ANOTHER BRIDGE DISASTER

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 153, 7 September 1880, Page 4

ANOTHER BRIDGE DISASTER

A railway bridge which spans the river Wye, on the Hereford, Hav, and Brecon, gave way on the night of June 17th as a luggage train was crossing it, and the train was precipitated into the water. The engine driver was killed on the spot, ami the stoker received such, serious injuries that it is thought he cannot recover. The guard also had his arm broken. The bridge consisted of three arches, and was about forty feet long and twenty high. The river had been greatly swollen by tlio late continuous rains. Just before the accident a passenger train consisting of two engines and twenty-four well-filled carriages went over the bridge. An inquiry into the, cause.of the disaster was held at Hereford, when it appeared from the evidence that the bridge was periodically examined and no flaw found in it. Colonel Rich said ho thought the fall of the bridge had been caused by the flood water of the Llangoli River undermining the wing and abutment wall, and probably probably also getting at (ho hack of it. The accident: was entirely due to tho exceptional character of else flood. The witness was of opinion that proper supervision and care had been exercised by the officials having charge of the bridge. There was no indication of structural defect and lie believed the bridge to be as sound two hours before the accident as it had been when it was built. The jury returned a verdict that the death of George Parker, the engine-driver, was purely accidental and that no blame was attributable to the railway officials.