Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-08
FOUR BRIDGES
CARRIED AWAY
SANTA FE AND SALT LAKE
ROADS CRIPPLED
Arroyo Seco Becomes Roaring Tor
rent, Changing Its Channel and
Sweeping Fences and Build
ings Before 1t

Running at flood tide. its angry yell
low waves foam capped and swirlins
from bank to bank, the Arroyo Seeo,
fed by the heavy rains from mountains
and foothills is grinding it's path to the
sea, tearing away all distractions to
it's course. Four bridges, numberleSS
fences, outhouses and buildings, a
dozen bulkheads and heavy mattresses
have been taken as toll by the mad
dened stream that but a day-or two ago
was a limpid, purlings brook.
The main line and Glendale branch
bridges on the Salt Lake route, the big
steel and concrete bridge on the main
line of the Santa Fe and the Pasadena
avenue bridge of the Pacific Electric
line were washed out, although the
latter, held by it's cantilever trusses,
was still passable for light cars at mid
night The city bridges at Avenue
Twenty-six and Avenue Forty-three
and the big bridge at Pasadena avenue
were examined and thought to be. dan
gerouS. Danger signals were posted on
them to prevent vehicles passing over.
The big Santa Fe bridge at Avenue
Thirty-five sank beneath it's own weight
and sagged in the center fully eighteen
inches, making it absolutely dangerous
for the passage of trains. This re-
suited in the holding up of the Over
land limited outside of the city and the
transferring of it's passengers to town
by street cars, cabs and automobiles.
Engineer Acts Quickly
One train, a local passenger, which
attempted the passage just before the
arrival of the limited, made it in safety,
but it was wholly owing to the pluck
of the engineer that, with its load of
passengers. it was not carried down
with the bridge into the sWirling waters
below.
The train approached the bridge with
caution for the reason that the crew
had been warned to negotiate. 1t at a
snail like pace. When the big engine
entered on the bridge the fireman gave
a gasp of fear and sprang for the gang
way of the engine. Before. them the
bridge trembled, swayed and sank in
the center. the big concrete. pier going
down into the softeneds bottom of the
arroyo like piIing into a swamp.
The engineer looked ahead and saw
there was but one chance to get the
train across Throwing on a full head
Of steam he whirled the train across
the sagging structure and gained solid
ground The fireman, who had jumped
from the engine to the entrance to the
Salt Lake bridge alongside, ran back
down the track and stopped the big
overland passenger train which was
Immediately behind.
The passengers were all taken to
town on cars and in cabs and car
riages, and later the baggage and the
cars and engine were brought in over
the Southern Pacific transfer.
Salt Lake Bridge Goes
The Salt Lake bridge alongside the
Santa Fe- structure went out under
the tremendous pressure of the water
at about O'Clock, the piling and un-
derpinning being carried downstream
and lodged at various points in the Los
Angeles river. The track was left sus-
pended in the air, being held up by the
rails alone.
The Glendale branch bridge went out
a short time later, all the piling and
abutments being washed out. The
track sank into the water and the CEN
! ter span was soon carried out.
The piling and abutments of the Pa
cific Electric bridge at Pasadena ave-
nue. were washed out entirely, and the
wagon bridge adjoining was adjudged
unsafe.
| The new city bridge at Avenue For