New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-11
yHE FIRE RECORD.

RAILROAD BRIDGE ~ FLAMES.
BURSTING oF nm PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE
Al Nrw-BIU NswICA-los, ESTIMATED At 500
600.
The old wooden bridge of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. which spnuned the RIrtau River at New
Brunswick. y. j., burned early on sniuriay morn
ing Trains were delayed for fcw hours, but pa,srn
gers and freight aSen over other routes The
bridge was OF the oldest railroad bridges OF its KIND
In the country having been b forty The fire
WAS discovered al rday by Robert MOrgan
the wachman The alarm was given and the fire depart
mcnt Of New Brunswick Wa, soon on the spot An old
wooden had been replaced lately by open treste-
work. over which the engines could not pass They went
around by the Albany street Bridge. half mile away
and In this way attacked the flames from the other end
Of the bridge their efforts pOweress TO stay
the flames. The bridge, built of pine which had been
seasoned BY forty summers, burned like finder. Great
masses of dense black smoke, and showers of brilliant
sparks. rolled over the rvcf upon the broad marshes
beyond The sky the river, the houses aud spires of
New BrunsWick the crowds upon the river banks all were
lighted up by the glare of the burning bridge SO Intense
distant, seemed only II. few rods away The sun rose
while the famcs were al their height. one by one the
bazlng spans fell kissing into the water below. AT
a. M nothing left except the huge piers, from which
twisted iron rails hung. The burned portion comprises
the seven epaus from the end the canal bank to
the last eastern abulnent, n length OF 500 feet
The cause Of the Ire is uncertain As two lives were
loaf on the bridge last week and several accidents had
happened a short time before to workmen on the com
pany iron bridge Ut tins place one theory n that
superstition prompted some petson TO set nie tn IT, Ii
Is thought by many however. that the burning cnders
from "a passing locomotive caused thc cUntagration.
Before the fire was over, superintendent George W.
Barker on the spot. lie made arrangements with
Central Railroad Tor the transfer Of through passe
gers and Trains were sent over the Bound Brook
route Elizabeth 10 Piiindelphia Freight will he
shipped by this latter route until the bridge Is repaired
Poles put up. aud by nigltiall on saturday fun
tcegaphic communication was cstablishdi once more
Work has begun on temporary bridge. Carloads OF
timber brought from the storage places near by,
600 brdg' carpenters were summoned anu Is thought
that By Friday next the temporary structure VIII he com
prted. The loss Is roughly estimated al 100000
The officers Of the Fennsy lyanla Railroad stated
teray that most trains were now sent 10 philadelphia
mad the West by way ~ the Bound Brook route, and
the trains running the AmDOy connection and
elsewhere requiring passage over tao Rarltan River at
New Bruins wick the passengers were transferred at
New Brunswick by coaches. All regular and special
trains running regular time. Tho trains run
ming the Bound Brook arrive In the regular de-
pot of the Pennsylvania road al Philadelphia TIE draw
was placed IN position on the bridge yesterday, and the
work reconstruction will bo pushed forward rapidly