FALL OF THE BRIDGE. 99 



bodies which were hurried through, hut most of 

 these had subsequently congregated at the Banff- 

 shire extremity, to witness an attempt on the part 

 of the forester and his men to protect the mound 

 of approach, when suddenly a fissure appeared in 

 the very centre of the path, immediately above 

 the second arch on the Morayshire side. Those 

 who were nearest ran for their lives, giving the 

 alarm to others ; and, a few seconds afterwards, 

 down went the whole mass of the two arches on 

 the left bank of the river, carrying with it a lame 

 youth, who unfortunately had not been able to 

 effect his escape. 



For some years afterwards passengers and goods 

 were conveyed across in boats, until an Act of 

 Parliament in 1832 enabled the trustees to erect 

 a single wooden arch in place of the two that were 

 destroyed thus dispensing with the necessity of 

 a pier in the most rapid part of the stream. This, 

 at the time of its erection, was the largest of that 

 description in Britain,* but as the work showed 

 symptoms of decay in 1853, cast iron was substi- 

 tuted for timber ; the arch was completed in two 

 years, and has ever since effectually resisted the 

 force of the waters. 



Although such a calamity as this terrible deluge 

 * DR. LONGMUIR'S Sptysidt. 



