The Press. — London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

arrangements. The remembrance of the breakage near his station in the morning left no doubt on his mind that the same thing had again happened, and that the part that bad broken away had been run into by the succeeding train. Unhappily, this conclusion proved to hisbe only too correet. There were three men at . disposal . One he sent towards Worcester with a danger signal to stop any thing in that direction, and the other two he took down with him towards the place of slaughter. Hart scarcely needed the guard of the second train to a ssure him that his fears were well grounded. This guard was coming up the line to do that which Hart had done before he left his station—stop all down trains. Hart told him that this had been effected, and desired him to perform the same office in the opposite direction. By the time Hart bad reached the shattered carriages the line was strewed with the injured, the dying, and the dead. The passengers who were able had alighted, and their frantic cries, mingled with the groans and shrieks of the sufferers as they lay writhing in helpless agony and beyond the possibility of immediate identification, were appalling. Among the passengers was Mr. T. T. Chillingworth, of the Sydenham works, West Brom wich, civil engineer. Mr. Chillingworth at once offered his services to superintend the removal of the shattered carriages, the disabled engine, and the conveyance of the uninjured excursionists into the first part of the train. The servants were directed, and the volunteers who were busied in this work consented to act under Mr. Chillingworth's instruc tions, and the line was nearly cleared when, at 0.50, an hour and three-quarters after the accident, Mr. Sheriff, general manager; Mr. Adcock, secretary; Mr. Lindsay, assistant engineer ; the two surgeons of the company ; a body of workmen, bringing a carnage denominated the " lifeboat," because of the adapted nen of its contents to such an emergency, came down by a special train from Worcester. The first surgeon on the spot was Mr. Wall, an assistant to Mr. Norris, of Brierly-hill. The name of this young man deserves to be placed on prominent record. Arriving at the spot about five minutes after the accident, he saw the shocking magnitude of the work that lay before him. Without ceremony, he threw off his coat and worked, unaided by any one else of his protession, for more than half an hour. .The other principal persons who were there speak in terms of the highest admiration of the skill and self-possession of Mr. Wall during this dreadful half hour. When it is known that, by the time the detached carriages arrived upon the advancing train, the steam of that train was entirely shut off, and the train had begun almost to retrograde, it will occasion almost surprise that the injuries should have been of so horrible a nature. It is a fact, however, that so fearful was the velocity at which the carriages ran back, that the break the guard applied before he jumped off was, through the friction, burning with a flame that lit up the line. The concussion was so great that the engine of the advancing train was disabled, and the heavy axletree and wheels of one of the trucks became bent as though they had been so much lead. Previously to the collision the engine driver, stoker, and guard of the advancing train had all jumped off. The shock was scarcely per ceived by the passengers in that train, and those in the carriages that were destroyed were so unconscious ot'their awful position that bodily anguish and death seized them while they joked each other that they were "having extra riding for their money, and were being taken back to sleep in Worcester." THE INQUEST. On Wednesday morning Mr. T. M. Phillips, coroner for the district, and the jury, of which the I;cv. J. Bailey was foreman, opened an inquiry into the circumstances attending the deaths of the twelve un , ortunate pe►sons who lost their lives by this col lision. The inquiry was opened at the Whimsey Inn, Chapel-hill, but was afterwards adjourned, for supe rior accommodation, to the Bell Inn. The matter excited considerable sensation throughout the whole of the neighbourhood. The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Rail way Company was represented by Mr. King, of the firm of Collis, Bernard, and King, solicitors, of Stour bridge; Mr. Adcock, the secretary; Mr. Wilson, the engineer; and Mr. Wood, from the office of Mr. A. C. Sheriff, the general manager of the line. Mr. Barbary, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the friends of the deceased, Francis Wills and Henry Marshall; and Mr. Round, of Tipton, appeared for the Skeldon family. The CORONER, in opening the proceedings, asked if any of the jury were interested in the line of rail way on which the accident took place—the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton ? The jury (sixteen in number) severally replied in the negative, and were accordingly sworn. They then proceeded to view the bodies at the various houses where they had been taken. Some of the unfortunate sufferers presented frightful appearances —indeed, so mutilated were they in some instances, thati dentification was impossible. THE PRESS, AUGUST 28, 1858. Upon the return of the jury, the following evidence was taken : _ ISAAC BALDWIN said : I am a waggoner for Mr. Hyde. I reside at Prince's End. The accident occurred on Monday. It was an excursion train. I went from Prince's End to Worcester. I was accom panied by Joseph Pitt. We left Prince's End at ten o'clock. There was also there Richard Moore, the deceased, and others. We all dined together. Ido net know who was the guard. There were two large engines. There was one before and one behind. It was a long train. I saw no first-class carriages, hut a great number of second and third. the guard, I suppose, was there. I went direct to Worcester. We arrived there exactly at half•past twelve. I looked az my watch. As we went the coupling chains broke. I was thrown forward. They were very bad shocks indeed ; some young woman's nose bled. I did not get out to see what the matter was. They would neither let us get out nor tell us what the matter was. This was before we reached Droitwich. The first shock occurred before we arrived at Dudley, where the train stayed a few minutes. A man of the name of Walker put his head out and asked what the matter was. I heard no answer. The second shock was near Brettle-lane, I believe. The train was stopped and the breaks were down. There was another shock at or near Churchill station. I don't know whether it stopped or not. I cannot say there were any more shocks. I was not asleep. I made no inquiries as to the cause of the accident. I think we left It orcester about or near half past six. Ten of my friends went on by the first part of the train, which had been detached. That was near half-past six. The train was divided. One of the engines took each part, so that there were two trains, each ten minutes apart. I was in the second part. Mr. Skeldon complained of the shocks, but not in my presence. We went on steadily until we arrived between Brettledane and Round Oak. It was then going a tidy pace. The spot is in this parish. As soon as our trai❑ ran into the other, I went to the engineer, and he said no one was hurt. I was thrown over on my head. It was very sudden and violent. By a JUROR : It was thrown on its side. Witness continued : It was dark. There was no light, in the carriage. I scrambled out of the carriage, and saw Mr. Hildrick. The carriage was smashed, as was also the break-van, but it was dark and I could not see much. I saw several people on the ground, but did not see either the guard or engine• driver. I consider the coupling chains of some of the 'carriages in the first train breaking and coming on to the advanced first part the cause of the accident. I assisted Mrs. Hildrick and young Mr. Skeldon; the former was close to the engine. She was in the lines at the side. We lifted her out and put her on the grass. She was quite dead. Her heal on the top was not much cut. It was near the brain. Blood was pouring from her nose and mouth. Her husband was also hurt. She was carried away. I did not see her again till last night. I returned to the train, and saw many others injured. I was away half an hour, and also saw several others dead. They were strangers to me. I did not see any of the officials there. My impression of the cause of the accident is that it was neglect. Had such not been the case, there could not have been such a shaking about. By the JURY : I know nothing of the,detached train coming on to us. By Mr. BURBURY : I don't know who told me of the coupling irons breaking. Skeldon told me the breaks were down, and he was in the guard's van going from Prince's End to Worcester. I was hurt in the knee and on the head, and therefore could not take so much notice as I otherwise would have done. I remained near the scene of the accident till the last train left—nearly three hours. I arrived at my home a quarter past twelve o'clock. I don't know Francis Etheridge. By the CORONER : I did not see him that night. By the FOREMAN : The doors were locked on one side. . _ By the CORONER : In the usual way. By the FonEntatt: They were locked on the side nearest the up line—the side we got in. It was at starting. The carriage was very full going. By a JUROR : The porters would not let us get out. The train gave a jump on starting. WILLIAM SKELDON : lam a boilerplate roller, and live in Princes-lane. I started on Monday last from Princes lane at twenty minutes to ten. The guard was in his box. I know him, but not his name. The carriages were so full that my brother John and myself left and went into the van. The people were standing up. I went all the way to Worcester. After we started, perhaps about half an hour, the guard asked if either of us had any matches or tobacco. He put my brother to work the break for him. He lighted the lamp to keep it liihted, and I found the tobacco. He began to smoke, and gave my brother, aged seventeen, orders to work the break. He had to put on the break when we neared the station. He said, "Do something for your bread if you have your cheese for nothing. I will make you 837 work." He appeared sober. Our conversation