Episodes Located: ASHTABULA, Ohio in the 1870's

  1. Ashtabula Bridge Disaster as told by J.E. Burchell, a Survivor
    date December 29, 1876map ASHTABULA, Ohiotags Government, Law, Migration/Transportation, Science/Technology

    On December 29, 1876 Mr. J. E. Burchell was traveling on the Pacific Express train headed toward Chicago during a heavy snow storm. As the first engine, "Socrates" crossed the two hundred foot bridge, the iron trusses broke, causing the bridge to collapse. His eye-witness account describes the accident as the second engine and eleven cars were tipped into the creek seventy feet below and the wood...