Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-18

were heartrending. This car was pitched
down and it appears as if the passengers
were jammed into the lower end. Several
ladies were helped out and one man who
was up to bis neck in water. The conductor
was then so benumbed that be could 90 no
more.
TIE BRIDGE
was built by Briggs & Co., Of Springfield
Mass, aud completed in December 1870.
1t is Howe truss, with two spans. each
span being 1863 feet long There seems to
have been nothing wrong with ihe strue-
ture. The timbers where they are broken off
and splintered are sound The spans were
long but undoubtedly secure enough for
the ordinary business of the road.
THEORY OF THE ACCIDENT.
The theory that one of the locomotives
left the track on the bridge and broke the
tlmbers, causing the whole span to give
way is not susts ned Some Of the most ex-
perienced railroad men agree that the &C.
cident was wholly caused by the tremend-
Gus strain of two locomotives passing over
at the same time and that with but one en-
CINE the train would have gone over safely.
Auc iOOOuOtNes lOSttntE NelgOeu sixty TONS
or more. The makeup of the train was
noticed at Tarifsille, and it was wandered
whether it could cross the bridge safely
The belief of those best qualified to Judge is
that the supporting iron rods broke first,
which caused the timbers to snap apart. |
This was due to the extra strain. Had one
locomotive been in the rear of the train the
unusual pressure would have been avoided.
SCENTS TSCTnFNTs rTc or TINT Dts,srrp
The bridge is elevated ten feet above the
river at the present stage of the water, and
is approached from the west by long tres
tle-work. The first locomotive cleared the
west span and entered upon the trestle-
work. when the entire span gave way. The
first locomotive was hurled violently over,
Embedding itself IN the ground completely
wrecked. The other engine and bag
gage car went down with the wreck
IN an upright position, and the |
side OF the heavy tr8k fell over upon them. |
The first passenger car was whirled around |
and sank to the bottom of the river, living |
nearly parallel with the stream. The second |
passenger car went down end foremost upon |
the first, smashing the largest portion of it
into kindling wood, the rear end resting
upon the bridge. The next car occupied
similar position, but did not rest upon the
car in front. None OF the remaining coaches
left the track. The crash produced by the
tall and the cries of the wounded and dying
speedily brought assistance, but the first
corners worked at great disadvantage.
The cars had broken through tho ice. which
rendered it difficult to approach near enough
TO reach the passengers. The scenes on the
relief train were heartrenting. In every |
car were men and women with heads
bandaged or arms in sings, Some had
been terribly scalded. In one passenger
car the bodies of three dead women
were laid out, their faces covered with
handkerchiels. in one baggage car
were TWO more bodies OF women
lust As they had been taken from the wreck
One most terribly wounded was Rev. Mr..
Thomas. of Winsttd. He suffered fracture
OF both limbs and severe internal injuries
lie conyersed calmly about the catastrophe
He made his way through the roof of the
car to the ice, and then towards the shore.
Many survivors stood in the wafer up to
their waists, helping Others out The calm
ness exhibited was remarkable.