The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-01-16

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LONDON, Dec. "a portion OF the
bridge across the Firth Of Tay was blown
down while = train from Edipburgh Ia 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 ~ the south eud Of the bridge
crossing the Firth Of Tay, shortly AFTER
O'Clock. The bridge was intact at the time.
for signals were given a. allow her to cross.
The wires were interrupted q few minutes
thereafter, and no further communication
could be obtained. Immediately after the
disaster large quantities VI wreckase aud
clothing, and six London mail bags for Dun
dee and Aberdeen drifted ashore, and by o
O'Clock all the beach was strewn with tho
remains u broken carriages and piece u
b~ridgework. IL Il not known how many
passengers we're on the train ~ tho time of
the disaster, but the number Is estimated To
have been from 10 10 zOO.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The portion OF the bridge which fell con-
sisted of several large superintendent GRID
ers al the central and navigable portion Of
the river, which averages from Al TO - feet
Ia depth. The train would fall about SSfeet
before reaching the water. Some time
elapsed before the nature Of the disaster
was ascertained. The damage 70 the wires
on the bridge n the badness of the weather
interfered with the transmission OF the news.
and IL il unknown whether the girders were
blown down before the train entered tho
bridge or were carried away with IL, and IL
will probably never be ascertaincd, as there
are no survivors. The bridge was only
opened for traffic In May, lo.s. II waS con-
sidered a triumph Of engineering skill. IL
was about two miles long aud had 81 spans,
the widest Of which was e45 feet. Al the
highest point II was $50 feet above high water.
The train left Edinbargh 1T a rs IN the AZ
farnaan II gAusi-faH ~ fnllr fhfrt -.l.sa
cars, one first-class and one second class,
and u brakeman's van. At the last station
before cuterlng the bridge tickets were
taken, and the train was then crowded Vast
quantities OF wreckage, such rs doors and
roofs Of carriages, piers OF the bridge and
articles Of wearing apparel, are coming
ashore. The entire 10 Orders Of the long
central spans 81 the bridge are gone. The
night was a bright moonlight one, but the
wind was blow ing a hurricane. The Provost
OF Dundee and a party of citizens who nc
companied him IN a steamer 10 The scene 0f
disaster returned at | y. IN. Search was made
about the bridge In small boats, but no trace
OF any survivors could be found. 1he gap
in the bridge j. about . half mir long. com
prising II Of the longest spans, each 10 feet
In length. and one span ls5 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 10 discover the wrecked train. The place
where the train sank Is full OF quicksandA
and II the bodies Of the drowned ARE not re-
covered within q few days they will become
imbeddsd with the cars beyond recovery.
The tidings OF the disaster were first con-
veycd by q gentleman who had left his honx
with a friend while q southwest gale was
blowing with all its fury. They BEGAN dis
cussing whether on such q night the Edin-
burgh frsin would venture across the bridge.
fIhav then uQnf IN tbs Hl1cL Talnufunh 40
nsl-box az the north end Of The bridge,
where they found = number Of men also anx-
iously awaiting information on the subject
Some ~ 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 4 sudden show
cr ~ fire, which. with the lights
Of the train, seemed 10 descend with
great velocity into the river. Inc
perfect darkness followed. Minutes and
minutes passed. but NO signs Of the train
Were seen, and people asked themselves were
these really the lights ~ the Edinburgh train
they had seen 80 suddenly quenchcd. The
horror stricken beholderS made vehement
appeals 10 the signal man 10 ascertain The
truth. lie replied that all he knew ~ the
matter was that the train had been signalcd
10 him from the sonih end ~ the bridge at
nine minutes past : o'clock. Discover lng no
indications ~ the approach " the train, the
alarmed signal man sndeayorcd 10 telegraph
70 the south end Of the bride, but conmuni-
cation had ceased.
THE Loss OF LIFE.
DEC. 29-Gp. m.-The railway authorities
now estimate the total lumber Of lives lost
AZ Is. A telegram from Dundee states that
only 81 passenger tickets were taken up al
the lat stopping place. but these do not ac-
count for the number Of young children re-
quiring no tickets, for the number Of rail-
way pntulaVpe1 nnr for the uumhpr ~ pas-
senger- Tor Broughfy Ferdy, whose tickets
We're not taken up. However, IL this staie-
mcnt j. correct. II IL evident the loss Of life
has been greatly oyercstimated. Various
accounts agree In placing the total loss Of
life at 80.
-Indelible Ink: Take fou drains
Of silver, four ounces Of rainwa-
ter, six drops solution Of nut-gall and