Dec. 28, 1879. A fearful disaster occurred in Scotland. As the train
from Edinburgh to Dundee was crossing the bridge, two miles in length,
which spans the mouth of the Tay, a terrible hurricane struck the bridge,
about four hundred yards of which was, with the train, dashed into the
sea below. About seventy persons were in the train, of whom not one
escaped, nor, when the divers were able to descend, could a single body
be found in the carriages, or among the bridge girders, and some days
elapsed before any were recovered. No conclusive evidence could be
produced to show whether the train was blown off the rails and so dragged
the girders down, or whether the bridge was blown away and the train ran
into the chasm thus made. The night was intensely dark, and the wind
more violent than had ever been known in the country.
_Annual Register_, 1879.