The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-08-24 00:00:00

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT
BARNET.

On Monday night a shocking and fatal railway accident
occurred near the Barnet Station of the Great Northern
Railway. It appeara that at eleven p.m. a train, con-
sisting of that and tteeond claas carriages, left the King's.
crate. Station. and arrived at the Barnet Station at the
usual time, the average time being half an hour. 'this
train goes no further than Barnet, and it is the priliCtlCO
to shunt it on to • eiding close by, so that it may be
ready for the first up train in the morning. After the
passengers had left, and before the train had been
shunted, a beavily-laden goods train, drawn by a power-
ful eosins., dashed into the hind part of it, smashing
some of the carriages to atoms, setting on fire, it is said,
the supply of gas kept in a al eines of gasometer in the
Keane* van for supplying the lamps of the train. The
flames soon seised the woodwork of the carriage., and
opread with great rapidity. Asaistanco was at orice at
hand. and after great exertions the dimes were extin-
guished. Henry Murphett, aged iirt, of 50. Outram.
street, Caledonian-road, the driver of the goods' train,
and John Castledine, aged 22, of 25, Blundellstr, t,
Calleelonian•rosd, the firenrsn, were found in an inien-ible
condition sr-angst the debris, and appeared all but dead.
They were taken to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's•inne
road, whom it was found that Murphett was suffering
front several severe mints-ion. of the arum and body,
and Castlediue from injures to the head and right hand.
Ile had also sustained some severe oontusions on his
body. By Tuesday morning !they had progressed
as satisfactorily as could be expected, and are now out
of danger. In the of the guard's van, attached to
the passenger train, was found the hotly of Henry South,
one of the guards of the passenger train. The remains
were very much charred, and were removed to a room in
Barnet.

FE3TIVAL OF THE DUNMOW FLITCH.
An immense number of people left London on I
Monday morning, for Dunmow, that being the day
appointed for the festival of the Danmow Flitch. As
is generally known, a flitch of bacon is given in Little
Dunmow to any married couple who, having been
married • year and a day, will swear that they have not
quarrelled once in that time, or repented of their mar-
riage. The flitch Ii said to have been claimed only five
times since the reign of Henry VI., prior to 18.55, when
it wss awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Batlow, of Chipping
Ongar, and to the Chevalier and Madame de Chateline.
The town woo decorated with arches and flags, and
there were several bandit of mule playing. In • field
opposite the Humour Vigor a wart of fair was carried
on, where woo also • long booth fitted up with stage and
proscenium. Before the trial, a cricket match between
eleven threatriccl clowns arid the Dunmow Club was
commenced. The clowns, under Mr. Harry Croueste,
bat the toss for fret innings, and thereby gained an
opportunity of dr.lling altogether in the field. One of
there got endless fun out of an old umbrella; and a
strange effect was produced, whenever a wicket fell or
• batsman was caught out, by the clowns turning over
and over in • Ilene' of ecstatic somersaults, supposed to
express delight and triumph. When the company hat
been tumbled within the booth, and the orchestra had
played a long overture, the curtain was raised. Mr. E.
T. Smith, in scarlet and ermine, presided as judge; and
the opposing counsel wal Mr. Brook, of "judge and
jury" notoriety. Mr. Smith addremed the "Court on
the eminent custom of Dunmore, "looking at it," as he
said, "from a religious point of view," and taking
strong exception to the ViCaZ in again refusing to
sanction the ceremony. The trial then proceeded, two
couples—a Mr. and hfill. Casson, of Ilackuoy, and •
Mr. and Mrs. Leader, of Clerkenwell—coming forward
as claiuranta. The learned Mr. Brooks, being on his
very best behaviour, was rather less entertaining than
he was apparently expected ti be, and in fact may fairly
be said to have been decoroody dull. Another
counsel's pleasantry was at first relished by part of the
audience; but nearly all present joined in hissing the
sdrocator when he passed ride plain and positve gross.
newt Mr. Casson, in answer to questions. said he was
married Jane 2.1, 1865. He never had had a arms word
with his wile. He did not go home on the Bth of Jane,
1567, and complain that his wife bad burnt to a cinder
• mutton chop which he had arked her to cook for him
—(laughter). Mr. Leader mu next examined, and then
the president put it to the jury whether Mr. and Mrs.
Canoe and Mr. and Mrs. Leader should receive a Hitch
each, and the jurore unanimously answered in the affir-
mative. The president neat expressed the admiration
of the town at the conduct of the two *cunt., sod his
hope that their example would be followed by others.
The flitches, he added, would be forwarded to any
adder's which they might be ploased to name. Mr.
Leader mooed, and Mr. Comma secoudejl a vote of thanks
to the jury, and thanks having her n also voted to Mr.
Smith her presiding, the Court broke ua amid general
hilarity. The laureate were then carried in • somewhat
elaborate prousaion through the town, to the aecom•
puinieut of • band, and with the attendance of • great
crowd. There was after turrirt• fele ritigarpetrr, in which
the amusements oere a mock tournament, a bicycle rue.
a Punch and Jody show, • maypole dance, d;,.. As the
shades of evening drew on, a dieplay of fireworks also
took place. The flitches were pruented by Meese&
Fitch and don, of et Bialropsgatmatreet-within, Landon,
and were from Essex bred pigs.

Tall Prin.. of Wales will arrive in London about the
2511). and proceed to Abergeldie Diet day. The
Princess remains in Germany till the third week in
September.
. . . . . .

IT I. stated that Finlen, of Hyde-park notoriety, will
shortly from Liverpool for the United States. I're-
vioosly to doing so, be is to receive a testimonial from
hie Loodon admirers.
Sritaulioar ExPLoeloN us AIIKRICA.—The stems-
boat Cumberland exploded her boilers OD the Ohio
river on Saturday. Twenty persons were killed, and
the boat blown to piece..
Tot Atherittrani confirms the report that the private
diary of Lord Palmerston is about to be published, and
that Sir Henry Bulwer, has been for soul, time occupied
on a biography of the late statesman.
Tits length of the Pacific railroad is such that a court-
ship begun in Ohio wai consummated in. marriage
before the two travelkra reached the end of tht ir route.
—Chin:go Jokr"l.
For Reel of Denbigh writes, for the information of
them, who have subscribed to the Papal Defence Fond,
that the committee have sent out 1.000 Remington
rifles complete, at an expeno• of 1:3,400, all of which
yes paid for.