Evening journal., 1894-01-13
FELL THROUGH A BRIDGE
Sixty Men Went Down With a
Flimsy Structure.
SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE DROWNED.

The Bridge Was Crowded with workmep
Who Were Waiting For the Draw to Bs
closed when the Crash Came - Many
Missing and Injured.
BROOKLYN, Jan. 13--The new iron bridge
over NewtOwn creek at Meeker avenue,
williamsburg, while crowded with labor.
ers from the different factories near by
gave way. The draw was open to allow
tugboat to pass, and the crowd were wait
ing for IL to close. They were on the
Queens county side OF the bridge. Sudden
ly the part Of the bridge on which they
were standing gave way. and large mum
Der Of them were thrown into the water.
The employees Of G. II. Nichols chemical
works, the Queens county oil works and
Haherman's tin factory, on the Queens
county side, had assembled at the entrance
to the bridge on their way to their homes
IN Williamsburg from work. There are
two draws in the bridge
The draw on the Kings county side was
open for the purpose OF allowing several
tugboats belonging to the Newtown Creek
Towing company TO pass. One of these
was the tugboat Cloud. The workmen,
with their dinner pals In their hands,
crowded on the Queens county drawbridge
awaiting the opening Of the gate 60 pass
over the temporary structure which has
been erected pending the completion Of the
new iron bridge.
Suddenly go men and boys rushed out on
the bridge. They had scarcely gone 30 feet
from the Queens county side when the
structure gave way, and every one Of them
was thrown headlong into the creek The
water at this point is about nine feet deep.
Those on the shore who saw the accident
screamed aud called TO the captains Of the
tugboats to come to the rescue Of those
who we've struggling In the water. Planks
were blrOwn out from the Queens county
side, and the crews OF the boats Jumped
into the creek and saved many Of those
who could not swim.
The Missing and Injured
Many men are reported missing, and
three more are in hospitals. Those report.
ed missing are George Mills, Michael
Smith and Patrick Brierty, all Of MeekeF
avenue; John Kerwin, 374 Lorimer streets
Hugh Markey, Van Pelt avenue, near
North Henry street; Bernard Boyle, "a
Herbert street; August Blum, 100 Hewes
street; Patrick Kelly 15l Meeker avenue,
Nicholas Logan, Nassau avenue near
Meeker.
The injured are Timothy Cannon Of los
Eckford street, Greenpoiut perforated leg,
taken to St. Johns hospital, Long Island
City; John Torney and John McAvoy OF
Williamsburg, bruised legs and contusions
Of scalp, taken TO St. GATHERINGS hospital
williamsburg
A score or more Of others were slightly
injured, and after being dragged from the
water they were taken to their homes OF
were able to walk there. OF these no ac
curate list can be obtained
IL is estimated that between 1900 and
5000 persons collected on the two sides OF
the creek. Sergeant Coleman, who reached
the scene first Of the police, thinks that
not less than seven OF eight persons LOST
their lives.
Besides those taken to the hospitals, a
above stated, Andrew Burns Of North Sixtl
street, john Kelly Of briggs avenue and l.
| Drexel We're removed from the water in
bruised and liberated condition.
Steps 10 Investigate whose carelessnes
caused the disaster will be immediatei,
taken. The Penny bridge, as Il has lonJ
been called, is under the general supervi
sion OF bridge tender employed ia com
fN'A - NA' HAAhbAANANH VI Nink1 Nlll
| Queens counties, which it connects. Fo
many years there have been annual dis
cussions in the board of supervisors in th
two counties concerning their respective
rights regarding its management and main
tenance.
Warning Had Boen Given.
Most OF the men We're in the employ o
Nichols & Co Is chemical works and Reed
and Preston's fertilizer factories, although
among those who managed to escape from
a watery death there were five who workei
in Haberman's tin works and three il
Fleischmann's distillery.
The men had been warned by Bridge Su
perintendent Daniel Hickey that the foot
bridge was not a substantial structure ant
that am accident might happen II the
crowded upon it.
One Of the assistant bridgekeepers ha
noticed that the structure was rickety an
had called sne attention Of one of the for,
men ON the new bridge to the fact som
time ago.
Among the first to run 70 the scene G
the disaster was Annie Foley, the 2O-yeal
old daughter of Owen Foley She secure
a rope, hastened ON the bridge and threw
TO the drowning people. She succeeded i
rescuing three.
Breen Wins the Skating Championship.