At Dixon, Illinois, on the afternoon of May 4th , 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:

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