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CARMINE PIZZOGALLO
[Welland Telegraph July 30, 1903]
Fell off the Bridge
A sad drowning accident occurred last Saturday night about 930, when one of the Italian residents of the town walked off the western approach of the bridge, which was open, and was drowned. The young fellow’s name was Carmine Pizzogallo, and he has been employed at Reeb’s lime kiln for two months past.
Recently he sent money in a letter to his father to pay the latter’s passage to America. On Saturday he received a letter stating that his father would come and that he would follow the letter in about two weeks. The young man, who lives in the big tenament on the east side of the canal, took the letter in and read it to his countrymen, who are living in the stone house on the west end of the bridge. He came out with his head down and evidently in deep thought he walked past the lantern which was standing in the centre of the approaches and went over. He struck flat upon the water, and as the drop is about 15 feet he probably was stunned. The bridge tenders heard the splash, and though there was no cry, they surmised what had happened and shouted to those on the west side to get a pike pole. They did, but nothing could be seen of the man.
The steamer W.L. Frost, which was passing through at the time, stopped her wheel. When the bridge closed several boats and grappling irons were procured and about half an hour later Mr H. Babion hooked the drowned man. He was taken out at the ferry landing. His countrymen took charge of him and the funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, Rev Father Trayling conducting services. The interment was in the R.C. cemetery. The drowning accident leads to the enquiry of why chains are not placed across the approaches when the bridge is opened. It would take little time to place them, and they would be a great protection to life.
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