98 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



beach strewed with the carcases of animals, 

 including "millions of dead hares and rabbits."* 



But the most memorable calamity on this part 

 of Spey was the destruction of the great bridge of 

 Fochabers, near Gordon Castle, spanning the 

 river on the high road between Keith and Elgin. 

 " It consisted of four arches ; two of ninety-five 

 feet and two of seventy-five feet span each, 

 making a total waterway of three hundred and 

 forty feet. On the morning of the 4th of August, 

 the entire plain, from Ben Aigeu to the sea, 

 presented one vast undulating expanse of dark 

 brown water, in some places more than two miles 

 broad. The floating wrecks of nature and of 

 human industry and comfort were strewed over its 

 surface, which was only varied by the appearance 

 of the tufted tops of submerged trees, or by 

 the roofs of houses, to which, in more than one 

 instance, the miserable inhabitants were seen 

 clinging, while boats were plying about for their 

 relief. And still the elements raved with un- 

 abated fury, so that not a bird could dare to wing 

 the air." t 



Several persons were on the bridge during the 

 early part of the day, looking over the parapets at 

 the wreck, carcases of dead animals and other 



Sir T. D. Lauder. t Sir T. D. Lauder. Op. cit. 



