Pecos, TX Railroad Trestle Under Construction Collapses, Dec 1882

THE BRIDGE ACCIDENT AT PECOS.

San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 13 -- Further particulars of the bridge accident at Pecos show that at 7 o'clock Tuesday morning the false work of the bridge across the great dry canon[sic], four miles west of the Pecos River, on the Sunset Road, and three-quarters of a mile from the end of the Southern Pacific track, fell in a solid mass, precipitating 19 workmen a distance of 75 feet on the rocks below. Seven men were killed outright, one has since died, and there is but little hope for the recovery of three others. The false work has been erected some time, and the weight of the material brought upon it for the permanent bridge is supposed to have been too great for it to bear, causing it to give way over the deep gorge having almost perpendicular cliffs. The length of the bridge was 200 feet. The bodies of those killed have been buried in an adjacent cave, and two physicians are caring for the wounded. The disaster will delay the completion of the bridge perhaps 60 days.

The New York Times New York 1882-12-14
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!