Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-21
LONG BRIDGE OPEN
REPAIRS QUICKLY MADE AND
TRAFFIC RESUMED.
Search Being Made for Body Of Missing
Man-Closing Of the
Channel.

The Long bridge Is again in working or
der and teams are able to cross the river
between this city and the Virginia shore
All the trains and Alexandria electric cars
are crossing the bridge on schedule time.
At the time the break in the draw occurred
1t was thought that traffic would not be
resumed for a week. and railroad officials
and others were surprised at the great
amount Of work that was accomplished in
SO short a time.
Harbormaster Sutton was about the VI
entity of the bridge this morning with his
crew, and an effort was made to recover
the body of Richard Eckart, the only man
who Is known to be missing, although 1t Is
thought that two or three tramps may also
have lost their lives at the time of the ac-
cident. Only the hat of Eckart, who was
assistant to the engineer in charge of the
draw, has been found. The crew of the
police boat, who made an effort to drag
for the body, found the task a difficult one
ON account of the amount of wreckage in
the river. Arrangements were made to
have Capt. Winters, the diver in the en-
ploy of the railroad company, go down this
afternoon and search for the body.
George A. Stanton. thirty-three years liv-
ing at S14 East Preston street, Baltimore,
employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company on the Long bridge, suffered a
fracture of his right leg while at work on
the bridge last night. He was taken to the
Emergency Hospital for treatment.
Opened for Traffic.
Mr.. Joseph Crawford, general agent of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, notified
Commissioner Mcfarland this morning that
the driveway of the Long bridge was open
ed for traffic at o'clock this morning. He
also asked that HarbormaSter Sutton be di-
rected to aid in facilitating the movement of
traffic under the Long bridge, so as to pre-
vent confusion and possible collision while
the repairs are being made.
Harbormaster Sutton has had the Vigilant
at the scene much of the time, and has been
working hard to recover the lost bodies sup
posed to be under the wreck.
Commissioner Mcfarland will direct that
the harbOrmaster give special attention to
the traffic under the Long bridge while the
extraordinary conditions last.
The Closing Of Navigation.
The attitude Of the War Department with
respect to the temporary closing of the Vir-
Einia channel of the Potomac at the Long
bridge is indicated in letter written by
General Oliver acting secretary of war. to
the attorneys representing the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. He acknowledged the
receipt of the letter of the attorneys dated
the 18th instant, requesting on behalf OF the
railroad company permission to Temperate
ly obstruct the navigable channel Of the
Potomac river where it passes under the
Long bridge, for the purpose OF making re-
pairs to the bridge, portion of which col
lapsed on the night Of October 49,"
Replying thereto Acting Secretary Oliver
informed the attorneys that while the Sec
rotary Of War has no authority to authorize
the closing to navigation of a navigable
stream the department will interpose no
objection to the erection of false work as
proposed, for such reasonable time as m y
be absolutely necessary for the repair Of
the bridge as contemplated, 1t being under
stood that the railroad company will be La
BILE for any damages that may be inflicted
upon private parties by reason of the pro-
posed work, and that it will cause due no
tice of the closure to be given in the public
press and by letter to private shippers"