The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-27 00:00:00

THE " CURATIVE '? EFFECTS OF A
RAILWAY COLLISION!

The particulars of the recent collision on the Midland
Railway, having, as a matter of course, gone the round of the
papers, a rather facetious gentleman aiso gives his " ex.
perience" of all event, which, from its restorative influences,
will no doubt be memorable to him :
Allow me to (oath m all that your two correspondents
have relattol with respect to the alarming collision on
the 17th imt, on the Alkilond line.
Nothrnz net do to be added either to their d. scrip-
tune of the circumstance or to their just oonderunation
of the reckless negligence which bronght us Co near to
death; but the Flu ck produced CO curious an effect on
mys-lf--an effe, t, yerhaps, tinparalleled in the history
of I a•lway accidents—the t you will, perhaps, excuse my
troubling you with the details.
At my hotel in Manchester on Tuesday night I was
seized with all the symptoms of a violent attack of
rheumatic fever; in fact, my condition no alarmed me,
and my dread of a sej iurn in a Manchester hotel bed
for two or three months was its preat, that I resolved
to make a boll sortie, and, well wrapped up, start for
London by the 330 p.m. Midland fast train from the
Loudon road terminus. From the time o' leaving that
station to the time of the collieion my heart was going
at express speed; my weak body was in a profuse per-
spiration ; flashes of pain announced that the muscular
fibrea were under the tyrannical control of rheutna-
tism, and I was almost beside myself with toothache.
Crash ! smash! bump! and bong! and from rile to
side Of the carriage I went like a billiard ball uuder a
hard ciphion hit. The c impartment was soon seen to
be sprinkled with the blood of a. haplees victim whose
face had come into crashing contact stith his via.d vie,
and whosenerves will, I fear, fro mw' tI subsequently
obaerv. dof his condition, suffer 1 some time in
consequence.
As soon as I thought it prudent I alighted and
rendered what all was considered necessary, and, al-
though the condition of the atmosphere was such as,
under other circumstances, would probably have pro-
duced the worst results on a frame shaken and de-
bildated by the strong fever lurking in my veins, it is I
remarkable that from the moment of the collision to '
the present hour no ache. pain. sweat, or tremor has
troubled me in the slizhtest degree, and, instead of
being, as I expected, and, indeed, intended, in bed,
drinking and. aurantii or absorbing through my pores
oil of horse-cheatnut, I am conscientiously bound tube
at my office bodily sound, but tnentolly reminded that
the curative power of a trip by the Midland line is by
no means guaranteed by my experience. By-the-by,
Sr, don't print my name or address, or the Midland
Railway Company may come down upon me for com-
pensation.

THE LATE MR. PEABODY.
The Boston Transcript of November 5 gives the follow
characteristic particulars of Mr. Peabody
In personal appearance Mr. Peabody resembled a
professional rather than a business man. Mr. Pea-
body's great interest in education doubtless psrtially
arose from the fact that he was taken from school at
be early age of eleven years, and was thus deprived
of what in that day WM known as grammar school in-
stntetion. The first money Mr. Peabody earned, out-
side of the small pittance he received as a clerk, was
for writing ballots for the Federal party in Newbury-
port. This was before the day of printed votes. When
Mr. Riggs invited Mr. Peabody to be a partner, the
latter said there was one insuperable objection, as he
was only nineteen years of age. This was no objection
in the mind of the shrewd merchant, who wanted a
young and active assistant. Our esteemed fellow'
citizen, James Reed, was the first merchant who gave
George Peabody credit. The purchase was for a
thousand dollars, half of it on credit. The amount
was promptly paid, and 'he transaction led to a long
business relation and lifelong friendship. 'lwo gentle-
men are living who were friends of Mr. Peabody
in
boyhood, and who willingly paid his share of the cost
of sailing and fishing parties, ten pins, &c., during the
war of 1812 1-1— his excellent company being considered
more than an offset to his lack of funds.
Tlse late Rev. Daniel Dana, DL)., of Newburyport,
was the clergyman whose preaching first attracted Mr
Peabody's attention N411.-n a lad. Mr. Dana was uncle
to Mr. Samuel T. Dana, of this city, who has been Mr.
Peabody's agent of late years.
Mr. Peabody did not bestow many gifts to relieve
inilie Pool poverty or distress. He thought that much
of the money thus contr ihuted only tended to increase
the cell it sought to alleviate. Mr. Peabody was a
beautiful penman. Ills letters were unusually' brief,
and very touch to the point.
Mr. Peabialy was strongly opposed to frauds inlittle
matters. The conductor on an English railway once
overcharged him a shilling for fare. Ho n :pie com-
plaint directors, ainclout.l d
not afford tisco hpzygteee.
shillin!, but the man was cheating many travellers to
whom the swindle would be oppressive."
When Mr. Peabody first resided in London he
lived very frugally, taking breakfast at his lodgings
and dining at a club house. liis personal expenses for
ton years did not average EGO° per annum.
Mr. Peabody had a very retentive memory, particu-
larly in regard to names and places. He would give
the most minute particulars id events that occurred
between 50 and GO years ago. Mr. Peabody first
appeared in print as the champion of American credit
in England, at the time our State securities were de-
prested on account of the nompayment of interest by
Pennsylvania. Mr. Pealxidy administered many
severe rebukes to prominent Southern men for the
mannet in which their States treated public creditors.
Essex County, where Mr. Peabody was born, has
five public buildings erected by his liberality. They
are consecrated to the uses of education, science, and

Mr. Peabody leaves a s'ster, Mrs. Daniels, formerly
Mrs. Russell, of Georgetown. Ile has several nephews
and nieces, to all of whom he has been very generous.
Mr. Peabody was very fond 14 sinaing. Sottish songs
being his favourites. The toast. Mr. 'Peabody sent to
the Danvers celebrat:on in 1552 was " Education.—
A debt flue front present to future gsnerntions."
Mr. Peabody was a rood talker; at the table few
men were his equals. His idea of a i•letokaut dinner
party was where there was a great deal of talk, and he
could take the lead in conversation. The favourite
games of Mr. Peabody were backgammon aftrr dinner,
and whist in the evening. He was as fond of the
latter and as rigorous a player as Charles Lamb's
friend, Sarah Battle, who neither gave nor took
fluarter.
About a quarter of a Cl nth ry ago Mr. Peabody was
so much pleased with an American lady visiting Lon-
don that he offered her his hand and fortune, which
were accepted. Learning a short time afterwards that
she was already engaged, a fact of which she had kept
him in ignorance, his rebuked her lack of sincerity and
broke off the engagement.
Mr. Peabody visited incognito the houses ereoted by
his mttnificence for the poor of London, to sec if those
in charge of the charity properly attended to their
duties. He ask..l the wits of the superintendent the
name of her child, and was answered, "George Pea-
body." This prompted a present to the infant, which
the mother quietly interpreted and announced to her
neighbours the presence of their distinguished bene-
factor, who gladly took refuge in a Gab to be rid of
their benedictions.