Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-25
SWEPT AWAY.
The Temporary Bridge
Carried Out.
ICE Is ALL POWERFUL.
The Worst Happens at 1885
Today.
Loss That it Is Impossible to
Estimate.
DRAW TOWER Is A WRECK.
Workmen Flee For Their
Lives at Signal.
All Escape but One, Who Has
a Leg Broken.
| WOULD BE SAFE TONIGHT.
Main Line of the Rock Island
Seriously Interrupted.
All Wires Between the Two
Cities Down.
All Wires Between the Two
Cities Down.
''The bridge is gone!"

AuS OiluS0 10 SOuc.
This was the startling announce
ment that flew from mouth to mouth
all over the city during the noon
hour today. While it impressed all
with An Undesirable sensation and
shock. yet it was not altogether
surprise. as it had been feared, even
dreaded. for some time. Today the
danger would have passed. and the
forces Of the Phoenix Bridge COM
pany were bending every effort and
working under the highest tension to
complete the work beyond the point
where serious consequences were
feared by tonight.
The immense tower in the center
Of the draw span was in place, the
posts standing SO feet high affording
. slight idea of the colossal structure
as it was to be. Reaching out toward
the Davenport side were two panels of
steel and by tonight the connections
would have been made that would in
al probability have saved the steel
work at least.
All day yesterday the Phoenix
Bridge company officials were in
dread. The ice had an ominous ap.
pearance. The men were kept work.
ing until midnight last night and re-
sumed again as early as possible this
morning. Supt. A. B. Milliken and
Superintendent in Charge of the
Work N. c. Taylor exerted all their
energies to push the work. This
morning Engineer Modjeska. of the
Phoenix company. arrived from Chi
cago. as did Supt. Nichols and Asst.
Supt. Conlin. of the Rock Island
road. They had been advised of the
extremely alarming aspect and were
here to do all possible to counteract
the effect Of the crash should it CO me.
Human Efforts Were Powsrisss.
But human efforts and human skill
were unavailing. The flood came
and the structure fell. When the
forces were taken off at noon Super
intendent Taylor told his men to get
back as soon as possible, and he
warned them particularly about
looking out for themselves when the
whistle on the little steam engine
used in working the cables that
transport the material should sound
the alarm. At 1890 the lookout
watch saw that the breakup was in
evitable, and at hand. The signal
was given and the 50 mon scattered
about the structure scampered. All
but one got to places Of safety. and
no lives were lost. At 1885 the ice
struck the trestle. 1t resisted but
an instant and then with crash the
north arm Of the trestle gave way.
The woodwork crumbled like
tooth picks and was swep. out
into the river. The two panels
OF steel work extending toward
Davenport fell and with them
the north half of the great steel
tower. while the cross pieces we're
twisted and yanked in all sorts of
shapes and contortions like so much
wire.
The immense traveller reaching
i've feet above thetop Of tho tower
toppled and fell east into the river,
lighting up stream and falling upon
the wires which electrically connect
the two cities. The net work went
down in mass into the river. Il
was ruin and disaster never before
seen here. 1t was over in less time
than it takes to tell it. but in effect
and result it was appalling.
The south side Of the trestle -. mt
subjected to such test of strength
and remained intact, 90 that the isl
and shore span was not disturbed.
TEE PICTURE or DISTRIBUTION.
4 oa9ht Never - - Hergsessn-Duznees
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