The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-06-12 00:00:00

The Coroner—Did you read it?—My wife did, if / The Inventor said he could not dream of calling the
did not. I cannot read myself. My wife read it, and man under such circumstances, and then inquired if
said it was the nearest way to the agricultural chow, anyone was present who could give any information
Was it a printed bill ?—I think it was a printed bill an to the history of the bridge.
or a written bill. My wife flaid that was the nearest Mr. Mitchell, one of the proprietors, said he could
way, and they were all flocking that way. do so.
Mr. Norris and Mr. Clifton aamitted that the briils..._
Mr. Cliften stated that Mr. Mitchell was only too
authorities had put up a notice, and the learned an,d,,,,,, to afford information.
counsel said it was 'strictly in conformity with the fact Mr. Samuel George Mitchell then deposed as
that it was the shortest way from the 'railway 'station follows :—The bridge was built on land belonging to
to the show (expression's of nerprine amongst the jurY- the late Earl Idanvers The bridge was erected in the
men). fall of 1862, but not under the authority of an Act of
Detective Inspector Berry here brought into court Parliament. ft was constructed by the late Mr.
the placard referred to by the witness. It was of rid 1
size, and on it was inscribed in red letters on a light .
house. Williams,
of Bradford. I built the piers and toll-
It was opened January sth, 1863. The bridge
blue ground, " The nearest way to the show field over
this bridge. Toll one halfpenny." The direction of was a private one, the proprietors of which exacted •
toll for crossing, The toll WP* a halfpenny for crossing
as This bridge" w indicated by an index. .
once only. In the fall of 1875 a wild cow ran over the
Thomas liainee, farmer of Sladbrook farm, West- bridge, followed by a large crowd, and to prevent any.
bury (Wilte), said—l identify the body of Mary thing of the kind occurring again, we had an additional
Mince, who was my wife's sister. She was a single gate put up on the north side. In September, 1876,
woman. She was 21 year', of age. She was of no the proprietors had the etructure thoroughly over-
occupation except managing her father's house, I was hauled—not by contract, but by day.work. The cost
not present at the accident. Her father lived at ia the repairs waN 131 is. The flooring only was
Southmewl farm, Ilehester. repaired. A little was done to the iron work. The
John Alloway, of No. 1, Wooabiee.piace, Bath. bridge was a span of 94ft.—that includes the water
gan-fitter, depoised—l saw the accident, which way and the towing path underneath the bridge, and
happened, I think, about 11 o'clock. I was at Mr. I. it was 9ft. wide from out to out. The inside measure-
Gay's, the Lyncombe brewery, at the bottom of went 1111017 ft.
Lyncombe-hill. I 'was looking o"it of the window at Have you any knowledge of the greatest number of
the back iif the house, which overlooks the Wideombe. persons on the bridge at one time ?—hlis, but never 140
bridge. I had been watching the bridge for half-an. imany as int Qui day of the accident. I don't know the
hour previous, ana I mid it looked dangerous. Mr. lumber then. I passed over the bridge 10 minutes
Gay and inyself were talking about it. I made the before the accident happened. The toll has always
°been ation. been taken iin the smith side of the bridge, and no
Mr. Norrie objected to the witness stating any con- arrangements had been male at any time for taking it
versation lie hail with Mr. Gay. on the north side. I get a return from the toll keeper
Witnesn—lst me have my own way, and you can of the money taken from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. from
do the other way if you like (hear, hear, and applause 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m , anil from
in (ourt). I don't want your way; I only want to tell 7 PAIL to 11.30 p.m. That return is received daily
the truth. throughout the year. The !argent amount taken on
A Juror—let him tell his own tale. Alonilsy List was from 7 p.m. to 11.30 p.m., when it
Mr. Norris to witness- The law 11,*4 not allow you was yes. r,,ss
to tell your own tale. We cannot have convernations f 'olonel Yollasil—That is equivalent to 300 persons.
between you anil Mr. Gay. Witness continued —The greatest number on
Witnese—l wm looking out of the window, but I Tuesday was from 2to 7 p.m., and the amount taken
must not say what [said or anything. Gay said to was 17s. 711. On Wednesday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.,
me, " John, that bridge is going." I mid " Yea, and the amount taken was 255. I don't know what time
be is gone,' and so he 11l go. The moment I saw him the accident occurred, but the money taken from 10
go I ran down to the towing path. I should think a.m. to the time the fracture took place was 13s 2irl.
there were 200 persons on the bridge. They were like The e,,neetor was taking the tolls as fast as he could
a crowd going into the theatre, and they could not when the accident occurrea.
get by. Hail there been any complaints made as to the in-
Byahe t'oroner--The briaae was half-full of
_people. ,sseiwity id the bridge ?—I never hearil a person say no.
