The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-29
SWOLLEN RIVERS
MENACE BRIDGES
IN NEW ENGLAND
High Water Marks on Rivers
and Streams Broken
DEATH AT BRATTLEBORO
Man Drowned When Ice Carries Away
Steel Bridge over conneeti-
cut River

Boston, Marcn 9.-SWOllen rivers
caused by the thaw in the northern
hill districts continue to menace
bridges and water front properties In
many cities and towns in New Eng
land.
AT points along the Connecticut
and Merrimack rivers and their tribu
taries it is reported that the water
has reached the highest mark in
years. Several towns in Vermont are
threatened by heavy ice foes.
Brattleboro, March 2S.-The steel
bridge spanning the Connecticut River
in this place was carried from It's
foundations shortly after 10 o'clock
tonight by wafer and ice which reach
ed an unprecedented height. At the
same time. Cornelius Flanagan, la
borer, about rs years old, was carried
to his death under the ice.
The danger to the bridge became
apparent about o'clock and the
bridge was roped off by the night
police under nstruction from the Se-
lectmen. Mr.. Flanagan. who had
lived alone on the Island at the east
end of the bridge since his wife died
several years ago, had been watching
the ice from the Brattleboro side all
the evening and finally decided to go
to his house to move his household
furniture to place of safety. The
crowd demonstrated with him, but he
insisted on going and was about half
way across when the bridge began
to buckle. Realizing his danger, Mr..
Flanagan turned and started back to-
ward the west end of the bridge, but
was unable to reach a place of safety.
Ice began running in the river late
this afternoon. There was d big jam
at East Putney, IL miles north of
here, causing the water and ice to
set back so that the East Putney
meadow embracing about 500 acres
was covered, including the highway.
The jam there moved out about 5
o'clock and it is thought the ice from
thai jam took the bridge from its
foundation. Up to 8 o'clock the ice
was scraping the steel girders, caus-
ing roar which resembled thunder
and attracted hundreds of spectators.
Soon after 9 o'clock, the water had
reached such height that the ice
could not pass under the bridge and
jammed against it. About an hour
later the collapse came.
The bridge buckled in the middle
and fell over on the downstream side
and sank out of sight in about 40 feet
of water. The body of Mr. Flanagan
has not been recovered. The bridge
was erected in 1903 at a cost of $35, 900
1t was built to replace an old wooden
structure, which at one time, was
toll bridge. The abutments of the new
bridge were built several feet higher
than those of the old one and it was
believed at the time that the bridge
forever would be out of danger, but
soon afterward the big dam of the
Connecticut River Power Companys
plant at Vernon, five miles south of
was erected and ever
since then the bridge has been in
danger during the spring floods.
The bridge was owned by the
towns of Brattleboro and Hinsdale.
paying three-fourths Of
the cost and Hinsdale one fourth. The
structure was about 100 feet long and
had a roadway of 25 feet beside sec
ton six feet wide for pedestrians. On
the island is located the Island Park
Pavilion and The baseball grounds.
The island is connectd with the town
of Hinsdale by so foot wooden bridge
which is secure.
The ball grounds are covered with
ice and the pavilion is in danger. At
the Rradley farm tho water came up
two feet in three hours and the fam
ily Of Floyd Proutv was forced to
move ont Of one of tho Bradley farm
hoU SOS.
All he flood gates nj Tho Connect
cut River Power Company's dam arc
wide opea but about niue feet OF wat
ar was flowing over the crest Of tho
lam at 10 o'clock tonight