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THE ROCK RIVER
TRUESDELL / TRUSDALE BRIDGE COLLAPSE 1873
The Dixon (Trusdale Bridge) on the day of its dedication
Contributed by Karen Holt - History of Lee County Illinois by Frank E. Stevens Vol 1 published 1914
At Dixon, Illinois, on the afternoon of May 4, 1873 , a group of New Baptist Converts being baptized at a point in Rock River, just below the 'Truesdale Bridge', about 200 (on page 2 column 1 the same article says 100 people) persons, including women and children, gathered on the iron bridge to witness the ceremony, when without warning, the bridge collapsed.
Some of those near the edge were able to reach the banks but by 6 p.m., 32 dead bodies were taken from the river. It is believed that others are under the wreck of the bridge. Twenty four rescued alive, but more or less injured, some fatally.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded:
Killed 43 People
| Mrs. Peter Carney |
Miss Melissie Wilhelm of Wachuass |
| Miss Katy Sterling |
Mrs. Dr. Hoffman |
| Miss Maggie O'Brien |
Miss Nettie Hill |
| Miss Ida Vann (or Vaun) |
Miss Ida Drew |
| Miss Agnes Nixon |
Miss Bessie Rayne |
Miss Irene Baker
& little dau. of J.R. Dana (or Dans) |
George W. Kent |
| Mrs. J.W. Laty |
Mrs. Col. H.T. Noble |
| Clara Stackpole |
Ross Stackpole |
| Mrs. Benjamin Gilman |
Mrs. Carpenter |
| Miss Emily Deming |
J.R. Mason |
| Mrs. Wm. Cook |
Mrs. Robert Dyke |
| Mrs. Merriman |
Mrs. Peterberger & daughter |
| Thomas Haley |
Mrs. C.W. Kentner |
| Mrs. Thomas Wade |
Mrs. James Goble |
| Mrs. Mary Sullivan |
Miss Catherine F... |
| Mrs. Elias Hope |
Mrs. E. Wallace |
| Mrs. Hillman (or Sillman) |
Frank Hamilton |
| Mrs. Hendri.. & children |
Elizabeth Mackey |
| Mrs. ..... |
...? Alexander |
Wounded
| Mrs. Daniel Che...? |
...H. Whitman |
| Chas. Murry |
Mrs. ...Worm |
| .... Camp |
Mrs. Wilcox |
| Mrs. Wm. Stevens |
Miss Addie Cluei? |
| Mrs. E.B. Baker |
Mrs. Dr. Smith |
| Mrs. Page |
Mrs. Marsh |
| Miss Marion Thacker |
Mrs. John Moore |
B.F. Burr's
daughter Eliza Cuddington |
Mrs. Edgerton |
| Dr. Hoffman |
Miss Hazenping |
Reports up to May 6th, place the number of bodies recovered at fourty-eight, with thirty wounded and eight missing, supposed to be under the wreck. An attempt was made to raise the fallen bridge but it proved abortive, the powerful machinery breaking the rotten structure, but not raising it sufficiently to allow the bodies that are supposed to be under the ruins to be recovered.
(Blank spots where damage to paper prior to filming)
Contributed by Barbara Ziegenmeyer our Genealogy Trails Cumberland Co IL Co-ordinator
From the Cumberland Democrat, Friday May 16, 1873 film #1440441
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