, 1877-08-26
Many Conjectures as to the
Cause Of the Disas-
ter.
The Popular Theory Is that It
Was the Work Of a
Whirlwind.
wbi1e Some Persons Contend THAT the
Wreck Was Caused by
lightning.
History Of the Bridge-1ts Original Cost
Over Two Millions Of Dollars.

Over Two Millions Of Dollars.
Spectas Dispatch to T7e I<tb,sae.
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 2s.--uuring the storm
this morning. shortly before daylight, two spans
on the east end ol the Union Pacific bridge went
down with loud crash, and, when the accident
BECAME generally reported around the city, be-
/ tween and O'Clock, the people could hardly
believe IL until they had gone and Viewed the
ruin. The span that had rested On the Iowa
approach lay on tho e1nbankment Oh the south
side like q rail fence that had blown fiat over.
The other span had fallen in the river and could
not be seen. The two columns that had sup
portcd the spans still stand firm and uniniured.
The spans arc not connected where they rest on
the columns, SO that II they fall, as they did in
this case, they can
EACH GO DOWN SEPARATELY.
The rai1s on the bridge arc fastened together
very firmly, and when the inside span went 1t
took With Il the south line OF mil without snap
ming It, but twisting 1t downward so that one
end ia in the water. The north rails we're
twisted into semicfrcie, aud were separated at
the coupling. The casing around one OF the
columns supporting the third span is broken in
two places, probably BY the falling Of the IRON
work against it.
The storm sprane up about O'Clock, wlnd.
rain, and hail coming down from the north
west In great violence, accompanied by
terrific thunder and lightning. At about half
past o'clock the accident occurred. a ma
iority Of the people seem to be Of opinion that
the cyclonc or whtrlWind camc sweeping down
along the river, aud struck the bridge with full
force, lifting the two spans from the columns
and letting them fall as above described. 1t is
q fact that ut about this particular time
THE WIND VERY SUDDENLY CHANGED
from the northwest to the northeast, thus blow
ing IN a southwestcr1Y direction, and 1t was
very likely this change that created the cyclone.
The twisted appearance OF the ironwork
Of the span that lies on the bank
supports the theory Of whirlwind,
or even watcrspout. John Arnold says
he was I'D ut this hour, and SAW an Immense
cloud passing down the river lifting up tho
water in vast quantities in its curse, aud whirl-
ing It around in funnel shape
Another theory is TINT the bridge was struck
hv lightning. but we have interviewed we'll
posted electrician, and he says that this would
be
CONTRARY TO ALL LAWS OF ELECTRICITY.
base in the water, aud resting on bed rock, are
the best conductors o1 electricity in the world.
Tic ntcht~watchmau, John Peerson, who vas
in his little guard-house at the east end
Of tho bridge, went down in his house
with the span that rested on the Iowa SIDE, and
had very narrow escape from losing Ills lie.
He became pcnncl under the ruin, and received
Il nev1.s, xut l.. -re rf ts a~e<'- -~,;le his dog
had one Of his legs entirely cut oil. tterson
REMAINED PRISONER
for half an hour, when he succeeded In freeing
hisnself from, the situation. Although the
storu, was still raging, he Immediately secured
n hoat and started from the Nebraska slde IN
order to give information OF the accident before
o,v trains should start over the bridge. He had
rouph passage over the main channe], but
I'd in getting across after hard struggle against
the win1. He then hurried on foot across the Sand
har. and swan across the second channel, and,
c1i,nbinc up the high bank hurried to the t1al''-
disnatcher's ol1icc at the Onion Pacific Depot,
aud Informed the dispatcher Of what had oc-
turrcd. He reached the Office only short time
trforc the s 10 l. m. train WAS to have crossed
the bridge. However, had the train started be-
fnrc he had cot there, no accident would have
o,rurrcd, as trains run rcry slowly, not 1aster
1l1u q O11Sk Whit MI b9o WV @A@".7"F
4 SHARP LOOKOUT Is KEPT
1,v Tho cnginccrs. so that the chasm would have
heen observed in time to stop the train.
picrsau holds that the bridge was struck by
uqhtning, Hc says he saw it when it went
down, and that it was perfect sheet Oh name
hut it is very likely that he was 80 confused
that he really didn't know What caused tue &C.
cidcut. It is said, however, that ~ 1his paft1c@
ular moment there was a
TERRIFIC STROKE OF LIGHTNING
aud heavy thunder.
/ An en- ployc at the Union Pacific Depot was
up at the time, and connrms f'eFsons s'a.e-
mcnt., and SAYS that he heard u loud crash, but
had no idea that it WAS the bridge. SO It Will
he seen that there is difference OF opinion.
Telcrraohic communication was entirely cut
off with tho East, as all the wires which ran
along the ton Of the bridge were broken LOT d
short time, Early this morning communication
was had with the East by way o1 cneSenhe'
Denver. and Kansas City, but when the storm
struck Kansas City, soon after tho hfioge was
blown down, this circuit also was cut OIL. IL
will be several days before more tnan vcry
limited telegraph scrSice can be oo1a'neo oY
war OF the Union Pacific bridge.
This catastrophe will prove
4 SERIOUS DEThlHENf ~ hoolNEoS
not only in Omaha. but throughout tho entire
trans Missouri country. There will be tcn'@
pora1y freight blockade until arrangements can
| be mnde to transfer freight at tho Plattsmouth
and Blair ieryie5. Passengers will be transferred
| ut the same pojnts. About dozen canoes have
been brought into scrT3ce at the break to tratas-
| fer cnaploycs of the road back and FORTH y
ronc ferry is bciug arranged By which canoes can
I he hauled from one side to the other. It IS Nv
| fortunate that there fa no steamboat running
| here, as it would -.
at the present tinle. .
General pcsintendcn Ciark arrived this
| morning from The East, coming into Omaha BY
| way III plattsnaouth. Mr., Clark proceeded 1t
| once to the Union Pacific depot, and spent sotne
! considerable time in getting telcsraphic CON.
| m1lnication witli the East. He then tc]eGrapned
to xj,e various bridge companies In regard to the
cost aud time required for putting it, wooden
! truas. and also iron spans. So It will be seen
| that the work Of securing connection with
The other side is to be pushed ahead as
fast as pussibie. 1t is cur ious fact that the
! Company hare had serious fears for the safety
of the east end OF the bridge ercr since the
river made the cutoff, and rp-rap on the west
| side was bceup as the indications were that the
| channe! woulL sweep up against the Iowa ap-
nroarh and wash it ont; and now the east end
f. eone alter alI but from an entirely different
cn,t.o nf cn,1rsc the STRUCTURE will