The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-01-01
SCOTbAND'S HORROR,
VARIOUS REPORTS AS TO THE
NUMBER DROWNED.
The Train Fell EIghty.EIght Feet Into Forty
Five Feet OF Water.
london. December %.

London, december ~,
dispatch from Edinburgh dated at A. NJ,
says; The portion Of the bridge which fell con.
sisted of several large superintendent girders at
the central and navigable portion Of the riVer'
which averages from 40 to As feet IN depth, and
the train would fall s8 feet before reaching the
water. Sometime elapsed before the nature of
the disaster was ascertained. The damage TO the
wires on the bridge and bad weather interlered
with the Transmission OF the news, and 1t is un
known whether the girdeTs- were blown down
before the train entered the bridge or we're Ger.
rled away with 1t, and it wilFprobably never be
ascertained, as there are no survivors.
The bridge was only opened for traffic in May
1873. II was considered triumph of engineering
skill. 1t was about two miles long and had s.
spans, the widest of which was 2I5 feet in length
AT The highest point was 1870 feet above high
water.
London, Dec, 29-t P M-The Provost Of Dun
dee and party of citizens who accompanied him
In steamer to the scene Of the disaster, have re-
turned, search was made about the bridge in
small boats but no trace Of any survivors could
be found. The gap in the bridge is about half 0.
mile long, comprising eleven Of the longest spans
each 245 feet in length, and one span las feet in
length.
special from Dundee says: The appalling ca.
tastrophe OF last evening has thrown the city in a
state of frantic excitement, and the neighborhood
of the bridge is thronged with terror stricken yis-
itors. Not soul escaped who was on the Inflated
train.
The gale to which the bridge succumbed was
not exceptionally violent the train of cars hay.
ing nothing apparently to do with the accident,
which occurred before the train reached the
broken portion. A national reputation is at stake
and the investigation must be searching indeed
The train left Edinburgh at 415 in the afternoon
1t consisted of four third,class cars, one second
class, one first class, and brakesman's van. At
the last station before entering the bridge the
tckeUs were taken and the train was then crowd,
ed.
Vast quantities Of wreckage, such as doors and
roofs of carriages, pieces of bridge and wearing
apparel are coming ashore. The entire thirteen
grders of the long central spans of the bridge are
gone. The railway authorities represent the total
number OF lives lost at seventy'fve. telegram
from Dundee states that only Sc passenger tickets
were taken up at the last stopping place, but these
do not account for number Of small children re-
quiring no tickets, nor for q number of railway
employees, nor for a number Of passengers for
Brougnty Ferry, whose tickets had not been
taken mp. However, II this statement is correct,
1t is estimated the loss Of life has been greatly
overestimated.
The Government has sent two inspectors to as.
certain the particulars Of the Tay bridge disaster,
and has also directed formal inquiry into the
occurrence. Divers have thus far been unable to
discover the wrecked train. They will make an
other effort to-day. The place where the train
sank is full Of quick sands, and If the bodies OF
toe drowned are not recovered within few days
they will become mbefded with the cars beyond
recovery. Only one body has so far been recov
eren, aud that in badly mgtilated condition.