took place, I think, between Dudley and Stourbndge. My brother, with assistance, did manage the break to Worcester. The guard was smoking his pipe. Between Prince's End and Worcester, near Dudley, or Brettle-lane, a coupling chain broke. We felt a shock which almost threw me down. At the station named the guard came into the van and said he wanted a chain ; and took a large one. The check threw me off the seat. It was a very severe shock against the side of the van. He said a chain of the couplings had broken. He only mentioned one. We did not get out. Baldwin was not in the van, although I was with him at Worcester. I cannot say when another chain gave way. There was another little shock, and the guard got out at the next station and said another coupling chain had broken. He took another chain; but brought it back, saying they could do without it. Nothing of any consequence took place between there and Worcester, where we arrived at twenty five minutes past twelve. There were forty five carriages. We had two engines part of the way. I should imagine there were 2,000 people in the train. The trains were fearfully crammed. There was a large number of children from the different schools. I heard no complaint at Worcester about these checks. I heard no reason assigned for dividing the trains on the return journey. The first portion of the train left at 0.20. The guard wanted me to ride in the van again ; but declined, saying I would have a comfortable seat back. As far as I could say, he was sober. His van was in the rear. Between Worcester and Brittle lane, about five minutes past eight by the latter place, we had a shock, and I was instantly thrown violently forward against the opposite side of the carriage. My tongue and nose were cut, and ever since I have had pains in the head. I feel shaken by it. As soon as the carriage stopped I went out and asked the engineer of the last train what was the matter. FRANCIS ETHERIDGE : I am a collier, and live in Moor-lane. I know none of the persons injured. I was coming down from work about twenty minutes past eight. I was going from Worsley to my home. I saw the carriages coming from the Round Oak. There were, I think, twelve or thirteen. I saw no engine and no lights. I wondered where the engine was. It was going at a great rate. I waited till I heard the smash and Then ran down. There was a lamp in a man's hand, and I made a fire. It was about three hundred yards from the bridge. There was awful screaming and shrieking. I saw seven or eight dead bodies under the wheels of the first three carriages, viz., of those coming down from the Round Oak station. I did not notice anything else I was intent on taking the bodies out of the ruins. I don't know either the guards or the engine driver. I don't know the man with the light. I should not know him again if I saw him. I saw several more dead bodies. I saw a man in what I suppose was a guard's dress, but I don't know any of them. ADONI BEZEC GORDON : I am a field watchman, and was near the scene of the accident on a pit bank. I heard the whistle. It was a little before eight when the first train went up. In a quarter of an hour I saw it coming 'Hick without an engine. Mr. BURRURY cross•examined the witness, but nothing material was elicited. The Rev. E. C. PERRY : I am a clergyman, and live at Capperfield, near Sedgley. I left the Bilston station at haltpast nine o'clock in the morning. I was in a second-class carriage; there were no first. I had a party of nearly 200 school children and adults under my care. There were about fifty car riages in the train. There were two engines all the way to Worcester, both in front. I saw one or two guards. 1 did not hear any complaints after leaving Bilston in reference to want of accommodation. We rece►ved a shook when near Brettle•lsne station ; the latter part of the train separated from the fore part. The train did not reach many yards, some men, with blocks of wood, shunting it back. I had my head out of the window, and upon the two parts coming together I saw a man go under, I supposed for the purpose of joining the carriages. There were several shccks afterwards of minor importance ; one more serious occurred just before we got to Kidder minster station. I immediately left the carriage, and ran by the side till the carriages came together, and were again coupled. I observed that the chain or chains were broken. The middle chain was not broken, as I noticed the man put that chain on ; the side chains must have been broken. I then got into the carriage, but I previously had a con versation with the guard, on which I asked him if the engineers were playing any tricks, or were drunk ; he said they were not. We then went steadily on to Worcester. We left Worcester at about half-past six o'clock by the first part of this train, being propelled by one engine. The guard was with the train; there would be an average of fifty persons in each carriage. A second engine joined the train at Kidderminster, and the train went steadily up to the Round Oak station. We were going up the incline when the latter part of the train A again detached itself from the former, and ran down