The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-12-05 00:00:00

WZYKOI7TH.

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WISYMOCTII ROYAL HOSPITAL AND DISPUSAIT.
The Hon. Secretary begs to acknowledge with thanks
the roc,ipt of LS from Captain Montagu Thomas, of
Victoria-terrace, towards the fonds of this charitable
institution.
Teakerte or Ltcmax.-0a Tuesday Mr. liesthorna
applied for the transfer of the license of the Brig lan
to a wbeelchairmsn named Woodland. no Saporta-
teadent had nothing to say against the landlord pro-
proposed, and the application wee granted.

Fatal Accident on the Tramway.

THE TOWN CLERK'S SON KILLED.

A very sad accident happened on the Harbour
tramway, about half-past ele en o'clock on Thursday
morning. It appeared that a heavy train of trucks
was being pulled from the direction of Mr. Greenwood's
yard, northward towards the Railway Station, and a
another of lads from the schools near were in the
neighbourhood playing. In the train was a quantity
of miseltoe which had been brought over from
Cherbourg, and some of the lads jumped up towards
the truck, to get some of the miseltoe One lad
nearly rolled over in the water, through the train being
..n the move, and Victor Hooper, son of the Town
Clerk of Weymouth, Pelly Hooper, Req., wee knocked
down by the last truck but one, and fell under
the train. A lad named Whitley made • desperate
effort to pull out the poor lad ; but the last truck went
over Master Hooper • cheat and his skull wee also
fractured. The train having pureed, the lad was
picked up and taken to the Royal Hospital, and his
father sent for; but Mr. Hooper warn not in time to
see his son alive, for the unfortunate boy expired on
being taken into the passage. Dr. Griffin, among the
medical staff, was immediately in attendance. but
could only confirm the fact of death. It is
said the train was ender the charge of officers called
Elkins and Jones, but this we have been unable to.
pc•itively confirm. A large pool of blood remained
near the Melcombe Regis end of the Backwater
Bridge, a little to the north of which the distressing
occurrence took place, and of coarse large numbers
visited the spot.
The accident appears from clue enquiry to have
occurred about a quarter to twelve. One of the
deceased's fellow-scholars, who was in the party,
states that the track with the miseltoe had passed,
and that Victor Hooper had Rot on the train, and was
riding on the front grease-box of the last truck, and
on the side next the water, when as they tamed the
telegraph post north of the end of the Backwater
Bridge, the deceased slipped off, and the witness
thought he was going to fell into the water, but the
lad fell with his had towards the end of the train,
and the wheel went over him. The engine and train
were stopped somewhat short of the next telegraph
post, about 100 yards. The fallen boy was borne
John Bayly and Edward Pitman to the Hospita ,
and made no sound on the route. The accident has
made a deep sensation, and great sympathy is expressed
for Mr. and Mrs. Polly Hooper under their shocking
10110.
THE 1111430118 T

Wu held in the lower room of Mr. Miller's School,
71,7herisnon,d:nit ahadeugb.gradonjournto
etterroCorom
thneewr,ardlkirot.
thHe.
osni La: where it waa opened.
TG jute...tainted of—Mr. C. J. Tartrate, foreman;
Messrs ciarks Smythe, W. Gregory, J. A. Sharron,
E. J. Read, A. Dei:nis, L. Rossi, W. Roger., G. S.
Russell, A. W. Benison, 7. raire7. o.Slaple, and E.
J. Brown.
Mr. Pally Hooper, Mr. R. g Rev. J. Miller,
&a., were preseet, and the following evidence was
given :
James Bushrod : I inn • bricklayer, and live at 13,
Nicholarstreet. About • quarter before 12. I was
coining from West Hain to Weymouth, across the New
Backwater Bridge, and se I was about 128. of this
end of the bridge, where the accident happened, I saw
a train going by, and stopped while it Ploovi. There
were two trucka behind a truck loaded with iniseltoe,
and the train wee going at • steady walking pace,
going very steady. I believe the other waggons were
loaded, and it wee the third from the end that coo.
talned mkieltoe. I saw three little boys ran
round from the beck of the trucks, as the signalmen
was standing in the pathway. _____,tow=
people back from injury. The three bore run
and one jumped up and picked of • little bit of this
staff, I believe, but I would DOt swear it politively.
I did not know any of the boys; but the sewed one
got on the gresee-bot of the wheel, his foot slim.'
and he fell that instant under tits train, and c.
under the wheel. I have slues asoertained that that
was the deceased. I was too shocked for the moment,
and did nothing. The train wee immediately
In about half • minute. It was not going abortelM
miles an hour, and at • steady walking pee& Sit or
eight wheel, passed over the damaged, certainly not
the whole train, but all the remainder of the warren..
On reckoning it up, witness Bald thin wets firs
that west over hire.

slipped,
I