The New York herald., 1878-03-10
DISASTERS BY FIRE. !,
The New Brunswick Pennsylvania
Railroad Bridge Destroyed.
Interruption to Freight and Pas
senger Travel Obviated.

Fortyfour years ago the first section OF the New
Jersey Railroad tho New Jersey Division OF the
Peunsylvania Railroad, was built 1t ran only from
Newark to Jersey City, few years later the road
was extended far as New Brunswick At this time,
In 1887, tho River Raritap, stream OF considerable
width at New Brunswick, spanned by
q substantial wooden bridge. This structure,
after ceaseless scrvitude Of forty
years, was almost totally destroyed by fire
yesterday morning, causing large loss TO The com
pany. The bridge burned down about six O'Clock.
Whether the ire the work of incendiary tho
result OF accident is as yet an unsoved question,
though tho probability incincs toward The last theory
DETAILS.
Shortly before SIX O'Clock yesterday morning Mr.
Morgan, the watchman. discovered flames issuing
from tho great tool chest the top OF the bridge
10 hadjust made an inspection Of the bridge, finding
all right ThiDking that he could quench the names
he Waterman sezcd two buckets full OF water standing
near by ana dashed the water the fire. 1t seemed
10 leap into new life. Morgan tried again with buck
cts OF water stop the flames but his labor tu
tile. With such rapidly did The flames spread from tho
tool chest tho umoers Of the brdgethe whole struc
ture beng composed of tarred wood, therefore
inflammable-that the watchman was soon compelled
TO hurry AWAY in order 10 save bimsolt In doing SO
he n man running on the bridge, he says who said
10 tho watchman, as he ran away, that the nre was
saused by the gnition Of Kerosene can in the tool
shesI the man disappeared and was not seen AFTER
ward. Morgan thinks tnat he was either u Iaborer
Employed by tho company ON tho new bridge or
tramp; that he hao been sleeping on the chest and
had st his pipe ashes fall 10 the chest or on somo
lnnammublc matter
Meanwhile tho flames alto ihcir way along until
szc was made winch aroused the people OF the town
md vicinity OF tho bridge was alive with
cited s,ghtsccrs. The 1re department. was early on
hand Dut It's Efforts were as inconsequentiai as Nor
unfa fn n wtra mad
Inside OF hour the bridge IRON The canal 10 the north
ide, entirely destroyed. ana the Rarian beneath
the hre at It's height the spectacle presented
as grand 1t terrible. The tlmbcrs OF the bridge
Of rendered the structure little better than tin
der. The bridge was trcslle work resting on stone
piers built in the bed OF the river.
THE INTERRUPTION TRAFFIC.
For . time the destruction oil the bridge entirely
cut on traffic. soon, however, the railroad people
effected arrangements which gave relief Passengers
were taken round In carriages over the old Albany
street bridge, On eighth OF a milo down tho stream,
aud put board the trains cither side OF the river
Connections were also mado with the Now Jersey
Central road at Elizabeth, but, IN spite Of
aud ire,gh, iramc was entirely cut OF during
the day. By lust evening, however, matters were
greatly improved and by tomorrow there will be
llLile or delay, except 10 freight For SIX months
past the company has been erecting a new and most
substantial IRON structure to take tho place OF the
old bridge now destroyed. IL Is within
month Of being completed. Indeed, IL Will
probably be 6nished sooner. now that tho
she station 14O feet running north, and II was from
this point The old bridge vuraed The new bridge
unpjurcd. The lUss by the old bridge not very
great, except as IL entails loss oi time and serious
costly delay and interruption oil tralhc. SO far
forward was tho work on the new bridge that II was
intended 10 ADJUST the draw yesterday temporary
bridge is 10 be thrown across and an immense force
Of men will be put 10 work al once.
HOUND BROOK ROUTE.
Mr. f. C. Knight, president OF the Now York and
Philidepkla new iine-Bound Brook routc--nas IcD-
dcrcd TO thc Pennsylvania Railroad Company the use
OF his through line 10 Now YORK until tho bridgc
is built At New BRUNSWICK TO take the place oil the
destroyed yesterday morning aud restore the break
in the Pennsylvania tracks Mr. knighps
courteous Oner has been accepted by
the other company, and the Pennsylvania trains
using the Bound Brook tracks IRON Erie
avenue junction, on the outskirts OF Phladelphia, TO
Elizabeth, where the New Jersey Central tracks
The old Camden ana An.b0y road, now lensed by the
fcnnsylvanis. From zibetn TO Nov y ork tho
through trains will use their own track,
but rest OF The Journey 10 Philadelphia will be
over the most attractive portion OF the Bound Brook
Railroad The local trains on the Pennsylvania road
will follow the old line TO New Brunswick, making
transfers.
The total loss has been roughly estimated at
elO0 900.