Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-02-07
AWFUL DISASTER.
Bridge Swept Away and Be-
tween 10 and II Lives Lost.
A Passenger Train Barely Escapes
Going Through, Near Bristol, Ct.
New Structure ColIspses With Large Crew
Of Men at Work.

Bristol. CT Feb Ga most appalling
disaster occurred here shortly after o. to-
night in which 90 workmen were precipi-
tated into the Pequabuck river from the
East Bristol bridge, and from 10 to l2
probably lost
| This afternoon, the structure was found
to be shaky, and the i.22 train oD the New
England road had narrow escape from
wreck as it crossed Oh Its way to Hart
ford. For some time the bridge has been
locked upon with suspicion and new
bridge was In process Of erection and was
almost completed 1t was close alongside
the bridge carried away.
| After the east bound passenger train
passed, tonight, one side of the old bridge
gave way to the current and went boiling
down the stream. The managers of the
road Immediately dispatched wrecking
| train from Hartford, which arrived on the
| forestvile side Of the Pequabuck at D. 10.
There were 40 men on the train, all from
| Hartford They Immediately set to work
TO make the new bridge passabc Work
| was progressing satisfactorily BY the aid
| OF lanterns up to g. To facilitate the
| work. half Of the men were located on the
remaining portion of the old structure
At 8, they were passing iron girders to
| another gang of men on the new bridge.
The waters of the Pequabuck had been
| continually rising since morning and at
y, were higher than was ever known
The water had risen two or three feet
since o'clock, and the remainder OF the
bridge was really tottering while the men
were courageously standing upon it,
The outer end suddenly sank, and, with
| It's human freight, was carried off in the
boiling current. The cries of the men, the
creaking of timbers and the falling of the
ironwork made combined noise heard
half mile away. Half of the gang, which
had been resting on more solid founda-
ton, was soon resolved into IA rescuing
party and every effort was made to save
the drowning men.
Two men reached shore By their own
exertions. almost Immediately after the
fearful fail. A third was saved by work
man, who plunged IN after him and
brought him TO shore. a fourth. fifth and
sixth were saved by the horoic efforts of
their comrades Others could be seen
struggling away in the mass of debris.
ciinging to it and crying frantically for
help, but a number never came in sight
after the bridge went down.
All of Bristol was at once aroused and
ply ysicians and volunteers immediately
rushed to the scene Of the disaster The
night was darkness ITSELF and there was
boiling stream overrunning its banks on
both sides. so that efforts to rescue in the
darkness were fraught with the greatest
danger.
VIM p. Barry foreman of the construc-
ton gang in the East Hartford yard, was
rescued, badly injured having bsen
crushed by falling timbers. Barry stated
that OF seven in his gang. six, including
himself, were among the saved
The only body discovered up to mid
night was Daniel O'Brien of Hartford,
foreman Of the section gang His body
was found crushed between the timbers.
70 rods below where the bridge fell into
the river.
The six rescued men were taken to a
farm house in tie immediate vicinity
where they were attended by doc ,rs, who
are authority for the statement that none
of them are seriously injured except Barry
whose condition is critical.
AT midnight II persons were among the
missing.