The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-07
A R FELL.
Gang OF Workmen Precipitated Into
Pequabuck River.
ELEVEN MEN WERE DROWNED
But Half a Dozen Reached the
Shore Alive.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn, Feb. IA bridge
on the New England railroad over the
Pequabuck river, near Bristol, collapsed
about 8 o'clock last night. carrying with
IL 20 workmen, of whom 10 are believed to
have persisted.
The fierce storm which swept over the
state played havoc with New England
bridges, and the swollen waters OF the
~Pequabuck river threatened to carry the
bridge away. At5 o'clock "A special wreck
ing train with 40 men left East Hartford
and were put TO work on the new bridge
which the company Is building over the
river, and which is almost completed. II
was intended TO put the new bridge in
shape at once SO that trains could cross
the river. The old bridge was declared
unsafe about 4 o'clock, rGd since then no
trains have crossed the river.
Twenty workmen were put to work on
each bridge. About o o'clock one of the
foremen, John Barry, called the 20 men
on the old structure toward the center TO
assist In tearing mp the ties, which were
wanted for the other bridge. The weight
of the men was too great for the bridge,
and without hardly q moments warning
1t collapsed, precipitating 10 or IL of the
iiiNh lbAo tit iNElUk NAiSA ~ AHt iiftis
Three or -four were caught by falling tim
bers and seriously injured. Three man
aged TO cling to fragments of the bridge
and were rescued by a number OF their
comrades, who rushed over from the new
bridge as soon as they realized the extent
of the disaster.
Desperate Struggle For Life.
The lettering condition OF the remain
tpar ,.npftnng of tho oil hpilnA rap1araI
the work of reaching the men impossible,
and had n boat been available, nothing
could have held 1t against the mad rush OF
the waters. The unfortunate men in the
water attempted to seize sticks and por-
tions of the abutments which had been
broken loose, hut not more than five or
six were successful. The others were car
ried down stream, and were quickly lost
to sight in the darkness.
Two men were able to swim ashore, but
fell exhausted ms soon rs they reached
land. John Barry, the foreman In charge of
the old bridge, was extricated from the
mass OF wreckagc and debris which col
lectcd where the bridge gave way, and
was found To have been badly wounded.
He and the other rescued men were taken
to ~farmhouses nearby and cared for. The
foreman was unable to give the names OF
the men who were on the bridge with him
at the time.
AS soon as the railroad officials were
notified OF the collapse a special train was
sent out from East Hartford with two
surgeons and another gang of wreckers.
A gang of 90 men rugged impromptu RATS
M scows, and began a search for the
bodies. Others were sent down both sides
of the river to see II anyone had been for
tunatc enough to reach the shore. At a
late hour no more bodies were found, and
It was the general opinion hat the men
had no chance OF reaching the shore alive.
AT midnight IL persons were still among
the missing. All are members OF the con-
struction gangs from Hartford and East
points.
The men were taking up iron rails on
the old bridge when tho accident hap
pened, and were passing them across to
the new structure.
A gang was working on each end, and
by some misunderstanding, 1t is supposed,
all Of them were called to the center of
the structure. Their weight, with the ex-
traordinary rush of tho current, is sup.
posed to have directly caused the fall Of
the bridge.
Pequabuck river ompties into Plainville
pond, three miles below the bridge where
the fatal accident occurred. 1t Is expected
that rany OF the bodies will be found
there.
II is expected that the new bridge will
be ready for travel In 4S hours. All trains
are stalled on tho New England road by
many washouts west OF Plainvillc.