Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-01-08
The Terrible Bridge Disaster in Scot
land.

LONDON, Dec. pa portion of the
bridge across the Firth of Tay was blowr
down while train from Edinburgh to Dun.
dee was crossing-at IA minutes past
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
O'Clock. The bridge was intact at the time
for signals were given to allow her to cross
The wires were Interrupted a few minute.
thereafter, and no further communication
could be obtained. Immediately after the
disaster large quantities of wreckage and
clothing, and six London mail bags for Dun
dee and Aberdeen drifted ashore, and by
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 200.
%f ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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 45 feet
in depth. The train would fall about SS 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
IL
bridge or were carried away with It, and 1t
will probably never be ascertained, as there
are no survivors. The bridge was only
opened for traffic in May, 1873. II 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 100 feet above high water.
The train left Edinburgh at AIS in the af-
ternoon. 1t consisted Of four third-class
cars, one first-class and one second class,
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
central spans OF the bridge are gone. The
night was bright moonlight one, but the
wind was blowing hurricane. The Provost
Of Dundee and . party OF citizens who &C.
companjed him in q steamer to the scene Of
disaster returned at 1 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 a half mile long, COM
prising II of the longest spans, each 245 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
bic to discover the wrecked train. The place
where the train sank is full of quicksands,
covered within q few days they will become
imbedded with the cars beyond recovery.
The tidings of the disaster were first con-
veyed by gentleman who had left his house
with friend while 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 seen
the lights of the train in question enter ON
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 with
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 Edinburgh train
they had seen so suddenly quenched. The
horror stricken 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
to him from the south end OF the bridge al
nine minutes past o'clock. Discovering nc
alarmed signal man endeavored to telegraph
to the south end of the bride, but communi.
cation had ceased.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
DEC. 29L6 p. m.-The railway authorities
now estimate the total number Of lives lost
at 70. A telegram from Dundee states thst
only Sc passenger tickets were taken up at
the last stopping place, but these do not ac-
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 Ferdy, whose tickets
were not taken up. However, IL this state
ment is correct, it is evident the loss Of life
has been greatly overestmated. Various
accounts agree In placing the total loss Of
ine at W. - m.