Lincoln's Greatest Case: The River, the Bridge, and the Making of America

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The narrative centers on the catastrophic incident involving the steamboat Effie Afton, which collided with the Rock Island Bridge on May 6, 1856. This event marked a significant moment in transportation history as it was the first railroad bridge over the Mississippi River. The collision resulted in a fiery disaster, leading to the vessel's sinking and significant destruction of the bridge, highlighting the perils of early industrial advancements and the interplay between emerging technologies and infrastructure.