"That the structure was badly designed, badly constructed, and badly maintained, and that its downfall was due to inherent defects which must sooner or later have brought it down. For these defects, both in the design, the construction, and the maintenance. Sir Thomas Bouch is, in Mr. Rothery's opinion, mainly to blame. For the faults of design he is entirely responsible. For those of construction he is principally to blame in not having exercised that supervision over the work which would have enabled him to detect and apply a remedy to them. And for the faults of maintenance he is also principally, if not entirely, to blame in having neglected to maintain such an inspection aver the structure as its character imperatively demanded."
The other members of the Inquiry reported almost as severely, but not so personally. Evidence had been given of cracked and damaged columns being puttied, painted, and used in the construction of the great bridge, and painters had reported girders and bonds loose and improperly bolted. The whole position of the bridge was said to be wrong.
Issues like this naturally silenced domestic affairs for a time, but late in 1880 and throughout 1881 the animosity was manifest. The conduct of the drivers and firemen at Liverpool, Pontypool, Sheffield, and other places was described as "reprehensible and treacherous." Yet in all conscience there was urgent need for the Society, if only to apply its protection funds to such a flagrant contrast as the one I have presented. Was the trenchant exposure of the jerry-builders and bad designers of the Tay Bridge followed by prosecution, even though four score lives were lost? Not at all—there were words, just words—and the matter was allowed to die out when the new Tay Bridge was better built by other hands. But poor McCulloch, whose mistake cost no life, was sent to gaol. Then before the Society had been in existence a year came a still more painful contrast with the Tay Bridge crime. A collision on the line led to the death of one passenger, and the driver of the colliding train was arrested, tried and convicted of manslaughter. Long records of faithful service, and instances
