TAY BRIDGE CALAMITY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 134, 24 April 1880, Page 2

TAY BRIDGE CALAMITY.

Fierce and furious howls the tempest, Wide with wreck thn land is strewn, Whilo the black clouds rent and riven, By the tempest demon driven, Furious o'er tlio face of heaven, Lot the fitful moonbeams down. Louder, fiercer, still it rages, Blanching cheeks unused to fear, While the elemental crashing, And the foaming surges dashing. With the wild winds furious lushing, Ominous fall upou the ear. Nearer now tin' time approaches That declares the conqueror's might, Darker gnnvs'the night, and dimmer Is the struggliug moonbeams shimmer, While afar, a light's faint glimmer Gains upou the straining sight. "Lis the train from Edina's city Speeding on her iron path, Like it racehorse wild careering, Striving, straining, never fearing, On, and on. the long bridge Hearing, Heedless of the demon's wrath. .Anxious now and loved ones waiting Ou the swift-approaching train, Friend with friend ashore are meeting, Clasping hands in silent greeting, Tardy deem the moments Hooting Dreaming not how fraught with pain. Onward still of danger dreamless, While to those beyond the tide Grows the bright light, brighter, clearer, Gaining on the watchers nearer, Deeming now the absent dearer, Safe they wish them by their side.

To destruction most appalling, ITeedless rolls the gleaming lire, O'er the aerial line she dashes, Through the ponderous girders fl .she?, Now nmicl tremendous crashes, Plunges to destruction dire. Then the dreadful blast blows fiercer, While the waves in fury dash, Tossing high like ocean surge.", While the war-hosts sing their dirges, Now from out the gloom emerges, Far and nigh, a fearful Hash. And the darkness blacker, denser, Seems of tenfold deeper gloom ; O'er those .-.horeward steals a shiver, While amid the surging river, Sink the perishing for ever, Sleeting each a fearful doom. Vet, amid the awful crashing Of the elemental strife, Is unheard the woe appalling. Or the might',- structure falling, Or the screams all unavailing.' Of those stragglers for life. On the spr.iv-clashed pier oufgazing, Tear-dewed sympathisers stand. While amid the waters heaving, Freighted with brave helpers graving, (Hides a steamer wreck-ward, leaving Anxious friends upon this stnand. Noblv through the billows dashing, SlHiriurt.nl seems 'she but a speck," Fast upon the scene they're gaining. While into the gloom are straining' Anxious eve--, hut moonlijrJii waning. All solicitous, the captain Pound the vessel's head doth bring. While with, slowlv onward steaming. And the o.,glints' tltfiii beaming, To the the vivid fimcv seeming, Sufferers to the wrecked piers cling. New n boat with crew stoat hearted Speeds away with steady bound, Tiiivoe..li the angry spruy-clouds blinding Twixt the piers and breakers winding, Till the wreck is compassed round.

Flopn of help In sufferers ended. All tin' helpless ones lit rest, Past wilil tempest nulo u.ssniling, Mercy's mission uiiuvnilug. Turn tln'.v iiinv to v.uo and wailing, And t.i soothe the mourner's brea.st. Xoldo pile in Iriumph slumling When til- sun lit setting shone, I'ur iilmvu the tiilo ascending, All thy parts hnrmoniuus blending, (irnce'nnil strength t' eneh othe.r lending Now in hopeless ruin prone. Kul (lie wreck In hope's aspirings, Hi arts ,'iii'eilious nnlely riven. Father henrtho fervent pleading ' For the mourners sin-cour needing, And, oh, grant us earnest heeding, To improve the warning given. T. Scott.