The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-30
ATERRIBLE RAILROAD BIsAsfsKoy TIE SogTH
BRrIsH R4ILW1I@THKEE HUNDRED PER

tEfs sa'7.,2 lss3rst ------'s.s - : +sE''
lATERRIBLs RAILROAD pIsAsfsHos THE sogrH
BRITISH RAILEAT9-IHRgE HUNDRED PER.
SokS KILLED. 80, rst$y :, zrF7
EoSDoS. December 29-10. a. M.-Tbe
tssnaHer .0f The North British railway. tele-
tgYaphfDg from Leuehars At O'Clock this
Honin9, says: "SeyersT large 2irders,
along with the last train from Edin burgb,
were prefipnaied into the river last right.
There were nearly three hundred passen.
Igers besides the coDpany's servants. all OF
whom are believed to have perished."
| a dispstch from Edinburgh dated 4
O'Clock, SAYS: 'HsThe portion OF the bridge
which fell consisted OF several large super.
Incumbent giEders al central and napisabie
tportions OF the river, which averages from
forty to forty-6Ye feet in depth, The train
would fall about lightweight feet before
PREACHING wafer Some tune elapsed before
the nature OF the disaster was ascartained,
owing to the damage 10 wires on the bridge
and the badness OF the eather interfering
with the transmission, OF the news, aud it
is unknown whether the, girders were
blown down before the train entered the
bridge or were carried away with II, and it
will probably never be ascertaned, as there
are no survivors. The bridge was only
opened for traffic in May, 1873. 1t was con-
sidered triumph OF engineering skill. 1t
was about tive mills loug. and lad eighty
five spans, the widest OF which was 245 feet
At the highest point it was 135 feet above
| high water"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT. -....
| LONDON, December "a portion OF the
| bridge across the FIRTH of Tay was blown
down while train from Edinburgh to
Dundee was crossing at fourteen minutes
| past O'Clock last hight. The gale was 50
strong that steamboats, were unable to
reach The scene Of the disaster, but several
mail-bags have been washed ashore four
miles from the bridge, and there is no
| doubt that the train is in the wa
ter. The passengers, who are certainly
all drowned, are Yariously estimated
| at from $50 to 200 in number.
| The gale having moderated somewha
| the Provost OF Dundee and a number
| OF leading citizens started in a steamer TO
the scene OF the disaster, but have not vet re-
turned. The excitement at Tay-Bridge
station is appalling. Many thousands Of
people arc congreSated awaiting definite in
teligence from the accident. The missing
Dundee train was seen crossing the bridge !;
then suddenly a fash OF fire became
visible. The railway officials, in spite Of
the gale, walked along the bridge from
Dundee until they found there was large
gap caused By the fall OF two or three OF
the largest spans. Another dispatch saws
that the triin Was bound for Dundee, and
had arrived safely at the south end Of the
bridge crossing the FIRTH OF Tay shortly
after 7. Tie bridge was intact at the time,
for signals were given to slow her 10 cross.
The wires were interrupted 4 few minutes
thereafter. aud no further communication
could be obtained.
AFTER TIE DISASTER.
Immediately after the disaster large guam
titles OF wTeckage and clothing, and six
London maiI-bags for Dundee and Aber-
deem, drifled ashore, and by Q O'Clock all
the beach was streWn with The remains of
broken carriages ADD pieces Of bridgework.
Il is not known how many passengers were
on the train at the time OF the disaster,
but l. G number is estimated 10 have
been from one hundred and seventy TO
two hundred. It is believed that bali
"a dozen Of the largest girdcrs OF the
bridge were blown dow1, but the full eX-
tent OF the disaster will not be known until
tomorrow. Several parties are looking for
bodies coming ashore, and, the gale having
moderated somewhat, an effort is being
luuuC Wy oOuiC VA tuS pSNPIO VI ctudSC "
reach the scene in a steamer. The excite
NEST is very great, and people are throng-
ling from ali parts OF the nei.hbo boring coun-
try to hear something definite as to the catas-
|trophe. .'. al
The train lett Edinburgh at 6:15 in the
afternoon, and consisted OF four third-class
cars, one Hrst.clnss, one secoud-class, and
one brakes mans van. At the last station be-
fore entering the bridge tickets were taken,
and the train was then crowded. Vast guam
titles OF wreckase, such as doors and roofs
OF carriages, pieces OF the bridge, and arti-
Giles OF wearing apparel are coming ashore.
The entire thirteen girderS OF the long Gen.
trail spans OF the bridge are gone. The
night was bright moonlight, but the wind
was blowing hurricane.
THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS GREATLY REDUCED.
LONDON, December ga dispatch from
Dundee 10 the Press Association asserts
that the number OF lives lost by the Tay-
Bridge disaster does not exceed ninety.
This is probably an underestimate. The
bodies Of six Of the victims have been
recovered. ...a. So.