Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-30
IN NORWICH FIFTY YEARS AGO
One Side of Laurel Hill Bridge Colapsed-Ciy Fathers De cided Permanent Water Supply = Wreck New London Northern Railroad.

Fifty years ago in Norwich the truss on the east side of the Laurel Hill bridge fell into the liver On the New London Northern railroad two trains came together in collision. At a meet ing of the common council the Ques- tion of having a permanent water sup
 ply for the city was discussed:
 Extracts from The Bulletins files of '66 follow:
 Dec. 24, 1Sss-One side of the new iron bridge, in process of erection across the Shetucket to Laurel Hill, fell with a terrible crash into the river about three o'clock Saturday afternoon. The part which fell was the truss on the upper or eastern side,
 which was furnished early last week,
 and had been shored up up to hold it until the other side could be com pleted, when the two were to be joined together and the roadway laid be- iron posts and rods about eighteen feet high and the lenghth of the span
 between the abutments. The work men were busy upon the lower side of the bridge, when, without any warn ing, the opposite truss commenced falling outwards, breaking the guys placed to hold it, and turning com pletely over fell into the river below. Fortunately no one was injured by the fall. The accident is beleived to have
 been caused by slipping of one of the props, which pushed the of the truss over,. and the vibration of the | wooden platform upon which it rested finished the mischief.
 The Norwich and Worcester rail- road has declared a semi-annua1 divi- dend of four per cent. free of govern ment taxation, payable January 4th, The annual meeting of the stockhold- CTS for the election of directors will be held Jan. 9th.
 The river was frozen over Saturday so that the City of Norwich only came | to Allyn's Point whence her cargo was sent up by rail.
 Lester Fuller Loses One Finger. Dec. 25, 1866-Lester Fuller, while engaged in repairing the pit track | in the engine house of the Norwich | and Worcester railroad on Saturday sustained a severe injury of the right l hand, which resulted however, in the | loss of but one finger-amputated by l Dr. Warren.
 About g o'clock Monday morning one or the men employed in John Doyles furniture store went to the cellar to draw some shellac for a MT. HiScOX, who accompanied him. While l drawing the fluid into a measure, the gas arising from it took fire from a | lamp and for a few minutes there l was prospect of conf1agration but wet cloths finally put out the flame. Mr HiscoX had his left arm badly burned by the fire and Dr. Warren
 was called upon to dress it.
 The ice in the rivers about here broke up Monday morning, and the preceding rains having carried away all the snow, we shall have a green 1 Christmas today. The ice came down l the Shetucket river about twelve o'clock in considerable quantities and 1 dashed against the iron rods of the ruined truss that reached from the bridge to the rivers bed. but was crushed by it so that no damage was done to the bridge. Dec. 26, 1S66-There was no Bulle- tin printed on this date as the em- | olives of the company did not work
 on the 18th, it being Christmas. Dec. 27, 1S66-The Catholic fair opened brilliantly at the Breed hall last evening. The arrangements of articles is marked by the same good taste that was manifest last year, and the quality and quantity has not been
 excelled at any fair held in the hall
 this year. The hall will be open every
 afternoon and evening for a week, and
 all who desire to contribute toward
 the swelling fund to build an elegant
 church, will have ample opportunity