Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-22
THE OLD STONE BRIDGE.

lnE OBD D1ONE DhlDUH'
1t Departs After Many Years of Valuable
Service.
Notwithstanding the fact that during the
last flood the old stone bridge was thought
to he in shaky condition, and at that
time could be felt to tremble very precepti-
bly as the water and rubbish struck the
piers, large number of people crowded
upon it yesterday afternoon to look at the
rushing torrent below, and the immense
mass of drift wood and other rubbish that
swept by. The crowd was looking for the
B. & .. depot bridge to give way, as it ap-
peared to be in very uncertain condition,
and were apparently blind to the danger
they were themselves in at the moment.
As the heavy logs and timbers that came
down the creek struck against the piers Of
the bridge, the structure was shaken very
perceptibly, but still the people on it staid
there,
BET lO bh NOSCoA-i+<NsD
by Others, imagining their own judgment
rs to the strength of the bridge was cor
rect. 1t is an illustration of how soon peo-
pie forget q warning. They sll knew Of
the terrible experience the men on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad bridge
had when they were thrown into
the waters by its destruction, yet they
stood there calmly in worse peril of their
lives than those on the railroad bridge that
never -be-forgotte night. Had the stone
bridge gone down without warning at least
one hundred people would have persisted
with it. There were no planks to cling to,
but such crash of falling stone and land
that all would have been swallowed up in
the vortex.
IL was about six o'clock when the bridge
fell. A large number of people were stand
ing along the creek bank who were watch
ing fer the event and the first indication
they saw OF
THE GREAT DESTRUCTION
soon 10 follow was the falling of some dirt
from between the crevices in the centre
arch. They all set up warning shout to
those on the bridge and fortunately all
took immediate alarm.
Then followed wild rush for both ends
of the bridge, men crowding and pushing
each other in their efforts to reach safety.
Umbrellas and bats were crushed in the
stampede, and had one been un'
fortunate enough to lose his feet,
no doubt he would have been trampled
down to earth and left to perish. There
was not s second of time to spare, for a:
the middle of the bridge was cleared of its
load of humanity the middle arch gave
way, then the north end of the structure,
and in three seconds the
| WHOLE IMMENSE MASS
Of stone, mortar and earth from one sidt
of the street to the other was precipitate6
into the angry waters. There was q dull
sullen roar, as Of heavy clap of thunder
and the whole mass was swallowed up in
the vortex. The water was thrown IL
an immense volume TO the height of a
least fifty feet. 1t was certainly grsnC
sight and one that will never be forgotten
by those who saw it. The earth trembleC
under their feet and then it was all over
Nothing could be seen of the debris
and all that is left of the famous olt
bridge is the sbutments sticking ou
broken and ragged from either end of tn
street.
The news rapidly spread to all parts
the city and
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
flocked to the creek bank to look ut tn
destruction or what they could see Of it
Until long after dark this immense con
course Of curious humanity kept up ant
thousands of citizens visited the scene dur
ing the night. Itwas really sad and We
wonderful sight to witness the terribl
power Of the waters and see the abutment
Of the old bridge left with no connecting
link, reaching ont, as it were, over tn
seething torrent as if they wished to grasl
hands and silently weep over their loneli
ness.
The Main street bridge was one OF Wheel
| ing's oldest and most conspicuous land
marks, and all will regret its loes, and I
brief history of the old structure may COM
in appropriately. The first bridge ths
spsnned the creek connecting Main street
was built in 1917. II was q woodel
structure, and was swept away by an ic'
gorge about 1892. The same year the erec
tion OF
THE STONE BRIDGE
was commenced, and was completed some
time in 1888. It was built by Messrs
Kemmell and Gorrell, contractors, at ,
cost of about So, 900 to the county. L
has stood the storms and tides ever since
and only within the past few years has it,
strength been seriously impaired. 1t ha'
stood service nobly, and probably anothe
such bridge will not be seen in this part o
the country, as stone bridges are things o
the past. 1t is probable that it will b.
superseded by structure similar to th'
one which crosses the creek at Mar
ket street, and which seems to hay,
been unipjured by either Of the recen
aoods.
Il he Saw It Fall
Mr.. Charles H. VanKeuren was stand
ing on the creek hank. near the old Hub
bard saw mill, when the bridge fell.