FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT—THREE MEN KILLED.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 539, 1 July 1869, Page 4

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT— THREE MEN KILLED.

A shocking accident happened lately at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, causing the death of three workmen, through the falling of a bridge. Messrs Hopkins, Gilkes, and Co., of Middlesbro', are building an iron bridge of 700 feet in length across the famous glen, along which the Skelton beck runs at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, for Mr J. T. Wharton, of Skelton Castle. The work has been in hand some time, and the whole of the piers — eight in number — which consist of cast-iron columns, were finished some time ago, and four of the girders, which are about 85 feet in length, are fixed, and the flooring completed. On the Monday a strong force of workmen was employed fixing a pair of girders upon two of the piers, which are eight tiers in height, reaching about 130 feet from the ground. Everything appeared to be progressing favorably,- when suddenly one of the girders, from some as yet unexplained cause, slipped from its holding upon the pier, swung to and fro, and then struck against the other pier, smashing the two girders and one of the piers absolutely into scrap iron. Upon the pier which was broken there were three workmen employed. One of them seeing the impending danger, whilst the girder was swinging in midair, jumped to the ground, a distance of some 130 feet, but was overtaken by the falling girders and killed upon the spot. The other two men remained at their dangerous posts, and one of them was killed instantaneously. The other was fearfully injured — in fact, he had to be literally " jacked" out from underneath the debris. The bodies were a sad mangled sight, one man having his head literally smashed to atoms ; the man who breathed a few minutes had both his legs broken. The names of the deceased are George Simpson, James Denny (foreman), and James Miles.