The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-27
BADLY CRIPPLED
IN BRIDGE WRECK
Thrilling Experience Of Geo. A. BlOSOn,
Now Here.
IN THE CORNWALL DISASTER,
Borne TO the Bottom of the River by
Tons of Iron But Escapes With
Many Broken Bones and
Number of Cuts
IN THE CORNWALL DISASTER.

George A. Bloxon. who IS now at the
Henrico county jail. being held as a wit
ness in the case of the Commonwealth
against George Dughay, charged with
cutting Morton II. Wilson, near the Vir-
ginia and North Carolina Wheel Works.
is rather unique character. from the
fact that he has been as near death and
escaped as almost any man. and 1t was
only by almost miracle that he was not
killed, as were a number Of other people
at the same time.
when seen yesterday at the jail Office
he was quite willing 10 tell of his adyen-
ture.
lie is man Of fine physique. lie said
when asked how he lost the member 81
lost my leg in the wreck of the big Corn
wall bridge of the New York and Onta-
rio Railroad. across the ST. Lawrence
river, on September G. 1898, when the two
large comeback spans feh into the
water on account of bad foundation
10 one OF the central piers. and when so
many workmen lost their lives
The cause Of the accident was this.
When the Workmen. who had charge OF
the building Of the stone piers. sounded
the bottom on which the base OF the
fatal pier was, 10 be built. they thought
that they were upon solid rock bottom,
hut in reality It was only a shell OF rock
about eighteen inches or two feet thick
with Dirt and sand beneath It. The pier
was built all securely. the big spans were
put up and the bridge was nearly fin
ished. being one hundred and hfty-seven
feet above the river. which at this point
was forty feet deep
BRIDGE NEARLY COMPLETED.
"'rhe day of the accident the work Of
building was almost finished. ANA the
men were about 90 b. called OF and thc
railroad men sent on TO lay the rails
when without moments marnng the
central pier dropped down as though
a hole had been made In The earth' ana
The TWO immense spans. one hundred ana
forty-three tons Of iron. were hnrlen
from that dizzy height into the water
below. which as il was just below the
lower rapid was running al the rate 81
fourteen miles an hour
before ! hardly knew what had hap
nened / was being carried TO the bottom
o, the river by a huge iron order which
nInioned both Of my legs ia the bottom.
I easily freed my right foot, hut found
that "a took an my strength 10 pun my
left leg from the iron grasp OF the girdef.
This. however. / succeeded In dolag'
then started to rise toward the surface
hui al almost every foot J would STRIKE
against some portion OF the bridge work
ana q was almost Ike crawling through
a network Of iron ~
Il succeeded, however. in ee'H"s
through and rose 20 the top Inc ouireh.
vas SO sw., that ! was borne Gown ,h'
stream and I swan as best couio w
ward the shore. which ! reached "i'e'
swimming about ninety reel
when 1 reached the shore had no iaea
,,.t 7 was injured. although ! was aware
mai my clothing bad been stripped from
M. in my pagsare 20 the surface 'n
...cb,ng the river bank ! tried 20 stand,
-, found that ID was impossible sd
drew myself mp with my left arm ana
laid there until / Was found about Two
ho,irs after the occurrence by parry 81
rescuers.
RADIY BROKEN UP.
eel, NOS al once removed 90 q hospital
Ns,e a. was discovered that I was torn
IA pieces. My left lex. which ! had had
.nch trouble IN getting from under ihe
srder. Was 80 badly crushed mat ne phy-
Ici,ns were forced 20 ampulate Il below
tho knee Afy right lex was broken NJ TWO
,lsces between the knee and hip, ana the
,,usoies Torn away below the knee MY
risbt arm was broken between ting elbow
and shoulder and the shoulder itself was
broken. . -. ,.s,,
oPesides those broAep bones my hesh
had been badly torn ana laceraled ~ 'he
.harp iron, and 1 now have hity-eishi
stitches IN my body
If remalrad in the hospital apoe1 seven
months and at the end OF mat time vas
fortunate enough TO leave II win me ex'
eetion OF my lefl leg ami the muscles ~
nv right calf No.
There were slxty-four men working
,boui the bridge az the time u this awiui
catastrophe. and OF these fofty-seyen We're
kled Those who were rescued were pick
81 up on floating timbers by boats down
the river. hut none escaped whole.
"A suit was entered by my friends
against the railroad company through me
bridge company and verdict OF Sla'o0
was given al the trial. but new trial was
granted. which has not as yet COME up.
bloxon has an open. honest c0nntenanre
ard favorably impresses those who meet
him. lie has a friead who Is a. work on
the Chesapeake and Ohio bridge now being
erected IN James river. who called at the