The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-30
THE DUNDEE DISASTER.
Contradictory Reports Of the Loss
Of Life.
THE NUMBER DROWNED STATED AS
HIGH AS 800.
Not a Survivor Left to Tell the Tale.

LONDON, Dec. 20.-The train which was
thrown into the Firth of Tay last night was
bound for Dundee and had arrived safely at the
South end of the bridge crossing the FIRTH OF
Tay shortly after seven y. N. The bridge was
intact at the time, for Signals were given to al
low it to cross. The wires were interrupted a
few minutes thereafter and no further COM
munication could be obtained. Immediately
after the disaster large quantities OF wreckage
and clothing, and six London mail bags Tor
Dundee and Aberdeen drifted ashore, and by
8 o'clock all the beach was strewn with the
remains of the broken carriages and pieces OF
the bridge. The number of passengers on the
train is estimated at 40 to 200. 1t is believed
that half a dozen of the largest girders OF the
bridge were blown down, but the full extent OF
the disafter will not be known until tomorrow
Several parties are looking for bodies coming
ashore, and the gale having moderated an eff
fort is being made from Dundee to reach the
scene of the disaster People are thronging
from all parts of the neighboring country to
hear something definite as to the catastrophe.
[sEcoND DESPATCH.
An Edinburgh despatch says that the por-
ton of the bridge which fell consisted of sew
eral large superintendent girders at the central
and navigabl9 portions of the river, which
average from forty to forty-fve feet in length.
The train would fall about lightweight feet
before reaching the water. Some time elapsed
before the nature of the disaster was ascer-
tanned. 1t is unknown whether the Orders
were blown down before the train entered the
bridge or were carried away with it. 1t will
probably never be ascertained, as there are no
survivors.
The bridge was only opened for traffic in May
1878, and was considered q triumph of eng1-
neering skill. 1t was about two miles long
and had So spans of q width of 245 feet. At
the highest point it was 100 feet above high
water.
THIRD DESPATCH.
A telegram from Leuchare this morning
says: Several large girders. with the last
train from Edinburgh were precipitated into
the river last night. There were 800 passen-
gers besides the company's servants. All are
believed to have persisted"
The Provost Of Dundee and party OF citi-
zens who accompanied him to the scene OF the
disaster in steamer have returned. Search
was made about the bridge in small boats, but
no trace of any survivors conld be found. The
gap in the bridge is about half mile long,
comprising eleven Of the longest spans, each
245 feet long, and one span of 145 feet.
FOURTH DESPATCH.
LONDON, Dec 29.-The authorities now esti-
mate the number of lives lost at rs. Only Oh
passenger tickets were taken up at the last
stopping place, but these do not account for
number OF young children requiring no tickets,
nor for the railway employees, nor for q num-
Der of passengers of Broughty Ferry, whose
tickets were not taken up. However, II the
statement is correct it is evident the loss OF
life has been greatly oyerestimated
DUNDEE, Dec. 29.-Only one body has so far
been recovered, and that is in badly mutilat-
ed condition.
LONDON, Dec 30.-The government has sent
two inspectors to ascertain the particulars of
the Tay bridge disaster, and has also directed
farmal inquiry into the occurrence. Divers
have thus far been unable to discover the
wrecked train. They will make another effort
today.
The place where the train sank is full Of
quicksands, and if the bodies of the drowned
are not recovered in few days they will be-
come embedded with the cars beyond recovery.
---
A New Hampshire member OF Congress