The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY COLLISION AT DUDLEY.
TWELVE PERSONS INJURED.

A railway collision, happily unattended with loss
of life, but by which twelve persons were /more or
less injured, occurred at half-past eleven on Wed-
nesday night. A "local" train is timed to leave
Dudley for Stourbridge—calling at all intermediate
stations—at 11.10. It started all well a few minutes
late from Dudley, and reached Netherton (on south
side) at about 11.25. After setting down one or two
passengers the train, which consisted of five or six
c irriages only, proceeded safely beyond Ihe junction
leading to Windmill End, Old Hill, and ilalesowen,
on its way t) Round Oak. When about mid-way
between the new signal-box and the old one, and
near the spot known as the Middle Cabin, the pas-
senger train ran into a light engine, which was
moving about for the purpose of shunting certain
"goods." The passenger engine struck the tender
end of the light engine, and by the impetus of the
collision carried the latter along the line with it.
This it was enabled to do very easily from two
cluses—hesvier weight and a sloping gradient. ft
was owing to these two facts that in all human
probabdity, the passengers and servants of the
company enumQ.rated below were Gnly injured
instead of being killed. When the passenger train
came to a standstill it was found that the driver,
the fireman, and the guard were much busied and
shaken, and that some ten or twelve of the pas
sengers complained of hurts, bruises and shock.
Help was promptly rendered by the railway com-
pany's servants. Dr. Higgs was sent for, and oth,,r
medical help sought, whilst messengers went for
carriages to convey those unable or afraid to con-
tine their journey. It was seen upon the arrival of
the surgeon that Edwin Smith, fireman, of the Lye,
and George Baker, guard, of Stamber Mill, near
Stourbridge, were the most hurt, and these men
were taken to the Guest Hospital, where they re-
ceived every possible attention. Charles Thompson,
the driver of the passenger train, was not so badly
hurt, and volunteered to take his train and pas-
sengers along to the end of the journey. It was
found necessary, however, to detach a part of he
train, for the two carriages nearest the engine were
unfit for further service, especially the first one,
which was partially smashed. When this was ac-
complished the train proceeded to Stourbridge, de-
positing the passengers at Round Oak, Brierley Hill,
and Brettell Lane en route. Four or five of the in-
jured passengers, however, preferred going home in
the carriages provided, and they did so, Dr. Higgs
authorising their removal. The total delay was
about two hours. Singular to state the light engine
sustained but little damage, and tbe driver and fire-
man were only shaken. The passenger engine, as
may be gathered from the above account, was not
seriously damaged.
The following are the passengers who were bruised,
cut, and shaken :
Mr. Thomas Dean and wife, of Level Street,
Brierley Hill.
Mr. Benjamin llingley, grocer, Cradley.
Mr. Charles Roe, of Arablecote
Mrs. Macmillan, the wife of a bottle manufacturer
Brettell Lane.

Mr. William Stokes and wife, Moor Lane, Brierley
Hill.

Mr. William Waldron, solicitor, Brierley Hill;
and Mr. Samuel Morris, slightly hurt, address not
given.
None of these are in danger, and Baker and
Smith Were stated on Thursday evening to be pro-
greksiug favourably towards recovery. There was a
heavy fog at the time of the accident, and it is sup-
posed that neither the driver of the passenger engille
nor the light engine saw the signals. The driver of
the light engine was running round the yard to pick
up its trucks when the collision occurred.

FRIGHTFUL DEATH ON THE RAILWAY

AT NETHERTON.

Yesterday morning, on the arrival of the 8.15
trhin from .Stourbridge, the driver of the engine
rerorted that he saw a man fall on the metals.
He did not know whether the train had passed
~v(r him; but on a search being made the dead
body of a man was found, frzhttuily mutilated.
The head, neck, and other parts of the body was
rrnshed aud not recognisable. The tody was at
9 ramoved to the Police Station for inquirifs
to be made.