I think there were about 200 peop Ile on it. am of The repair. I have referred to were not made in con.
opinion that 400 could stand on the bridge if they were sequence of any complaint. Mr. Henry Amor, one of
packed chase from end to end. The people were all the inspectors of the permanent way of the Great
going in the direction of Wi.lcimtbe. Western Railway Company, was in the habit of
Did anything cheek their going over the bridge ?--
passing over the bridge .laily.
There must have been or they wotail have goneDo you know what Was /111PpOSed to be the actual
straight over. Directly I heard the crash I said, "The strength of the bridge, or what weight it wan intended
bridge in gone," and I rushed down to the towing to bear? —I don't remember now, but the bridge WAS
Path. I saw the bridge sink and away the peiTle teeted by being loatleil with iron; and a company of
went. I saw the people in the water and groaning volunteers were marched over the structure to test its
awfully. 'stability. That was before it was opened.
They were not all in the water ?—Yes, they were'
dif the water had been two feet deeper there would Mr. t'lifton said the bridge had been since materially
an
strengthened by means of iron rode.
not have been many to tell the tale how they got out. The Inepegtor intimated it would be desirable if the
Some were clambering up the side% of the bridge. I original drawings of the bridge could be produced;
saw Gibbs trying to pull hie wife out, but he could not and ale, drawings showing the manner in which it was
do en. They were all dumb-foundered. I could see strengthened.
the people lying on the bridge—like in a cradle. Some Mr. Mitchell said he would be prepared to furnish
were lying down and could not get up. There was a the drawings ankeil for.
man, who hail been dragged out by his own party, Mr. ('lark said he was told that the iron rods alluded
lying with his heat in the water; whether he was to hail been added to the bridge to strengthen it,
frowned or not I cannot tell, because it hail hail been shifted by the wind.
The people did not remain on the bridge and in the Mr. Mitchell Raid what Mr. Clark was alluding to
river for any length of titne? -No, we pilled them was sOttle iron work placed on each side of the bridge
out m fast an we cull. They were on their backs becanse it was thought the wind hail some little in.
and in all ehapes and forme. flnence on the bi bilge. The floor of the structure rested
By the jury—The bridge went in the middle, and upon transverse bearers which were supported by rods
formed a letter V. Some people were thrown into the paming through the ribs of the bridge, and secured by
water. I only saw one man taken out dead. I nuts. The flooring wan laid longitudinally. The
helped to convey some of the injured persona to the bearers were originally of deal, but subsequently oak
hospitaL once were substituted. The iron ties were put after-
The Coroner - You say the people were not iliatribn- wards to prevent the swaying, but I did not think they
tel over the bridge I.—No, sir; because they came on were necessary. The cross ties were put afterwards.
in flocks. l'he flooring hail been partially renewed from time to
' time. 'The tie roils which went from buttress to
lmttress hail not been renewed. The shoes into which
the ends of the beams run and are fastened in were
put in originally.
Mr. Clifton said any plans or sketches required
scold be provided.
Mr. Clark observed that he had been toll that the
bridge Was not constructed long enough originally.
Mr. Norris said he must ask the Inspector whether
he was going to permit this? Mr. Clark was appear-
ing for a sufferer, and a sufferer was a person who had
a speculative right to bring an action against some.
body for the injury sustained. The inspector was
holding an official innqiry into the came of the
accident, and he hoped he would not allow the court
to be used to give Mr. Clark an opportunity of
eliciting evidence in support of a civil action. It was
mist unfair that a course should be taken.
Mr. Clark replied that Mr. Norris and Mr. Clifton
appeared for proprietore of the bridge. Ile was there
to throw any light he email im the accident on behalf
of a person who hail received very serious injuries. He
was a sufferer, awl might to have every explanation
pii.eilde. Ile hail never said his object was to bring
an action, lint his learned friend's object WW4 to
prevent actions being brought, and to make out that
the bridge was as sound as possible, and that every-
thing had been dine to make it safe. The point was
whether his question we a proper one—was it
material to know whether the bridge was long enough
when first constructed ?
The Inspector sail the drawings ana sketches which
Mr. Mitchell had promised to furnish winail show
whether the bridge was long or short, and also what
alteratii ins had been made. The contractor who built
the bridge, unfortunately, was flewl.
Mr. Clark said he was toll that complainte had been
made to the toll-collector about the state of the bridge,
Iliul those complaints reached Mr. Mitchell?
The Inspector replied that Mr. Mitchell had stated
that no complaints had been made to him about the
alleged insecurity I,f the briage. If Mr. Clark would
produce a witness, he would hear what he had to say.
Mr. Clark—l will do no on the next occasion.
In reply to Mr. Clark, Mr. Mitchell said the
proprietors did not contemplate building a new bridge
for sone time to come. He did not expect the
excursion trains until Thinsilay and Friday.
