The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-30
A BRITTLE BRIDGE.

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An Appalling Picture VI the 40.
F., cldent-Conhlctinu State.
ments as TO the Actual
Loss Of Life.
LONDON, December 29.-The manager oil
the North British Railway, telegraphs
from Lenchars at 4 O'Clock this morning;
Several large girders along with the last
train from Edinbnrg, were pretipttat, d into
the river last evening. There were nearly
800 passengers beside the CompanY's ser.
wants, all OF whom are believed to have
perished. A dispatchj from Edinburg
dated 1 o'clock this morning says: A por.
ton Of the bridge which fell, consisted OF
several large superintendent girders, al
the central navigable portion OF the river,
which averages from 40 10 l45 feet in
depth, the train would fall about IS feet
before reaching the water. Some time
elapsed before the nature OF the disaster
was ascertained. The damage TO the
wires on the bridge and the badness OF tho
weather, interfered with the transmission
OF news, and It is unknown whether the
girders were blown down before the train
entered the bridge, or were carried away
with It, aud it will probably never be us.
certained, as there are no survivors.
The bridge was only opened for traffic
in May, 1878. II was considered
TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING SKILL.
1t was about two miles long aud had s.
spans, the widest OF which was 245 feet.
At the highest point it was $50 feet above
high water. The train which left Edin.
burg at 4:l5 p. NJ. consisted Of four third
class cars, one first class and one second.
class and bridesmaids van. At the last
station before entering the bridge tickets
were taken, and the train was then crowd.
ed. Vast quantities of wreCkage, such as
doors and roofs Of carriages, pieces Of the
bridge and articles of wearing apparel are
coming ashore. The entire thirteen girdles
Of the long central spans Of the bridge arc
gone. The night was one OF bright moon.
light, but the wind was blowing hurri.
cane.
FRuIrLEss SEARCH.
One P. M.-The Provost OF Dundee and
the party OF citizens who accompanied
him in the steamer to the scene Of the dis.
aster, have returned. Search was made
about tho bridge in small boats, but no
trace Of any survivors could be found. The
gap in the bridge is about halia mile long,
comprising eleven Of the longest spans,
each 245 feet in length, aud one span l45
feet in length.
LONDON, December GA dispatch from
Dundee asserts that the number OF lives
lost by the TGy bridge disaster does not
exceed 90 bodies, Of which victims have
been recoved.
THE EFFEcT OF THE NEWS At DUNDEE.
NEW YoRE, December pa special
from Dundee says: The appalling catas.
trophe OF last evening has thrown the city
into state Of frantic excitement, and the
neighborhood OF the fatal bridge is
thronged with horror stricken visitors.
Not n soul escaped who was on the i'll
fated train. The gallantry Of james Rob.
erts, locomotive superintendent Of the
North British railroad Of Dundee, and
station master Smith, in venturing out on
the bridge is highly commended. In spite
of the fury OF the gale, which rendered the
attempt doubly perilous. after tremen.
dous exertions, their hands lacerated by
clinging to the rails for dear life, they
reached the;fatal GAP. Here they discovered
that thirteen girders, each 2l5 leet wide
and weighing o50 tons, all forming kind
OF tunnel in tho middle the bridge had
been washed away, nothing remained but
the bare iron piers. About one-third OF
the whole structure had vanished. Thir-
teen briCkwOrk stumps were 70 be seen in
the midst OF the waves. 1t ia positively
asserted that 3l5 persons were lost.
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WANTED.
LONDON, December 20.-Thc Standard in
an editorial this morning says that when
the FIRST feeling Of horror which hangs
over the country shall have subsided, a
strict and severe investigation into the
causes OF the accident will be demanded
by the people, and nothing short OF com.
plete answer will be accepted. The gale
10 which the bridge suCCumbed was not
exceptionally violent, the train OF cars
having apparently nothing to do with the
accident, which had occurred before the
cars reached the broken portion. National
reputation is at stake and the investiga.
ton must be searching indeed.
LONDON, December 90.-B p. M.-The
railway authorities now estimate the total
number OF lives lost at seyenty.fye.
A telegram from Dundee states that only
fifty-six 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 number OF
railroad employees, nor for a number Of
passengers for RrOughty Ferry, whose
tickets were not taken up. However, il
this statement is correct, 1t is evident the
loss Of life has been greatly overestimated.
AHNow NOTHING CONDITION OF AFFAIus.,,
NEw YoEK, December GA London
special to The Telegram says: The tidings
OF the disaster were first conveyed BY a
gentleman who had left his house with a
friend while tho southwest gale was blow.
ing with all its fury. They began discuss.
ing whether on such night The Edinburg
train would venture across the bridge,
They then went to the block telegraph
signal box, situated at the north end Of
the bridge, where they found number Of
men also anxiously awaiting information
on the subject.
Some of them asserted that they had
seen the lights Of the train in question
enter on the bridge aud cross the lower
spans into the high girders; then they
saw a sudden shower Of fire, which, with
the lights at the train, seemed to descend
with great velocity into the river; then
perfect darkness followed. Minutes and
minutes passed, but no signs Of the train
were seen, and people asked themselves:
''were these really the lights OF the Edin.
burgh train that they had seen SO sud.
denly qnenChed?"
The horror stricken behOlders made
vehement appeals to single man TO
ascertain the truth. lie replied that all
he knew OF the matter was that tho train
had been signalled TO him from the south
end oi tho bridge at 0 minutes past I
o'clock. Discovering no inLicatiouso Of The
approach OF the train. the alarmed signal
man end nrnrel IN talnrrn nj, 70 4Ln nSnLL