Millville, MA Bridge Fire, May 1896

TWO BRIDGES DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Narrow Escape of a Freight Train on a Massachusetts Railroad.

WOONSOCKET, R. I., May 10.----Two adjoining bridges across the Blackstone River about one mile south of Millville, Mass., on the main line of the New-England and Worcester Division of the New-York, New-Haven and Hartford Railroad, were burned early this morning. The structures were each about 120 feet long, and cost about $16,000. A steel bridge across the highway on the New-England Road was saved by the Blackstone fire engines.

On the New-Haven Road passengers were transferred by wagons to-day, but temporary bridges will be ready to-morrow. The New-England bridge will not be ready for several days. Trains on that road to-day ran via East Thompson, Pascoag, and Woonsocket. On the New-England Road a Millville citizen, with timely forethought, took a signal light off a switch and with it stopped an approaching freight train.

The origin of the fires is not known. The total loss to the railroads will be nearly $50,000. The fire communicated to the adjoining woodland, burning over a large tract.

The New York Times, New York, NY 11 May 1896
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!