushed out
and were seen right over the second
pillar as the first span gave way and
was hurled to the ground. Span after
span followed the one on which the
Office rested until soon the seven spans
covering the river were hurled below,
q mass of ruins.
RUSHING TO THE SCENE.
Col. Thornburgh, who saw the bridge
go from a distance, was the first to be
on the remaining span on this end.
for, like nearly every one else,
he believed the bridge keeper either
hurled to the bottom, or caught among
the breaking timbers at the pier where
the first span gave way. Sheriff Swan
and Mr.. H. G. Barry were the first t.
be among the ruins, between the first
and second pier, and with axes at once
went to work on the Office, which
strange to say, was in pretty good pres
ervation, eX meeting without doubt tC
find
MR.. FORD AMONG THE RUINS,
AS he had been seen on the bridge 10y
lady just AS IL commenced giving
way. They worked until the identi.
Cal Mr.. Ford made his appearance be-
hind them, when the Sheriff, who had
been working with a will, exclaimed
well here YOU are Ford, and I have
, been working here to find you in this
box. OF course Mr.. Ford felt gratifieC
HE WASN'T FOUND IN THE BOX.
And so do his many friends in tht
} county, and it was fortunate for them
that he and Mr.. Ellington made gooC
, use of their legs, for they admit tina
: they ran with a will, and so would we
: have done had we been there.
THE TIMBER OF THE BRIDGE
Or rather large portion of it was soor
) floating down the stream in a body
. and we are informed by eye witnesses
I that man could almost have crossed
T the river on it. Sheriff Swan, at tn,
. instance ofsome gentlemen, with com
! mendable energy started three boat
) manned with some inmates of tn,
workhouse and q number of citizens
/, who volunteered their assistance, wh'
/ FOLLOWED THE WRECK TO LooNEY'I
ISLAND,
And we understand saved a portion o
the lumber and returned about II
I o'clock in the night. A portion of tn
r lumber lodged around the piers in tn
/ river, and we presume will be takeI
) care of by the county officials.
r THE PROBABLE LOSS
q Is estimated to be from S45, 900 to $50,
600. Mr.. John Gates, who superin
r tended the construction of the bridge
figured up the loss at about S45, 00C
q and we presume that he is doubtless il
possession of the facts in regard TO tn
cost of each span, to enable him t,
make a correct estimate of the los
sustained by the county. Upon tn,
whole it is calamity the county will
severely feel, especially in these time
of general financial depression.
: OTHER DAMAGE.
e The Charleston Railroad bridge wa
q slightly injured, the roof of the draw
. span being torn off. The damage Cal
n be easily repaired. The top of ire
4 in Mrs. Bogal's yard on Hill street wa
4 broken off. These are the only dam
i ages aside of the county bridge, W,
have been able to hear of, and we pre-
ANNA theu 70 al that ncnnrrad