The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-01-22
The Terrible Bridge Diaster in Scot
land,


LONDON, Dec. ga portion of the
bridge across the Firth of Tay was blown
down while train from Edinburgh to Dun
dee was crOssing-at IA minutes past Z
O'Clock last night. A dispatch SAYS that the
train was bound for Dundee, and had ar
rived safe at the south end of the bridge
crossing the Firth of Tay, shortly after 7
O'Clock. The bridge was intact at the time,
for signals were given to allow her to cross.
thereafter, and no further communication
could be obtained. Immediately after the
disaster large quantities of Wreekage and
clothing, and six London mail bags for Dun
dee and Aberdeen drifted ashore, and by 8
O'Clock all the beach was strewn with the
remains of broken carriages and pieces of
bridgewOrk. 1t is not known how many
passengers were on the train at the time Of
the disaster, but The number is estimated to
have been from 40 to 200.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The portion of the bridge which fell con-
sisted of several large superintendent grid
ers at the central and nayigable portion Of
the river, which averages from 40 to 40 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 the weather
interfered with the transmission of the news,
and it is unknown whether the girders were
blown down before the train entered the
will probably never be ascertained, as there
are no survivors. The bridge was only
opened for traffic in May, 1878. 1t was con-
sidered triumph of engineering skill. 1t
was about two miles long and had 50 spans,
the widest of which was 245 feet. AT the
highest point it was $50 feet above high water.
The train left Edinburgh at 4:l5 in a he af-
ternOOn. 1t consisted of four third class
cars, one first-class and one secOnd-class,
and brakeman's van. At the last station
before entering the bridge tickets were
taken, and the train was then crowded. Vast
quantities of wreckage, such as doors and
roofs of carriages, piers of the bridge and
articles Of wearing apparel, are coming
ashore. The entire Is girders Of the long
central spans of the bridge are gone. The
night was a bright moonlight one, but the
wind was blowing hurricane. The Provost
of Dundee and a party OF citizens who ac-
cOmpanied him in steamer to the scene Of
disaster returned at / p. IN. 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 mile long, COM
prising Ii of the longest spans, each 243 feet
in length, and one span 145 feet in length
The Government has sent two inspectors
to ascertain the particulars Of the disaster,
and has also directed formal inquiry into the
occurrence. Divers have thus far been una
BILE to discover the wrecked train. The place
where the train sank is full of quic6sands
and if the bodies of the drowned are not re-
covered within few days they will become
| imbedded with the cars beyond recovery.
| The tidings of the disaster were first con-
| veyed by a gentleman who had left his house
| with friend while a southwest gale was
| blowing with all its fury. They began dis
| cusSing whether on such night the Edin'
| burgh train would venture across the bridge
| They then went to the Block Telegraph sig
| nal-bOX at the north end of the bridge
| where they found number of men also anX'
| iOusly awaiting information on the subject
! Some of them asserted that they had seer
| the lights Of the train in question enter or
/ the bridge and cross the lower spans into the
| high girders; then they saw sudden show
| er of fire, which, with the lights
! Of the train, seemed to descend will
! perfect darkness followed. Minutes anC
| minutes passed, but no signs of the traiT
were seen, and people asked themselves were
| these really the lights of the Edinburgh traiT
! they had seen so suddenly qUenched. Tht
| hOrTOr-stricken behOIderS made Vehemen
| appeals to the signal man to ascertain tbs
| truth. He replied that all he knew of the
matter was that the train had been signaleC
| to him from the south end of the bridge a
nine minutes past O'Clock. Discovering nt
| indications Of the approach Of the train, th'
alarmed signal man endeavOred to telegraph
to the south end of the bride, but communi
cation had ceased.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
DEC. 29-6 p. m.-The railway authorities
| now estimate the total number of lives los
at 70. A telegram from Dundee states tina
| only 56 passenger tickets were taken up a
| the last stopping place, but these do not &C
! count for the number of young children re
| quiring no tickets, for the number of rail
/ way employees, nor for the number of pas
! sengers for BrOughty FeTdy, whose ticket
! were not taken up. However, If this state
| ment is correct, it is evident the loss OF lif
! has been greatly oyerestimated. Variou
accounts agree in placing the total loss o
| life at