The Portland daily press., 1896-02-07
PORTLAND, MAINE. FRIDAY MORNING
A FEARFUL PLUNGE.
Bridge on the New England R. R.
Goes Down
INTO THE BOILING TORRENTS OF
A RIVER.

And With 1t Twenty Men Were Hurled
A Terrible Loss of Life-Men Were
Repairing Bridge-A Train just Es-
capped.
Hartcfor Conn, February 6.-This
evening a passenger train on the New
England road had narrow escape from
wreck on bridge between Bri stol and
Forestvile, 20 miles west Of. here. Tho
bridge began to sink as the train was
pulled across A wrecking party was
sent out and began to build a new bridge.
About tonight when the men were
at work, the whole thing went away
Between 30 an 40 worknen went down in
to the Pequatuck river and were
drowned.
A wrecking train from Hartford left
at 10. 80 for the scene of the disaster.
Later.
Bristol, Conn, February GA most
appalling disaster occurred here shortly
after nine. tonight, in which twenty
workmen were precipitated into Pequa-
buck river, from the East Bristol bridge
and from ten to twelve probably lost
This afternoon the structure was weak,
and a train had a narrow escape from
wreck, as it crossed this afternoon. The
br;1
picion, it being in process of completion.
After the east bound passenger train
passed, one side of the bridge gave way
and went boiling down the stream. The
manager Of the road Immediately de-
spatohed wreck.ng train from Hart
ford, which arrived on the Forestyille
side of the bridge at 5 30 There were
forty men in the train, al from Hartford
They Immediately set to work to make
the bridge passable. Work was pro gress-
ing Satisfactorily and to facilitate matters
half the men were located on the remain
ing portion of the old structure. At 9 D..
m. they were passing iron Orders to
ether men on the new bridge. The waters
of the Pequabuok at o'clock were very
high. having risen two or three feet since
five o'clock and the remainder of the
bridge was really tottering while men
were standing upon it.
The outef end suddenly sank, and with
it, the human freight was carried off in
the boiling current. The cries of the
men, creaking of timber and falling of
the iron work, made deafening noise,
and was heard a mile away. Half of the
gang which had been resting on the more
solid foundation, soon resolved itself into
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 fall A third was saved by work
men who plunged in after him and
brought him to the shore. A fourth, fifth
and sixth were saved by the heroic efforts
of their comrades. Others could be seen
struggling away in the mass of debris
clingiDg to it and crying for help and a
number came in sight after the bridge
went down.
All of Bristol was at once aroused,
physicians and volun teeIs Immediately
rushed to the scene of the disaster The
night was darkness itself, and with the
boiling stream overrunning its banks
on both sides, efforts to rescue in the
darkness were fought with the greatest
danger. VIM. p. Barry, foreman of ths
construction gang in East Hartford
yard was rescued badly injured, having
been caused by the falling tim bers.
Barry stated that seven in his gang
six including himself, were among the
saved. The only body discovered up to
midnight was Daniel O'Brien of Hart
ford, foreman of the section gang. His
body was found crushed between timbers
40 rods below where the bridge fell into
the river. Six of the rescued men were
taken to farm house in the imme diate
vicinity, where they were attended by
doctors, who were authority for the state
ment that none of them are seriously in
jured, except Barry, whose condition was
critical.
At midnight II persons were am ong
the missing. All are members of the con-
struction gangs and live in Hartford and
East Hartford. The gang was wreck
ing on each end of the bridge and by
some misunderstanding, it is suppo sed,
all were called to the centre of the
structure. Their weight with its ex-
traordinary rush of the current, is sup
posed to have directly caused the fall of
the bridge. 1t is expected a new bridge
will be ready for travel 48 in hours.
All trains are stalled on the New Eng
land road tonight by washouts.