The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-06-30
The Fall Of the Widcombe Bridge ut
Bath, England.

In giving description of the scene al
the disaster in Bath, England, on Wed.
nesday, 9th inst, the London TSmes's
correspondent says that the excursion
trains set down their loads of visitors to
the Centennial Exhibition of the Bath
and West of England Agricultural So
ciety at the station, where notice was
posted to the effect that the nearest
route to the show-yard was over the
structure known as the Widcombe
bridge. As might be expected, large
numbers were DESTROYS of reaching the
exhibition as quickly as possible, and,
having no idea of the frailty of the
structure, at once fiocked to the bridge,
where a toll is exacted. There was but
one collector, who took tolls on the
Widcombe side of the bridge, and, the
large gates being closed, the bridge was
speedily thronged, and it is estimated
that at the time of the accident there
could not have been less than 200 per-
sons standing upon it. The bridge is a
single span, stretching over the River
Avon. 1t was a slight structure of wood
and iron, about IS feet long, eight feet
wide. and standing so feet above water
1t had stood a great many years; but
doubts appear to have been lately enter
tanned as to its strength, and means had
been adopted to prevent its swaying.
Unfortunately, however, the public
were not prevented from using the
bridge, and a great mistake was made
in not having q good staff of collectors
there during the present week, or in not
having the tolls collected on the side of
the bridge nearest the station, for, had
such a measure been adopted, there can
be but little doubt that a most lamenta-
BILE accident might have been averted.
The bridge gave way at point about
two-thirds of the way across to the
Widcombe side, and at the part where
the crowd was most dense. The scene
which followed is not easily described.
Men, women and children, without a
moments warning, were precipitated
into the river and on the towing path on
the Widcombe side. The portion of the
bridge nearest the opposite side for
short time hung suspended, and many
of the passengers were clinging to the
rails in a great fright. This portion of
the bridge shortly afterwards gave way.
The groans and shrieks of the unfor-
tunate persons are described by eye-wit-
nesses of the disaster as being most
heart-rending. One by one the dead
were recovered, till, by l O'Clock, it was
ascertained that six lives had been lost,
while it was generally believed that sew
eral other persons we're beneath the
wreckage, and that one or. two had, by
the strength of the current, been carried
down the river.
One of the most marvellous escapes
was that of Edward Mitchell, Manor
farm, Mere, Wiltshire, who went to Bath
with nine friends, including daughter
and two sons. On arrival at the station
at Bath some friends observed the no
tice stating that the nearest way to the
show was by going across the toll
bridge. They went, and were soon in
the midst of crowd of people. One of
the party, q Mr.. Oliver, builder, of
London, who is now in the hospital, re-
marked that the bridge was not safe
when SO many people were upon it.
Some dispute was going on at the toll |
gate about paying the fare. believe
some people thought that
they ought not to be charged
any thing. In the midst of this
hubbub the bridge cracked. "We are
going" said Mr.. Mitchell, and in an |
instant the bridge fell. The shock was
and the people were hurled |
about in all directions. He saw a man
fall within a few feet of him, who, in
the descent, received q severe blow ON
the head and was killed instantaneoualv