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Show (By W. U. Telegraph.) tekriulh: accident. Dixon, 111., 4. A terrible accident involving terrible loss of life occurred here this afternoon. The rite of baptism bap-tism was being administered to a number num-ber of recont converts to 6oe of the Baptist ohurohes hero, at a point in Rook rivor just below the trestle iron bride; about two hunderd peraonB including in-cluding many ladies and a number of ohildren, had gathered on the bridgo to witness the ceremony when suddenly, sud-denly, without warning, the bridgo gavo way and peroi pita ted its living freight into tho river bolow. The soene which onsued was indescribably terrible as the struggling victimB vainly endeavored to free themselves from the ruins of tho bridge and from each other. Large crowds of people on the banks rushed wildly to and fro, many of them so distracted as to be unable to render any assistance. Others more self-possessed speedily brought ropes, planks and boats and went nobly tc work to rescue the living and reoovci the dead. Some of thorn were so neai tho ends of tho bridge when it fell that they were able to reach the bank with out assistance, while others were fortunately fortu-nately in reach of those on shore; bul up to 6 p.m. thirty dead bodies hac been taken from the river. It is almos certain that thero are others still undei the wreck of the bridge. Twenty-foui were rescued alive but more or less in jurcd, some fatally. Dixon, III., midnight. Up to thi hour no oth.r bodtes of the victims o the disaster have been recovered a this point, but several are reportei picked up at Sterling, sis miles bolow and doubtless the swift aurrent ha borne others even further down the river. Tho general estimate of the number lost is from 90 to 100. It was stated in previous dispatches that 32 bodies were recovered from the wreck before dark. Five other bodies floated down past those engaged at the wreck, and have not yet been reoovered. There are therefore supposed to be at least 50 bodies still not lound. Most of them, it is thought, are under the wreok of the bridge. The bridge was of iron, of tho Truesdcll pattern, and had five spans, elevated about 20 feet abovo the water, which at this point is from 15 to 20 feet deep. Only two spans, the end spans, fell. The three middle spans are still standing, but in such a condition that it is thought they will fall when the wreck of tho end spans is eleared away. Dixon, 5. The following are further pattioulars of the appalling calamity: ca-lamity: One span of tho bridge, which was five hundred feet long, gavo way, and about two hundred peraoDS were pre-oipitated pre-oipitated twenty feet into the river, which is about six feet deep. Tho scene which followed baffles description. descrip-tion. Tho most frantic efforts were made by those on Bhore to rescue the drowning victims, some of whom wore drawn out by the hair or limbs. Up to six o'clock to-day forty-one had been taken out dead, and many more are badly injured by the falling timbers. Fifteen or twenty are still missing. The whole city is thrown into mourning mourn-ing by the calamity. As tho bodios were reoovered and persons in the dense orowd learned of the death or injury of relatives and friends the scene was heartrending. Tho river has a rocky bottom, and many were doubtless stunned by striking against the rocks. The water was almost icy cold, and swimmers soon chilled; they could not reach the shore. The bridge is of the same kind as tho one that broke down at Elgin on New Year's day, 1866. |