Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-01-20

Sixty Persons Thrown from = Collapsed
Draw Into the Waters Of Newton Creek
on Long Island-A Terrible struggle for
Life Amoug the Broken Tin,bers-Flve
Men Misaing and Supposed to be Lost
To the Rescue.
Lone ISLAND CITY, l.. l.. Jan. 13.-
About sixty men were thrown in New
ton creek last night by the collapse OF
a section OF a temporary drawbridge
over the creek connecting Bardley ave-
nue., at Laurel Hill. with Meeker ave-
nue., Brooklyn. just how many men
were drowned cannot as yet be deter
mined.
The following were on the bridge at
the time and have not been seen since:
Patrick Briody.
II. Marckey.
George Mills.
Michael McCurky.
James Smith.
They were all employees Of the Lau-
rel Hill chemical works, Mills being a
foreman there. Timothy Cannon, OF
eos Eckford street, Brsaklyn, was
Ssytught 70 st. johns hospital, this
city. One of his feet wos badly
crushed, and he was cut about the
head. The section of the bridge that
fell was draw, thirty feet long. 1t
was built of wood, and rested on the
center abutment, from which point an.
other section continued on the Brook
| lyn side. The draw on the Brooklyn
side was open. 1t was low tide, and a
ting was trying to force a schooner
through the draw. 1t was few min
utes before o'clock, when the bridge
was crowded with men from nearby
factories anxious to get to their homes
in Brooklyn. Suddenly there was a
cracking of timbcrs, and the draw
broke in two. The men made an eff
fort to get off, but the jam on the
shore end Of the bridge prevented
their making their escape.
| They fell into the water in heap,
and then commenced wild struggle
for life. Some climbed on to the
wrecked draw, while others sought
safety in swimming for the shore. A
passing tug picked up a number ant
landed them on the Brooklyn side
where they were attended by surgeon!
from Brooklyn hospitals.
The work of rescue was Difficult
one, as there were no small boats a
hand. Ropes were thrown out to som,
OF the men, and they were haulc'
ashore in that manner. During TIN
work of rescue there were some livel.
scenes in the water. Men struggled
with each other in their frenzy to es
eape. Some were hauled under waite
! and nearly drowned by those whor
they were trying to assist.
Thomas Dobbins, of Meellcr avenue
, Brooklyn, reached the scene in a row
boat in time to save tour men VIII
were on the point of sinking. Th
captain of the schooner rescued over
i dozen men. He got away before h
, name or that of his vessel could b
learned.
: After striking the water the dra'
broke into two parts, and in an instar
;. both were covered with men. Son
managed to climb up clear of the WI
l. ter, while others hung on to keep the
8 heads above water. 1t took consider;
3 BILE time TO get all the men ashore. 4
fast as they were landed they we
q taken to Toner'S Penny bridge hot
l. and filled up with stimulants.
=, Many of the rescued had close call
y and for long time after they we
Q brought ashore they were unable
70 tell how they got there. The wreck'
X draw had not been used IN thr
~ weeks, owing to pile drivers worlSil
on it.
h BridgeSecper Daniel Hickey was I
r the Laurel Hill side when the accide
NJ occurred. He said it was due to {
III overcrowding of the bridge. He sa
ne that he had frequently warned t
D. men not to crowd on the bridge, as
:. was dangerous to do so, but th'
paid no attention to his repeat
II. warnings. He could not account
IL the draw breaking in the cent?
~ ~ as it was made of heavy timber, Gale
&c. lated to hold almost any weight. N
i'd Hickey does not believe that anyo
IN was drowned. He said that the wat
y. !" was only nine feet deep at the tin
ct and as the men fell into the wal
No. within about ten feet of the shore
must have escaped. Several of
men said that they saw at least Il
men sink, and did not see them col
to the surface again. William Fal
y. and Pat Mcnamara, of Meeker avenl
Brooklyn, both had narrow escap
Sc They do not know how they got asho
nd and say they came near drownil
%. The search for bodies was kept up
n, late hour but none were recovered