Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17
The Tay Bridge Horror.
LOOKING FROM THE WINDOW OF A COSY ROOM o.
THE FALLING OF THE TRAIN.

LOOKING FROM THE WINDOW OF COSY ROOM ON
THE FALLING OF THE TRAIN.
The English papers received yesterday con-
tain very little OF interest concerning the Tay
Bridge disaster not already laid before our read
ers by cable The London Telegraph of the 3Oth
contains the description by an eyewitness Of
Enjoying the cosy comforts of my own par
lor fireSide on Sunday night l listened to the
fierce clamor OF the storm without and felt
deep sense of gratitude for the security pos
sessed, mingled with feeling OF compassion
for the poor sailors on the sea battling with the
storm. The children had gathered round me
for their usual Bible stories, and with an in
stictive sense OF fear they nestled close to my
side as they heard the wild efforts of the blast
to batter in the easement of the window.
chose the story OF st. Paul's shipwreck on the
Island OF Mel1ta, thinking that the storm with
out might help me to impress upon their young
minds the terrible nature Of the dangers to
riding helplessly upon the waves with four
anchors between 1t and certain destruction.
While thus engaged blast OF wind more fur
1ous than before, had caught the chfmney-tops
and brought them down to the ground with a
laundering crash that startled every one of us to
our feet. stepping over to the easement gazed
moonlight lighted up the broad expanse of the
Tay down below, and the long, white s1nuous
line OF the Tay Bridge came into view, looked
at my watch and saw that it was exactly
O'Clock The Edinburg train will be due I'M
mediately,' l exclaimed to my wife; come and
let us watch to see If it will attempt to cross on
such night. SO saying we turned down the
gas in the parlor and prepared to await the COM
ing of the train. The light by this time had be-
come most ftful Great masses of clouds were
sweeping across the eXpanse of the heavens, at
times totally Obscuring the light OF the full
moon. There she comes cried one of the
children, and at that moment, the slowly NOV
ing lights OF the Edinburg train could be dis
dnctly seen rounding the curve at W0rmit, and
peSsing the signal box at the south side, enter
Ing upon the long straight line OF that portion
OF the bridge. The train once on the bridge
seemed to move along with greater swiftnesS,
and when the engine entered the tunnel like
cloisters OF the great Orders my little girl ex-
actly described the effect Of the lights as seen
through the lattice work when she exclaimed
LOOK papa, isn't that like l1ghtning? ALI this
takes some time to write down, but to the eye
1t seemed as II almost simultaneous with the
enhance OF the train upon the bridge. A comet
IKE burst OF hery sparks Sprang out as II fOrci-
ply elected into the darkness from the engine
IL long visible train the streak of fire was seen
I'LL quenched In the water below. Then there
was absolute darkness on the bridge. silence
leil upon our eager group at the window. Then.
with stunning force, the idea broke upon INV
mind. "HeayenSl" l cried. 81 fear the train L,
over the bridget" With growing horror /
watched the curve at the north side to try IL
could see the train pass that point, but as sew
eral minutes passed and no moving object broke
the continuity OF the bridge at that point.
snatched up my hat and hurried down and
across the Magdalen Green. to meet several In
dividuais all bent upon the same eFrand as my