Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-01-26
TWENTY DROWNED.


ties between the bridge contractors At
SpotisgiIe, Ky, and the Louisville,
St. Louis and Texas Railway had q
most tragic termination this afternoon
at o'clock when the draw broke in
twain, precipitatiug about forty en-
tployes into the river, more than one
half of whom were drowned before
assistance could reach them.
A slight retrospection is necessary
to understand the accident Since the
completion of the bridge, about ten
days ago, there has been trouble be-
tween the contractors aud the road as
to the terms Of contract aud payment
for the work.
Last week the first Louisville, st.
Louis aud Texas train advertised that
1t would make its maiden trip to Hen
derson, but when it reached SpoIts-
vile it found the draw thrown open by
order of the contractors, and the train
could not pass.
The railroad authorities at once
appealed to the courts at Henderson
and on injunction was granted against
further Interference with the traffic Of
the road until the equities of the case
had been decided. The decision of the
case was rendered yesterday, granting
the temporary injunction, and the road
announced that its first train would
cross the bridge to morrow morning
This brings tile matter down to this
afternoon. Men to the number Of forty,
acting under the Instructions from the
contractors. had gathered upon the
draw and placed upon each end of it a
number of heavy rails, intending to
obstruct the train in this way to-mor-
row and not violate the courts instruc.
tions by opening the draw.
Just before 4 O. clock this afternoon
the Bowling Green packet, General
Dawes, bound for this city, whistled
for the draw to be opened that it might
pass through,
There was prompt response, and
while all OF the contractors men were
still standing upon the ponderous draw
it swung open and the steamer passed
into the opening; but just as she got
beneath the brigde there was dull
creaking, which came from the power
full draw, and the next moment the
passengers on the Dawes saw the great
wing on the bridge break in two parts
Immediately over the centre pier upon
Which it rested, and both wings, with
their weight of iron aud human beings
plunged downward, distance of forty
feet, and in an instant sank beneath
the surface amid the wild shrieks OF
the doomed workmen and me iamen Ia
/ lions Of the spectators.
Many Of the uniortunates had their
limbs and necks broken before the
draw reached the water, and all being
thrown downward rpIydh the iron trac <
and beams, or entangled in It's debris
were borne down never to rise again.
The passengers on the steamer saw
three men crushed by an immense
beam just as il was broken and started
downward on being transHxed on an
iron spur that sprang out from the strain
of the iron in parting.
In falling the draw only missed the
steamer few feet and came near cap.
sizing it in the vortex, where the
immense iron structure sank In thirty
feet of water.
Boats we're Mt once lowered AMI a
little steamer, the Coriune, put out
from shore to rescue the drowning men.
Many Of them cnme to the suface at
once, some swimming, others apparently
stunned and lifeless. These sank
again.
About eighteen we're Mt once taken
out before the Dawes left, which were
all that could be found. The steamer
reached this city little after six
o'clock, bringing the awful tidings.
There is no Geographic commuuica,
tion with Spottsville, and no other par
ticuIars can be obtained tonight. The
responsibility for the accident would
seem to rest upon the shoulders of the
contractors, who had ordered the iron
rails put upon the draw, and this was
undoubtedly the cause of its breaking
in twrin.
No ames Ct the dead could be OBJ.
tanned. The accident has sent thrill
of horror through this city
-e~O4e
SCoOBA, Jan. l9-ln obedience to
the orders received from Gov Lowry,
sheriff Kav aud 1nn,,fiaa boua han,,