The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-01-09
The Scottish Railway Bridge Dis
aster.


aster.
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
O'Clock last night. A dispatch says that the
rived safe at the south end of the bridge
crossing the Firth Of Tay, shortly after
| O'Clock. The bridge was intact at the time,
| for signals were given to allow her to cross.
The wires were interrupted few minutes
thereafter, and no further communication
disaster large quantities OF wreckage 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 10 to 3O.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The portion Of the bridge which fell con-
sisted Of several large superintendent grid
ers at the central and navigable portion OF
the river, which averages from 40 to 40 feet
in depth. The train would fall about 50 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
bridge or were carried away with it, and it.
will probably never be ascertained, as there,
are no survivors. The bridge was only
opened for traffic in May, 1878. 1t was con-
sidered q triumph of engineering skill. It.
was about two miles long and had IS spans,
the widest Of which was 245 feet. AT the
highest point it was $50 feet above high water.
The train left Edinburgh at 4:15 in the at
ternOOn. 1t consisted Of four third-casS-
cars, one irst-class and one Ond-class,
and brakemau'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 IL 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
cOmpanied him in steamer to the scene Of
disaster returned at p. m. 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 245 feet
In length, and one span AS feet in length.
The Government has sent two Inspectors
to ascertain the particulars of the disaster,
and has also directed formal inquiry into tie
occurrence. Divers have thus far been una
BILE to discover the wrecked train. The place
where the train sank is full of quicksands,
and if the bodies of the drowned are not re-
covered within a few days they will become
with the cars beyond recovery.
The tidings of the disaster were first con-
veyed by gentleman who had left his houee
with . friend while q southwest gale was
blowing with all its fury. They began dis
hofh oP IN q NIGHT 70
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 a number Of men also anx-
iously awaiting information on the subject.
Some of them asserted that they had seen
the bridge and cross the lower spans int0the
high Orders; then they saw q sudden show
er Of fire, which, with the lights
Of the train, seemed to descend with
great velocity into the river. Then
passed, but no signs of the train
we're seen, and people asked themselves were
these really the lights Of the Edinburgh train
they had seen SO suddenly quenched. The
behOlders made vehement
appeals to the signal man to ascertain the
truth. He replied that all he knew of the
matter was that the train had been signaled
10 him from the south end of the bridge at
nine minutes past O'Clock. Discovering no
Indications of the approach of the train, the
alarmed signal man endeavOred to telegraph
to the south end Of the bride, but commune
cation had ceased.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
DEC. @ 6p. m.-The railway authorities
now estimate the total number of lives lost.
It 70. A telegram from Dundee states that
only 56 passenger tickets were taken up at
he last stopping place, but these do not ac-
.Ollnt for the number of VOIn0 children re-.
luiring no tickets, for the number of rail-
way employees, nor for the number Of pas
'engers for BrOughty Ferdy, whose tickets
we're not taken up. However, If this state
nent is correct, it is evident the loss of life
has been greatly overestimated. Various
accounts agree in placing the total loss Of
ife at 80.
WHILE bystander on fashionable
treet in Boston was taking notes he
aw in an hour and half IS people who