Silver Bridge

*SILVER BRIDGE/Night to Remember*
Hi, Bill & Steamboating colleagues,
You bet I remember December 16, 1967 and the SILVER BRIDGE disaster, Pt. Pleasant, WV. I'd graduated from University of Cincinnati, June, 1966 and had been at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, North Carolina already nearly a year. Christmas leave was granted for two weeks with me setting out for the trip back to Cincinnati in my trusty little blue CHEV NOVA. It was long haul driving back then with many of the present interstate highways not yet built with an easy 15 hour trip. Progressing north, the weather turned colder dark and dreary with snow on the ground very similar to yesterday and today here.

With relatives living in Pt. Pleasant, mother and dad assumed I possibly would stop for a quick visit and dinner. I scratched that plan intending to cross the river on the SILVER BRIDGE continuing on the Ohio side to Cincinnati. Approaching Pt. Pleasant about 8:00 PM that night, all traffic was stopped on the highway approach with bright lights flashing up ahead and the closest bridge tower visible. Other bright spot lights were flashing back and forth in the night as if seeking something. The National Guard was called out with road blocks. I assumed a bad accident or a tractor trailer truck possibly blocking the highway. In those days even on military leave you were expected to travel in uniform. Two guardsmen approached with me turning off the ignition, getting out. "The bridge collasped eariler and you can't go beyond here. Where are you headed?" one asked as I automatically showed them my ID and leave papers. That's the way it was then. "You'll have to detour if you can down to Huntington, Ashand and cross over to Porstmouth on the Ohio side." No easy drive with the dark river road being what it was then. It was incongruous seeing the errie rescue lights up at the bridge site contrasted with the festive Christmas tree lights and decoration in the houses nearby. My car radio, as it was, totally devoted to the tragedy as I drove on down and into Cincinnati.

I wheeled in our drive at home about midnight with every light inside and spots outside on seeing my parents looking out, pacing back and forth. In retrospect those 'ifs, ands, maybes' entered my mind wondering what would have happend had I reaced Pt. Pleasant earlier to cross the bridge. Capt. Fred Way wrote one of his finest ever on the SILVER BRIDGE disaster for the sage S&D REFLECTOR still a classic today.

The SILVER BRIDGE accident in time linked to the weakness in the steel 'I bars' used in construction. Another similiar 'I bar' bridge in Pittsburgh was later examined, closed and rebuilt. A number of us then and today recall the way the SILVER BRIDGE would bounce and shake with heavy traffic going both ways in an alarming way at least to me. Witnesses recalled the bridge producing a loud BOOM when the structure failed with all falling in the river with immense roar--then absolute dead quiet. The errie spectacle was thousands of swallows, sparrows, pigeons flying around and around in circles looking for their roosting spots in the bridge structure. Has it really been forty-six years? Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cioncinnati.

Although I didn't live in Ohio at the time of the tragedy my "second home" was Gallipolis and I had many relatives there. -(still do) - I heard the sad news on the CBS TV Evening News and of course was very concerned that some of them might have been on the bridge. Fortunately, none were. I had crossed that bridge may times in my youth while visiting in that area.

I don't recall whether I heard about the bridge collapse on the NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report or through Life magazine, but I remember hearing of it shortly after it happened. The river museum at Point Pleasant has a model and display commemorating the Silver Bridge.

*RE: SILVER BRIDGE scale model*
Hi, Lee Ann & Steamboating colleagues:
Yes, the SILVER BRIDGE disaster received wide coverage here and abroad at the time. In fact, the collapse one of the first leading to cities, states carefully examining their own structures for evidence of weaknesses, age, or faulty engineering. One of the issues in the investigation pointed to the increasing traffic and weight of cars, buses and trucks possibly beyond the original stress calculations. In short, the 'I bars' were the weakest part of the structure. When I posted above earlier how the SILVER BRIDGE shook and 'bounced' was not my own observations I noticed the first time going over and back. Other bridges with supporting elements secured by huge bolts spun on over threaded ends also suspect as the bolts, under weight/stress, can shear off. This but a portent of what we have seen in later years with bridges failing.

Capt. Bill Judd, Keith Norrington and others here remember the Caprenters who were members of S&D ages ago. I 'think' the SILVER BRIDGE could have been then one of those privately built and owned--but not sure after all these years. Seems to me the Carpenters were big players originally in the building of the bridge with it, no doubt, later coming under state ownership. I'm sure Bill Judd remembers some of the towboats on the river and their crews who came promptly to help fish out possible survivors. From my experience close to the bridge that night, it was one awesome spectacle I'll never forget with all those bright spot lights playing back and forth over the river and the bridge tower closest to the shore--not to mention all those displaced birds flying around even in the dark frantically looking for their roosting spots. Driving upon the scene some hours after was still too close a call I later realized. *Bill, am I correct or wrong in that the DELTA QUEEN was on the river about that time headed for her periodic hull checking at DRAVO? Heck, I can't remember all of it.

Somebody asked me this week also about the legendary, mystical 'Moth Man' of malevolence and long legend in the Ohio River valley playing a part in it as he is reputed to have done in a number of other incidents and disasters. But that's another story briefly discussed on this site more than a few years ago. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Moth Man, Dale brings this facet of the SILVER BRIDGE tragedy to center stage. The Moth Man had appeared to several people in the Pt. Pleasant area to warn of the impending disaster. Several interesting books have been written on the Moth Man. Several very reliable river captains from that area believed in the story. I was having dinner the other night with my fellow S&D Board member, Taylor Abbott, and during a discussion on the subject, Taylor said, " I just saw the Moth Man several weeks ago". I was stunned then realized Taylor was referring to the statue in Pt. Pleasant. At least Pt. Pleasant used the tale to create a big week long festival, held every year.

*'Moth Man legends/SILVER BRIDGE*
Steamboating colleagues,
First, a disclaimer noting that the above and this posting "not pure steamboats" with a hint to possibly move over to...well. I tentatively teased in my posting referencing the purported 'Moth Man' relating to other events over the years hearing people, "Oh, no! Not that again!" Some years back a rather 'B grade' Hollywood movie appeared with the Moth Man and the SILVER BRIDGE tragedy with lots of high drama, local color and a splash of romance. The movie portrayal had the bridge taking longer to fall down than the sinking of the TITANIC. Not that way with the bridge coming down with a BOOM in an all-or-nothing instant.

Books, web sites reference the Moth Man noted as far back as the Native American Indians and then the westward migrating settlers from the 1780s on. Concidence in tandem with mystery, magic and superstition can at times counter scientific knowledge and evidence. Yet there are many who swear and believe in it. In many oral traditions "a kernel of truth runs through it." Family friends in England and Australia know about the Moth Man asking questions.

The world over strange sightings from Big Foot, Loch Ness Monster, Scandinavian sightings of animal men, little elves in Ireland, India's belief in Pookah Sabhs--little creatures who can disappear in mountains, UFO men [i.e. We all know what we saw.] to even angels appear time and again. Also 'magnetic fields' in the earth near ancient ruins, burial sites, Bermuda Triangle, 'divining rods.' A number of old time steamboat men have also commented on certain sightings and similar mysteries. Who am I to doubt or judge? Again, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Yesterday I was searching for something else on the internet and happened upon a book about the Silver Bridge. It's one of those Images of America series books. Here is a link for those interested:
The Silver Bridge Disaster of 1967 (Images of America): Stephan G. Bullard, Bridget J. Gromek, Martha Fout, Ruth Fout, the Point Pleasant River Museum: 9780738592787: Amazon.com: Books