Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-09-24
Fall of Plankroad Bridge-Four Men
Badly Hurt.

About four o'clock last Wednesday afternoon
part of the bridge over the creek at tins
place, known as the Plankroad bridge, at the
South end of Main street, fell TO the ground,
distance of about sixteen feet. The part fall
ing. eight spans, was constructed entirely of
wood with wooden trestles for support, and
was being repaired. Ex-Sheriif Abraham Nc
Candle.s had the job of repairing, and with
three of his sons, were on the part falling at
the time 1t seems the timbers and plank at
this end were being removed from the stone
abutment, and being free from any brace by
the same, it is supposed the jarring caused by
the throwing off of the heavy old sills, and the
pressure upon the wooden trestles, caused them
TO waver and fall, the whole eight spans drop
ping down in body.
Upon these spans at work were ex-Sherln
Abraham McCandless, and his sons George,
Abraham, Jr., and Howard. They are all more
or less injured, supposed to be caused by the
clash and rebounding of the planks from the
sills and trestles when all struck the ground
The ex-Sheriff himself is the most injured,
having both arms broken, one of them literally
smashed at the elbow, and both legs badly
bruised about the knees, one knee cap bone
being cut in two, which perhaps is as danger
GUS and painful wound as he has received
He is now near sixty y-fve years of age, and has
been successful bridge builder, building
more wooden bridges perhaps than any man
in the county. Much sympathy is expressed
in this misfortune in his declining years. He,
with his son George, are laying at the house
of his son Martin, in this place, and every care
is being taken of them. George has severe
wound on his forehead, one of his feet hurt,
and complains of injuries and pains in his side,
back and body generally. He is not, however,
supposed dangerously hurt. Abraham, Jr., has
one foot badly hurt, supposed to have been
caught between the planks, on the rebounding
of the planks as many of the other injuries are
supposed to have occurred. His back is also
sprained and very sore, but If his foot gets
along it is supposed ne is in no danger. How
ard the youngest son, is the least hurt, but has
one foot also much bruised and other slight
injuries He is now upon his feet, at the house
of his brother Abraham, and is moving about,
while the other three are still confined to their
beds and may be for some time.
Our singular part of the occurrence Is, that
q team of horses and a colt, belonging to Mr..
McCandess, were upon the bridge at the time
and were not very badly hurt, having appa-
rently maintained their feet during the fall.
The result of this serious accident will doubt
less cause a different and better structure to
take the place of the old one. The wooden
trestles should at least be replaced with stone
piers. Had they been stone no accident could
have happened The unsteady foundations of
the wooden ones caused all the eight spans to
come down together, whereas, if the supports
had been stone piers but one span could have
fallen Besides, the time would seem to have
arrived for dispensing with this high trestle
work, whiqh is dangerous at best. Fears have
been entertained of this bridge for years past,
and we hope to see it repaired with stone piers,
or with an iron one, if possible.
We omitted in above to state that Mr.. Mar
tin J. Reiber, of this place. who was standing
near at the time, was struck by a timber and
had two ribs broken. Mr.. George McCandless,
brother of ex-Sherif, was working on the
bridge but was near enough the abutment to
spring off and thus escaped uninjured.