The new North-west., 1880-01-09
\ TERRIBLE RAILROAD DISASTER.
An English Railway Train Falls Eighty-fv'
Feet Through a Broken Bridge-No Surviv RS.

Feet Through Broken Bridge-No surviv RS.
LONDON, Dec. 29.-The manager of the
North British Railway, telegraphing from
Leuehars at this morninL, says: Several
large orders, along with the last train from
Edinburg, were preclpitated into the river
last night. There we're nearly 300 passeD-
gers besides the company's servants. all of
whom are believed TO have perished."
A dispatch from Edinburg dated 4 o'clock
this morning, says: "The portion OF
bridge which fell consisted Of several large
superincumbent girders at the central and
pavigabls portion Of the river. which aver
ages from forty to forty-five feet in depth
The train would fall about eighty eight
feet before reaching the water. Some time
elapsed before the Darure of the disaster
was ascertained. The damage to the wires
on the bridge and bad weather interfered
with the transmission Of pews and it is un-
known whether the girders were blown
down before the train entered the bridge
or were carried away with 1t, and it prob.
ably never will be ascertaIned, as there are
no survivors. The bridge was only opened
for traffic In May, 1878. II was considered
. triumph OF engineering skill. It was
about two miles long and had eighty five
spans. the widest of which was 245 feet.
At the highest point it was l30 feet above
high water.
The train left Edinburg ut 4:f5 In the
afternoon and consisted Of four third-class
cars. one first class and one second. class
and brakesman van. At the last station
before entering the bridge the tickets were
taken and the train was then crowded.
Vast quantities of wreckage, such as doors
and roofs Of carriages, pieces Of bridge
and articles of wearing apparel, are coming
ashore. The entire thirteen gIrders OF the
long central span Of the bridge are gone.
The night was one of bright moonlight,
but the wind was blowing hurricane.
NEW YoKK, Dec. ga special from
Dundee says "The appalling catastrophe
of last evening has thrown the city into a
state of frantic excitement, and the neigh
borhood of the fatal bridge il thronged
with horror stricken visitors Not a soul
escaped who was on the Inflated train
The gallantry Of james Roberts, locomo-
tive superintendent of the North British
Railroad. of Dundee, and station master
Smith. in adventuring on the bridge. Is
highly commented. In spite of the fury oil
the gale, which rendered. the attemp,
doubly perilous, after tremendous exertieps,
their hands lacerated by clingirg ia
the rails for dear life. they reached the edge
of the fatal gap. Here they discovered
that thirteen girders, each 245 feet wide
and weighing $50 tons, all forming kind
of tunnel in the middle of the bridge, had
been washed away. Nothing remained bu,
bar of the IRON piers. About one third
of The whole structure had vanished. Thir.
teen brick-work stumps were to be seen in
the midst OF the waves. IL IL positively
asserted that 315 people are lost.
NEW YORK, Dec. ga London special
to the Telegram says the tidings of the
disaster were first conveyed by gentleman
who had left his house with friend while
the southwest gale was blowing with all its
fury. They began discussing whether or
such night the Edinbure train would ven.
ture across the bridge. They then went to
the block telegraph signal box. situated al
the north end Of the bridge. where they
foand number of men waiting informa.
tion or the subject. Some Of them assert.
I'd that they had seen the lights of the train
in question enter on the bridge and cross
the lower spans into the high girders Their
they saw on sudden a shower Of fire
which with the lights of the train see med
TO. descend with great velocity into the
river. Then perfect darkness followed
Minutes and minutes passed, but no sign,
Of the train were seen. and people asked
themselves were those reallv the lights oi
the Edinbnrg train they bad been so sud
denly quelched. The borror stricken be.
holders made vehe,nenr appeals 10 the sig
nal man TO ascertain the truth. ae replied
that all he knew of the matter was thai
the train had been signaled to him from
the south end Of the bridge at 10 o'clock
Discovering no indications of the approach.
ing train. the alarmed signal mar endeavor
ed TO telegraph TO the south end of the
bridge. but Communication had ceased.
LONDON, l p. m, Dec. 29.-The Provost
Of Dundee and the party of citizens who
accompanied him on the steamer to the
scene OF the railroad disaster, have returned
Search was made about the bridge In small
boats, but no trace of any survivors could
be found. The fatal bridge is about half Q
mile long. comprising eleven Of the long
est spans, each 245 feet in length, and one
span 145 feet long.
LONDON. Dec. 90. 0 p. m.-The railway
authorities Row estimate the total number
Of lives lost at seventy seven. kilograms
from Dundee state that only fifty y-six pass
enger tickets at che last stopping places
were taken mp; but these do not account
for the number of children requiring nc
tickets. for railway employees, nor for the
humber of passengers for Broughton, whose
tickets were not taken up. However, II
this statement is correct, it is yident that
the loss Of life has been greatly overesti
mated.