Upwards of 100 Lives Lost
On Friday, an accident of a most frightful nature occurred at Yarmouth, which has plunged many families into the deepest distress. It appears that the clown of the circus was about to take his benefit, and that, in order to draw the public to the circus, he adopted the same thing as the late Mr. Usher did here, in London, viz., being drawn upon the river by geese. Upon the occasion, some hundreds of people had congregated upon the suspension bridge, when suddenly an awful crash took place, and all were precipitated into the water. Up to nine o’clock on Friday night, 57 lifeless bodies had been taken up
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
NORWICH, FRIDAY EVENING, EIGHT O’CLOCK.—The most awful excitement pervades this city. A most dreadful accident has occurred at Yarmouth. A clown, belonging to the circus now at Yarmouth, announced the performance of being drawn by four geese in the North River. The suspension bridge crosses the river, and about 518 people were on the bridge, when, horrible to relate, between five and six o’clock the bridge fell in. It is reported that from 100 to 150 persons perished. The utmost consternation exists here; special trains have started; the telegraph is beset by hundreds anxious to obtain news of relatives and friends. The report is, that already fifty-three persons have been picked out dead. It is thought many more are still in the river.
LATEST PARTICULARS, BY EXPRESS.
[FROM OUR OWN REPORTER ]
YARMOUTH, SATURDAY MORNING.
From the time the fatal occurrence took place, until the hour at which the express left the town, the excitement had not in the least abated. Hundreds continued to arrive at the water’s edge, to endeavour, if possible, to gain tidings of their relatives, numbers of whom were not found, although the exertions of the boatmen and those on the river had been most strenuous to discover, if possible, the exact number of those that had lost their lives. Although no true number can yet be ascertained, we lament to relate that it is now known that above 100 persons have met with a watery grave. To correctly describe the scene would be impossible, but after giving a description of the bridge, we will give an account of the accident, as related by an eye-witness.
The bridge in question is on the suspension principle, crossing the river Ware, near the Vauxhall Gardens, Yarmouth. The river at this part is about 50 feet in width and 14 deep; at a short distance from the banks are two stone pillars, supporting the chains to which the passage-way of the bridge is attached, at an altitude of about 20 feet from the river; at a short distance from this bridge is an old wooden one, but the authorities of the town, not deeming it safe to hold the numbers that were expected, had given orders that none should be admitted on it; and the report current is, that the proprietors of the suspension bridge had charged one penny a-head. The person who related this to our reporter states, that at about half-pest five, there could not have been fewer than between 400 and 500 persons on the bridge, the most of whom were women and children There were also some hundreds on the banks.
At this moment, without the least intimation, the suspending chains on that side of the bridge next the sea snapped asunder, a terrific crash followed, and the passage way swung down, upsetting all on it into the water below. As it remained suspended in a slanting position, some few tried to cling to it, but as the frail support beneath it speedily gave way, they were precipitated into the water with their unhappy companions. The screams of the unfortunate sufferers, aided by the shrieks of those on the banks who had witnessed the catastrophe, were truly terrific.
Hundreds came rushing from the town, which is hard by; women without bonnets frantically calling on their children; children in the water clinging to the parents that had accompanied them. Boats were on the spot in a moment, but the aid of the boatmen was to a great degree frustrated by the wretched sufferers, who all fought and struggled with each other, to be the first released from their peril. As fast as those conveyed on shore were recognized by their friends, they were conveyed, some dead and some dying, to their homes; others were carried by the bystanders to the Norfolk Arms, on the one bank, and the Vauxhall Gardens on the other, where medical aid was speedily on the spot, and every assistance rendered, which in many instances proved availing, but numbers expired before they were got there.
At one time there were no less than fifty-three at the Norfolk Arms, and whilst Dr. Hodgkin was rendering them assistance, a most affecting incident took place. A fine lad, a son of that gentleman, was brought in and laid amongst a heap of those to whom medical aid had not been administered—when some one remarked to him that his own son was then there, and required his aid. Not being aware that he had been on the bridge, the intelligence almost overcame him, but he instantly applied the proper remedies, and, to the unspeakable joy of all that witnessed it, the lad recovered.
During the whole of the evening, parents who had missed their children, and children who had missed their parents, continued to arrive at the place where the dead had been taken, to see if their relatives were amongst the list of the unfortunate sufferers. Nothing but wailing was heard in the town, and the deepest gloom pervades every one. The melancholy tidings spread most rapidly, and at every place the stage stopped at, numbers were is readiness to learn the most correct account of the lamentable accident.
One gentleman, a captain in the army, was on the bridge at the time it gave way, in company with his wife, son, and daughter—a fine grown girl. When the bridge gave way they were all precipitated into the river. He, however, managed to rescue his daughter, and was about to return to the rescue of his wife and son, when they had disappeared. In a state almost bordering on distraction, he was about to throw himself into the water, and was only prevented by the bystanders.—To expect anything like a truly accurate report until the judicial investigation takes place would be useless. We understand it will be held before the coroner of the county, on Monday, by which time it is expected that a pretty correct account of the missing persons will be obtained.
The articles of clothing of all sorts that were picked up would have alone filled several carts. Bonnets, hats and shawls were washed on shore at all parts of the river, and some bodies were found at a distance from the fatal spot. Some particulars involving the bridge proprietors, it is anticipated, will come out on the inquest, as it was stated to our reporter that it had been deemed unsafe years ago.
Not the least blame is to be attached to the proprietor of the circus, who is highly respected in the town. When the lamentable circumstance was made known to him, he gave positive orders that no performance should take place that evening, and it was also closed this night, Saturday.
Lloyds Weekly Newspaper, London, England, May 4, 1845