A swing type bridge that turns to open and close is what killed George Harper |
From the April 4, 1880 Morning News |
Headline from the Morning News on November 7, 1885 |
November 6, 1885 started as just another busy day on the
river. At about 11:40AM George Harper was crossing the Christiana River at
Third Street when a tugboat whistled for the bridge to open. Harper had been
standing on the north edge of the bridge watching some workmen installing a
telephone wire and didn't notice the tug nor the movement of the bridge which
started rotating to swing open for the tug. Harper was struck by a large steel
roller that knocked him to the ground and began crushing his body. By the time
the bridge tender heard his shrieks and stopped the motion of the bridge the
entire lower portion of his body was "flattened to a thickness of two to
two and a half inches."
Amazingly, this did not kill him, two men came to his aid and held hold his
limp body as the bridge was backed off of Harper's flattened lower body. After
a few minutes Harper regained consciousness and was able to tell the men his
name and address. A nearby wagon was used to take Harper to 615 West
Front Street where he lived with his brother. Doctor John P. Wales was summoned to tend to him but there was
nothing that could be done to help the flattened Harper. Harper was fully
conscious and aware through the afternoon but soon began vomiting blood and at
6:30PM he died quietly in his home. He was 32 and single. George Harper was buried at Mt. Salem Cemetery and Almost Forgotten.
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