The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-05

A straight Fall Twenty-Five Feet Into thc
James River, bnt Luckiiy where the water
was not Deep Rescue of the Passengers by
n Boat which Put Out from Near che Foot
of Seventeenth sire tone Gentleman
Painfully Injprcd; All the Other Passcn-
gers saved Unhuri-The Horses Dead
Names OF Those Who Underwent This Re-
markabIc Adyenture-Mayo's Bridee-NOtes
aud Incidents.
YESTERDAY afternoon about 3 o'clock The
second span Of MayO's bridge Irom the
Richmond side suddenly gave away ana
fell into the river. carrying with II one oi
Beatfic's Manchester stages, which was
crossing the bridge at the time on its way
10 this city with q load Of passengers.
News OF the accident spread with great ra-
pidity, and in a short tine thousands OF
people had ilOcked TO the scene oil the dis
asier.
IiYARTRESpING rEPoRTs.
As Is usual in such cases, the most eX-
agecrated reports o. to the extent and Sc
riousness Of The accident were circulated,
and those who hurried TO the spot, posi-
hy remembering q similar occurrence OF a
few years back near the same place, eX-
prcted 10 witness one Of those Spcctacles
which has made Richmond famous aS city
Of accidents. But happily their fears were
not realized, and instead, looking from
the height above down on the the PROSTATE
span. they saw nothing worse than eight or
nine persons, drcnched 10 the skin, shivcr-
inc from the basis Of a cold ea.tCrly wind,
demolished stage, and two horses strug-
Cling IN the water.
THE PEOPLE ~ THE STAGE.
The facts and circumstances attending
the accident, which can be stated in few
words, are substantially as follows: One OF
Bea,tie's STAGES left Manchester shortly be-
fore O'Clock on it, WAY to this city, hay-
ing on board Miss Alice Giddings,
daughter Of W. +. Giddings, Esq; Miss
Sallic O'Brien: Ms. j. w. Mosby; Betscy
Wilson (colorcd) and her infant child;
Charles ". Turacr, Esq; Captain \. ;.
Ford, conductor Richmond and Danville
railroad; Captain L. o. Atwell, conductor
on the York River line, and an old gentle
man whose name could not be asceTtained.
STATEMENT OF THE DRIVER.
Mr.. ]. j. Boyle. the driver, states that he
was coming slowly over the bridge, and
from this side when, without the least
warning, It suddenly and rapily sunk to
the water beneath, carrying with it the
STAGE and its load Of human freight. The
force Of the fall was greatly broken by the
water. but was of course sufficient TO upset
the vehicle and drench the passengers. In
the shortest possible time boat was dis
patched from the foot Of Seventeenth street
Il 4 d. fpl
the river 10 Seventeenth street, and from
thence i'm one OF the Richmond lee Compa-
ny's wagons Qhe use Of which was promptly
rendered for the purpose by Mr. W. Ii.
Cottrcll, the driver to their respective
homes.
TIE RELIEF BOAT.
The boat then returned to the bridge
and brought down the remaining pasSen-
gers. In the mean time the city ambulance
had arrived upon the ground, and Mr..
Turner, who was badly bruised about the
body, besides receiving severe cut across
the hand. was taken into the cOal-Oflce OF
MeSsrs. 5. J.. Lathrop q Son, on Seven
teenth and Dock streets, where his iniC-
ric, were attended to by DR.. Bennett.
GATHERING or A CROWD.
Officer Richards, Of the Fret precinct,
was the first TO arrive after the accident,
and he rendered valuable assistance in
keeping the crowd off the bridge, and pro-
badly aerted another calamity. He was
shortly afterwards reinforced by Sergcants
Whitlock and Matthews and Officers Har-
die and Baker, and possibly others.
The Broad-Strect llOok-and- Ladder Com-
pany also came down prepared TO render
any assistance in their power, but fortu-
nately there was nothing for them to do.
THE BROKEN SPAN.
When the span fell il tilted up the river.
which threw the horses into the stream
above IT,. The current being very rapid at
this point, they were washed back against
il, aud had to keep up constant struggle
10 prevent from drowning. They were
Immediately cut loose from the vehicle 10y
Mr.. Boyle. whose first thought was for his
horses after he found that the passengers
were not seriously hurt; but in spite Of
his efforts ono was drowned outright, and
The other, after being got ont, was found
to be 40 badly injured that II was knocked
in the head.
AT THEIR HOMES.
Miss Giddings was taken 20 her father
rooms at krause's Hotel; Miss O'Brlen,
Mrs. MOsby, aud the cOl0red woman and
her baby, were taken 10 Manchester, where
they reside. Mr.. Turner was taken 10 Man
chester by the city ambulance. The others
not beng hurt went of without assistance.
The conduct Of Mr.. Cottrell deserves
special mention. lie was going down Main
street with his wagon when he heard Of the
accident. He took in the situation at once,
aud drove down TO where the boat had
"A IA Of III IL al
Of the ladies and took them 10 their homes.
The boatmen, whose names could not be
ascertained, also deserve praise for their
prompt action.
Mrs. Mosby had her right wrist severely
bruised.
Mr. BOYLE, the driver Of the stage, was
badly bruised.
The accident caused great anxiety both
here and IN Manchester until the extent OF
the damage was asccrtained.
The bridge Is about twenty-five feet
above the level OF the water.
The work Of repairing the bridge will be
commenced Immediately, the bridge au-
thorities having already advertised for pro-
posals for that purpose.
naYo's BRIDGE,
connecting Richmond and Manchester, has
ali important place iB the history Of Rich
piond. Built long, long years ago, IL has
several times been the victim Of the great
foods whiel'from time 10 time have swept
down the James. II was The bridge over
which the Confederates retreated on eyacIl-
aiion-dzy. and, 10 prevent the too close
following Of them by the Federals, was
fred by military order and burnt.
After the occupation OF the city IL was
rebuilt by the United States authorities and
called Kings bridge. For q long time they