Mr. Clifton obeerved, the Inspector doubtless
remarked an inclioe leading from the station to ihe
bridge. It would be very material to the inquiry to
know whether the excursionists, were allowed to come
,low,, that slope the morning of the accident. He
thought the Inspector would find that the people 111,1
not leave the station by the ordinary stem, but were
olischarged on the top of the incline, and came down
with a great rush, and immediately found their way to
the bridge.
The inspector said he had made inquires on that
point, and found that the practice of the railway
company was to allow the excursionist's to go down the

The Foreman-Was there any rushing over the
bridge or were the people walking steadily over it?-
There was no ntshing. They must have been stopped
by something or they would have gone straight off the
bridge. They were walking like people going into a
theatre.
By Mr. Norris- It was entirely a speculation on his
part as to the her of fleetelet on the bridge. Ile
did not of his own knowledge know there was any
obstmetion on the bridge. From the position in
which he was lie c old not see where the toll collector
was standing. He did not know what part of the
bridge gave way first; his belief was that it gave way
in the middle.
Mr. Robert Conway, farmer, of Lillington, Dorset,
identified the le sly of James Ford, a farmer, 40 years
of age, who lived at Beerhackett. Dorset.
Mr. Isaac Gsy. of the Lynetmbe Brewery,
Lyncombe, deposed.--on Wednesday morning, a little
before eleven o'clock, I was at the back window of my
house, and flew a heavily-laden train come into the
station on the down line. I saw a large number of
passewers mine up to the Widcombe-bridge, and
within two minutes the bridge was crammed thom one
end to the other. I took particular noth-e of the
manner in which they were diachargel from the toll-
gate, and I should think that for every one pa.ssed
through the g ite twenty came on to the bridge. In
two minutes there were 300 people on the bridge and
the alproachee to it. The Persons on the bridge were
1r if five abreast, and were closely packed together.
I was just thinking it would be better if the toll-bar
had been on the other side on such an occasion, when
in a minute or so I hered a crash, and the bridge
doebled ep in the middle, and went down into the
river. I ran bi render assistance. All on the bridge
went down with it. The people were clinging to the
bridge : some of them were not wet at
all, nod other; were pulling themselves up the slope of
the bridge bi the station side of the river. Sinus were
on top of others who Were at the lower part of the
bridge. The water is :dealt seven feet deep in the
centre i.f the river and about three feet at the sides.
The centre of the bridge was under water, and some of
the people hail only had their heads above the surface.
I think the bridge hail been standing about fourteen
years.
The Coroner-Did you ever before see it so crowded
as it was on Wednesday ! -Never. sir. I have seen 30
or 40 persons on the bridge when excursion trains
came in, but never so many as there were on Wednes-
day. The bridge would do well enough for any
ordinary passengers traffic, but not for such a pressure
of traffic ail there was on this occassion.
You have seen more than 30 or 40 persons on the
bridge ?-When there are flower shows or anything
going on I have seen 30 or 40 persons on the bridge at
a time, but I have never seen that number exceeded.
Have you ever seen the number amount to hundreds
-I-never in my life saw one-third or one-thmth part
of the number that were on the bridge on Wednesday
morning.
Can you tell nil where it first gave away?-No, I
cannot, except that it was owing to the weight on the
strict lire.
Did it appear to you to break from the Bidet; or to
yield in the centre ! -It hi-eke away from the toll-
house side first and then doubled in the middle.
By the jury-There was no panic previous to the
fall of the bridge. There was no screaming previous to
the structure ; the sereamin,g and the crash came
together.
How long was it before the other end of the bridge
gave away ?-It remained hanging to the buttress on
the station side for not quite two minutes
Mr. Norris-What part of the bridge gave way first!
-I saw the heads of those nearest the toll-house go
down first _ _

•
Nit.. Mitchell—l have been told that the company
never allowed the people to come down the slope before
Wednesday.
Mr. Clark—l have been frequently down that way
mvself.
Mr. Mitchell statM, in reply to questions, that a
plaeard had been put up stating that the bridge was
the shortest say to the show, but it WM placed in a
,situ on where the persons coming down the slope
would not see it.
Mr. Henry William Hicks, one of the proprietors of
the bridge, was tendered as a witness by Mr. Norris,
and in reply to the Inspector he said he was an
architect and surveyor. He was not responsible for
the original construction f the bridge. He had
examined the structure from time to time and made
suggestions as to its repair,and had seen that the repairs
were effected with good material. He was not
prepared to speak to the load which the bridge was
capable of bearing. No representation had ever been
made to him or the shareholders that the bridge was
insecure. He had not the slightest recollection of the
bridge when originally constructed being found too
short. This was the first time be hail ever heard of it.
