The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-27 00:00:00

SERIOUS RAILWAY COLLISION.

Moss End Station, on the main line of the Cale-
donian Railway, was the scene of a serious accident
on Saturday night, resulting in injuries to a large
number of persons. At Moss End there is a perfect
network of sidings for shunting purposes worked by
two cabins—Moss End Junction and Burnhouse—
which are about a mile apart. Shortly after nine
o'clock a heavy train of upwards of twenty waggons
with old iron rails arrived at Burnhouse*Cabin. It;
was shunted on to the tip main line, and the signal-
man at Moss End was informed by the block system
of the fact.. On reaching the home signal tho
train came to a standstill, and remained so
for some time. A misunderstanding then ap-
peared to arise between the men at the
different cabins. A signal was made to proceed at
the time that a passenger train from Glasgow was due.
The driver of the mineral train thought it was for
him to proceed to the Mankland siding, the rails
being consigned 'to the Mankland Iron Company.
The driver of the other train seeing the clear light
came 'en at full speed, and rushed upon the train in
front. The passenger train consisted of five carriages
well filled with travellers. The two carriages behind
the engine were telescoped and completely wrecked,
and the occupants were buried among the debris.
The night was dull and dark, and the passengers had
to remain for some time in their painful and dan-
gerous position. Tho people in the other carriages
received a severe shaking, but as soon as possible
jumped from the train and proceeded to render what
assistance they coukl to their more seriously injured
fellow travellers. The guard of the mineral train had
a narrow escape. He happened to look out of his
van and -saw the passenger train rushing on at full
speed. Jumping from the van he reached the ground
a second or two before the collision. The van was
driven on to the top Of the engine, and the waggons
were greatly damaged. The guard ran to the
station and informed the station-master of the
occurrence, and managed to be in time to stop a pas-
senger train proceeding towards Glasgow, and tele-
graphed to Glasgow for assistance. •A large staff of
workmen were despatched to the scene of the
accident. A fire was kindled on the spot, and the
injured were removed from the debris. Several of the
passengers were in an extremely perilous position,
especially so was the case of Kn. Allan, who had
the buffer of a carriage lying across her legs. A
gentleman named Smith, who happened to be in the
train, at once contrived a sort of crane, by means of
which the debris was lifted and the poor woman extri-
cated. It was then found that her left leg was
broken, and she was at once taken to her home,
which, fortunately, -was close at hand. The others
were conveyed to the waiting-room at Moss End,
where everything was provided for the relief of the
sufferers. In the course of an hour Drs. Jones,
M'Dortgal, and Davidson appeared on the scene, and
rendered all the aid in their power to alleviate the
sufferings of the injured. One poor lad named
M`Master had both legs broken, and his right foot
was so frightfully crushed that Mr. M'Dougal at once
conveyed him to the Glasgow Infirmary, where the
limb was amputated.
The following is a list of the injured: R. M`Master,
16, legs broken, right foot amputated; Mr. Allan,
severe scalp wound, extending to each ear; and Mrs.
Allan, his wife, leg broken, and internally injured;
J. Sorby, Wishan, thigh and back bruised; W.
Hunter, a labourer, back crushed in a fearful manner;
Mrs. M`Cully, a widow, back and legs injured; Mrs.
M`Lachlan, wife of a brickmaker, internal injuries;
J. Cole, a brickmaker, thigh fractured; Mrs. Pater-
son, wife of an engineer, face and eyes cut; Mrs.
Kerracher, head bruised; J. Denholm, farm labourer,
left leg fractured; Michael Dolan, deep cut on fore-
head ; W. Hill, a sailor, deep cut on leg; Mrs. Smith,
Oakfield House, Holytown, severe shock to nervous
system; T. Stevening, injury to leg; D. Adam,
internal injuries; T. Brown, back fractured; two lads
named Pinkering, bruises on legs. The line was not
cleared until 5 a.m. on Sunday.