| From the Richmond Enquirer |
| |
| June 30, 1863 |
| |
| Accident on the
{Richmond &} Petersburg Railroad |
| The heavy climbing locomotive,
"Joseph R. Anderson," which has been used during the war upon the
temporary track between the Petersburg and Fredericksburg Depots, was
being run over to Petersburg yesterday morning, when, upon crossing the
Swift creek bridge, two miles and a half from that city, the structure
gave way and it was precipitated below. The Swift creek bridge was about
ninety feet long and forty feet high. The engineer and two negro hands
went down with the engine; one of the negroes was seriously and the
other slightly hurt, and the engineer slightly wounded by a cut across
the side of the neck. The locomotive, whose weight is about forty-five
tons {locomotive and tender combined weight},
sunk beneath the water into the bed of the stream, leaving only the
smoke-stack visible. This bridge was accounted strong and perfectly
safe. It is well that it has proven the contrary at such an opportune
moment, and at such a comparatively trifling sacrifice. |
| The bridge will soon be
repaired and strengthened, and the engine recovered in good time. |
|