Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1916 — LAMPS SAVED THE BRIDGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LAMPS SAVED THE BRIDGE

During the trouble In Mexico It was feared along the frontier that the Mexican desperadoes might destroy American bridges, thereby preventing, or more or less seriously hindering, the effort of the American troops ordered across the border in capturing bloodthirsty Villa. On several occasions bunds of marauders threatened t<> dynamite the bridge of the Southern Pacific railroad, which stretches, a delicate steel thread, across the Pecos river. The Southern Pacific railroad bridge, which is 320 feet in length, spans the lower course-of the Pecos river where it flows into the Rio Grande. The

’ bridge is one of the most important connecting links in the southern branch of the Texas division of the railroad, and Its demolition, a comparatively easy matter, would cause a tremendous loss because of the delay In freight shipments. To forestall the _ plans of a possible Villa dynamite squad, troops were stationed nt regular jxdnts along the roadbed of th*™ river. At several places underneath the bridge, powerful acetylene searchlights were turned on at night. Because of the vigilance of the Nineteenth United States infantry, which was stationed on the bridge, the Mexicans made no attacks. —PopuThr Science Monthly.

The Guarding of Thia Railroad Bridge Across the Pecos River on the Mexican Frontier Was Accomplished by Means of Acetylene Searchlights » located on the Banks Below the Bridge.