Are you aware of any representation having been
made as to the propriety of taking the toll on the north
side of bridge ?—No, I don t think there was any
representation of the kind. The gate on the north
side was put up, at his instigation, in consequence of
his seeing the people rushing over the bridge after the
infuriated cow referred to by Mr. Mitchell. The gate
was put up as a precaution against a large number of
persons nishing over the bridge. He lived on the
Widcombe side, and was continually passing over the
e, and to the best of his knowledge and belief it
. . . .

Inspector Berry intimated that he had no more wit-
nesses to call that day.
The Coroner said it was necessary to have scientific
evidence as to the condition and structure of the bridge,
and suggested that Mr. Marsh, of Grosvenor, would'
be a very competent gentleman.
Several of the jurymen approved of the Coroner's
allggeStion.
A Juryman inquired if any ot the wreckage was to
be removed.
Mr. Norris replied that he had suggested that every-
thing should' be left in its present condition as far as
possible. (Hear, hear.) Until every examination had
been made not a timber should be removed.
Mr. Clifton said Colonel Yolland, the Board of
Trade inspector, WWI coming down, and it would not
do to remove anything until he had inspected the
scene of the accident.
In, Berry stated that any remoials that might
• .

imipector
have been made Were undertaken with a view to secure
the public safety.
The Town Clerk informed the Coroner that a tele-
grain had been received fr .m Colonel Yolland stating
that be wotild arrive in Bath that evening.
The Foreman stated that some of his fellow-jurymen
would feel more ,ottsfie I if the gentleman engaged to
report on the bridge was a stranger to Bath.
Mr. Clifton remarked that it was pcwsible that he
should call em,ineers ,m hi, side.
The Coroner thought that in Mr. Marsh they would
have a thoroughly independent gentleman.
The Foreman--The question with the jury is ZU, to
whether the outside public will be satisfied.
Mr. Norris hoped the jury would not allow them-
selves to be biassed by popular clamour nut of doors.
The Foreman—l an. only expressing the views of
my brother jurymen.
'The Coroner—l think the interests of the public are
fully insured by the gentlemen I see on the jury.
Mr. Norris stated that he intended to call the
engineer who designed sal built the bridge, and he
would furnish the jury with every information re-
specting the structure.
The inquiry was then adjourned until Monday
week.

bridge, and to the nen inl•Aa
was in sound and substantial repair.
Can you account for the accident?—.! can only
imagine that a great weight concentrated on one spot
must have caused the floor of the bridge to bend, and
to withdraw from its bearings, and the tie rods must
have snapped.
Have you any knowledge that they had broken?—
No, that is my theory, and the only way I can account
for it. I don't imagine the mischief took place in the
arch of the bridge. If the crowd were swaying about
h
it would affect the rods. Since the accident he had not
g sue into any calculations as to what weight the bridge
would bear.
Had you any anticipation of danger which led you
to take precautions for limiting the number of people
who should go on the bridge ?—Well, I certainly had
some idea of that kind, when the gates were put upon
the north side, that the number should be limited,
But as you dii not place anyone to look after the
gates, is not the precaution a useless one?—l had not
much to do with the management of the bridge. I
simply looked after what! might call the estate. I
did not consider it my duty to give instruction's as to
the mana;,sement of the tolls. He might have men-
tioned the matter in the course of conversation at a
meeting of shareholders. He had never heard that
Captain Tyler had expressed an opinion as to the
insecurity of the bridge. He had examined the bridge
both above and below, critically and closely. He did
not see the placard directing the people to the bridge
as being the nearest way to the show ground, and he
did not know of its existence.
hare you heard of rumours from anybody whatever
that the bridge was insecure ? —Oh, dear no (emphati
cal ly).
Mr. Clark suggested that Mr. Marsh, engineer,
sli, sal be examined as a witness.
Mr. Clifton said Mr. Marsh had been requested to
examine the bridge by the Coroner, and it would be
improper to examine him on that occasion.
Mr. Clark complained that Mr. Norris and Mr.
Clifton were attempting to shut his mouth.
Mr. Clifton—That is a superhuman effort, which I
shall not attempt
Mr. Clark said it was patent to everybody that an
attempt was being made to shut him up. He appeared
for Mr. Milton, who was seriously injured, and for
Mr. Clifton to attempt to shut him up was most
unwise.
Mr. Clifton—Pray don't impeach my wisdom.
Mr. Clifton said Mr. Austin King was present, and
would state his connexion with the Bridge Company.
Mr. Austin King, solicitor, said in 1871 he became
one of the trustees of Mr. Isaac's marriage settlement,
which comprised, amongst other property, Mr. Isaac's
share in the Wideombe-bridge. Witness had nothing
whatever to do with the bridge, and he had only
attended one meeting of the shareholders, and that was
in 1874.
Mr. Clifton—You have heard no complaints of any
defect in the bridge, or want of repair ?—Not the
slightest.
Colonel Yolland—Yon heard no rumour as to its