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ELK CREEK
Elk Creek
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T16S-R6W-Sec32
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1912 - ____
February 14, 1912: "John Gould, driver for the Southern Pacific company, was slightly injured and one of his horses killed when the county bridge across Elk creek, at the mouth of Noti creek, broke down this morning about 9:30 o'clock.
Gould started across the bridge with a light load of only about 1200 pounds in the wagon, which was drawn by four horses, and when the outfit reached about the center of the bridge it fell without warning to the bottom of the gulch, fifteen feet below. The crash was heard by a number of people living in that vicinity, and they ran to ascertain the cause. They found the horses struggling wildly among the wreckage trying to free themselves, and saw Gould lying beneath some of the timbers. It was first thought he had been killed, but when they reached him he seemed apparently unhurt although when extricated it was found that one of his feet was hurt and one arm wrenched. It was almost a miraculous escape from death. After the horses has been untangled from their harness and the bridge timbers it was found that one of them was dead, but the others were practically uninjured.
Gould went to the home of W.W. Sailor nearby and Mr. Sailor started for Eugene this afternoon about four o'clock with him to have his injures attended to by a physician.
Word of the accident was conveyed to the county commissioners' court by telephone this afternoon and the members of that body at once took steps to inquire into if and to rebuild the bridge.
Since the Southern Pacific company began work on the tunnel beyond Elk creek bridge last fall some very heavy loads have been hauled over the structure, causing it to weaken." (The Eugene Guard)
Gould started across the bridge with a light load of only about 1200 pounds in the wagon, which was drawn by four horses, and when the outfit reached about the center of the bridge it fell without warning to the bottom of the gulch, fifteen feet below. The crash was heard by a number of people living in that vicinity, and they ran to ascertain the cause. They found the horses struggling wildly among the wreckage trying to free themselves, and saw Gould lying beneath some of the timbers. It was first thought he had been killed, but when they reached him he seemed apparently unhurt although when extricated it was found that one of his feet was hurt and one arm wrenched. It was almost a miraculous escape from death. After the horses has been untangled from their harness and the bridge timbers it was found that one of them was dead, but the others were practically uninjured.
Gould went to the home of W.W. Sailor nearby and Mr. Sailor started for Eugene this afternoon about four o'clock with him to have his injures attended to by a physician.
Word of the accident was conveyed to the county commissioners' court by telephone this afternoon and the members of that body at once took steps to inquire into if and to rebuild the bridge.
Since the Southern Pacific company began work on the tunnel beyond Elk creek bridge last fall some very heavy loads have been hauled over the structure, causing it to weaken." (The Eugene Guard)
February 15, 1912: "County Commissioner Price and L.N. Roney left this morning for the scene of the wreck of the Elk creek bridge with a view to rebuilding the structure at once. It was about forty feet long and appeared to be strong, but undoubtedly there was a weak spot somewhere." (The Eugene Guard)
February 17, 1912: "County Commissioner H.M. Price and L.N. Roney returned from their trip to the collapsed bridge at the mouth of Elk creek at the Noti pass at 8:00 o'clock Thursday evening, after a long hard drive. They ordered the timbers at once and the bridge will be rebuilt by Mr. Roney as soon as the material is on the ground. Meanwhile Mr. Chittenton, who has charge of the supplies for 300 men and 50 head of horses at and about the tunnel, has made the most of the situation and is doing the best he can. He has had his men cut down a large fir tree more than three feet in diameter, so that it fell squarely across the stream. This tree was trimmed up and with adzes the top of it squared off and boards nailed on for a floor with a temporary railing. Loading wagons are driven up to the improvised bridge from Eugene and the provisions for both men and horses are carried over by men and loaded onto wagons waiting on the other side which take the provender to camp.
Mr. Crittenton says it is an expensive way to get in supplies, but he is not impatient over the mishap but is anxious to get the new bridge in as soon as possible.
Mr. Price says there has been much too heavy loads taken over the bridge without its having been strengthened, Some pieces of machinery weighing 8500 pounds were hauled across it and all the heavy machinery for the Elmira sawmill and it is a wonder it did not collapse before it did. It was a 60-foot span bridge without a cover. And having been built for six or eight years, the wood where the iron rods which supported the trusses had rotted to some extent and could not stand the heavy strain day after day." (Morning Register)
February 28, 1912: "Mr. and Mrs. F.P. Gossat were in town today from their farm near Elmira. They report that the Elk creek bridge which broke down under a load a short time ago is being rapidly rebuilt and will be ready for use in a week or so." (The Eugene Guard)
March 3, 1912: "L.N. Roney reports the sawed timbers and lumber for the construction of the Elk Creek bridge on the ground and as soon as the large hewed chords are on the ground the work will commence. He expects to start early this week if the weather is at all suitable." (Morning Register)
March 8, 1912: "L.N. Roney and force of bridge carpenters are out at the Elk creek bridge site rebuilding the bridge that fell with a loaded wagon several weeks ago." (The Eugene Guard)
March 9, 1912: "L.N. Roney and his force of bridge carpenters are busy rebuilding the bridge across the mouth of Elk Creek, needed so much by the freighters to the Noti tunnel." (Morning Register)
March 12, 1912: "L.N. Roney is home from his work on the Elk creek bridge and he and his wife will go with the crowd to San Francisco this afternoon. He says his men can finish the bridge by Wednesday evening, but it will not be covered until later, when some work on the Lake creek bridge will be fixed up at the same time." (Morning Register)
March 17, 1912: "Fred Taylor, foreman for L.N. Roney, with other members of the bridge crew, came in from the mouth of Elk creek on the Noti yesterday and report the collapsed bridge entirely rebuilt and much stronger than it was when first built. It will not be covered until later in the summer. The new bridge is a 76-foot span and the bridge proper was really completed on Thursday, but Commissioner Price came along and examined the approaches and found the timbers rotted and he ordered them rebuilt also, which took the extra time. The men worked all day Friday in the rain to get the structure done. Teams are now crossing back and forth and the work of transporting machinery will commence at once." (Morning Register)
May 25, 1912: "Claiming that he received injuries from which he will never fully recover when the Elk Creek bridge in the vicinity of the Noti tunnel broke down with him on Feb. 4 of this year, John M. Gould seeks to recover from Lane county the sum of $1007 damages.
Suit was brought by Gould in the circuit court today. According to his complaint, he was driving across the bridge with a four-horse wagon, loaded lightly, when the structure gave way and precipitated him and his outfit to the ground below. He claims he suffered great bodily injuries and bruises and a nervous shock, that one of his ankles was badly twisted and sprained, one of his thumbs was badly lacerated and that he will never recover from the injuries. He alleges that he was compelled to remain idle 16 days, losing wages to the amount of $52, that his conveyance to the hospital cost him $5, and that he was damaged to the sum of $950, making a total of $1007 which he seeks to recover. John C. Jenkins is attorney for Gould." (The Eugene Guard)
February 9, 1937: "A portion of the roof of the covered bridge over the Noti creek on the outskirts of Noti village caved in from the weight of the foot or more of wet snow on it some time Monday night, according to word received by the county court Tuesday, and repairs were ordered at once." (The Eugene Guard)