The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-10-28 00:00:00

ilk,

TILE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

TAKING TUE BULL BY TH IfORNEL—An not of courage
has just been done at a ferns near Ervy. A bull belong-
ing to the farm had conceived a hatred for the fanster's
wife, in such a manner that she was obliged to keep
within doors every time that the animal was let loose.
A few days back, hearing that the COM, had got into the
orchard, she ran out to drive them Dose it, when she
suddenly found herself in the presence of the bull; the
animal rushed upon her, but she had the presence of
usind to throw herself down and remain quiet. The
bull, however, pawed her on the head anti breast, break-,
leg her collarbone. The woman's life would probably
have been sacrificed had not a man named Misfile, of
great strength and address, hastened to the spot, and
mixing the bull by the horns threw it to the ground,
and then taking the woman on his 'shoulders, carried
her to the farm. Although severely injured Lopes are
entertained of saving her life.
A COAL PIT ON FIRE. —Tim high Brook Colliery,
Park-lane' near Wigan, which was reported to be on
Ire some days back, is still burning, notwithstanding
the efforts which have been made to extinguish the
flames. The difficulty which the workmen encounter
in their operations is s very peculiar ono, the heavy
rush of gas rendering it impossible for them to keeps
covering on the um:oat-shaft On Wednesday a jet
, of steam was propelled into the downcast shaft, and it
is hosed by this means to extinguish the fire.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN
LINE. —On Tuesday afternoon a fatal accident occurred
on the Great Western Railway between Warwick and
Hatton. As the passenger train which leaves Leaming-
ton for Birmingham at 2.40 p.m., was proceeding on
its way, the engine-driver saw a little in advance of the
train a body lying on its face between the rails. He
immediately blow the whistle, and endeavoured to stop
Isis engine ; but before ho could do so the whole of the
line of carriages had passed over it. The guard and
stoker wont back, and assisted in removing it frees. the ,
place. The body was not mangled, and it is thought
that the unfortunate man must have been knocked
down and killed by the express from London, which
had just before gone that way. The man's name is
Samuel Smith, • fruiterer ant pig killer, residing in
Bowlinggreen-street, Warwick. lie has left a wife and
one child.
GREAT FIRE AND LOBS OF LIFE.—On Sunday night
(19th), a dreadful conflagration occurred in Hull, which
resulted in the death of a police-constable, and caused
several policemen and others to be seriously injured. It
has also been the moans of considerable dostructim of
property. The fire was discovered shortly after seven
o'clock in the warehouse of Messrs. J. Lee, Smith, and
Co., wholesale grocers, High-street. Information was
immediately conveyed to the police-station, and the
alarm bells wore rung, and every effort made to obtain
assistance. The rain poured in torrents, and there was
also a boisterous wind; but notwithstanding this,
thousands of persons congregated on the spot, Despite
the exertions of those engaged, the flames continued to
obtain the mastery, which the wind fanned into greater
intenalty. It was quite obvious that there was no chnnce
of Messrs. Smith and Co's premises being saved. Fears
were also entertained for the safety of several vessels
lying along the quay in the river Hull. Fortunately,
however, the rain continued to pour down, or otherwiee
they must inevitably have been destroyed, for the tide
had gone down, and It was utterly impossible to move
them. The premises in which the fire originated are in
juxtaposition with the harbour, and from High-street
access is gained to them by moans of a narrow passage.
Some lengths of hose were brought along this passage,
and it was hero that the most serious accident occurred.
A body of borough police—which consposes the local
fire brigade—were at the end of this passage, near the
main body of the warehouses, when suddenly
the wall cracked and fell in with a dreadful
crash, burying several 'nee in the ruins. The greatest
consternation prevailed for a moment amongst the
spectators, but means were immediately taken fot
rescuing the unfortunate men. The dense smoke which
arose for a time prevented any effectual assistance being
iendered, and drove those engaged in the noble work
away. As they were leaving, the cries of a man named
John Coxon, a fireman on board her Majesty's gunboat
Ruby, wars heartrending. It entreated them in the
most piteous tones not to forsake him; however, it was
same time before he could be got out from under the
debris, and he is now in such a state that little hopes
are entertained of his recovery. The fire continued to
ragejnear the place of the accident, but nothing daunted,
the men went on with their perilous work. As one
poor fellow after another was extracted from the ruins
and removed to a place of safety, the cheers of the by-
standers encouraged the mots to further exertions.
Police-constable heCermick (96) was among the debris
upwardi.of four hours, and during part of that time
several red-hot bricks were on his chest. He was
removed to a coffee-house close by, and was attended by I
several surgeons; but the injuries which he received I
are of a serious character, •and he is not expected to
recover. About two o'clock on Monday morning the
men engaged in clearing away the debris discovered the
body of Police-constable Redfern. The unfortunate
man hes left is wife and two children, Many other
persons ere seriously injured by the falling of the wall,
and for some there is little hope of recovery. The fire
having beers confined to one building gradually ex-
hausted its fury, and it was seen that all danger of its I
spreading bad ceased; most daring attempts were made
to extinguish the great mass of fire in one centre of the
building, and the attempts proved successful. An esti-
mate has now been formed of the extent of the damage,
and £15,000 will hardly meet the loss which has been
sustained. Tlse proprietors are principally covered by
Insurance. An inquest has been opened on the body of
the Police-constable Redfern, who was killed, but the
investigation has been adjourned for a short time. The
other constables and men who sustained injuries are
progressing favourably.
ALARMING ACCIDINT TO AN REPRESS TRAIN.—AR
alarming collision—inset providentially unattended with
fatal consequences—occurred on the West Midland
Railway near Evesham, on Wednesday night, under the
following eircumstanoess t—The down express train from
London, whirls leaves Paddington at 6.30 p.m., does not
stop at lvesharn, but passes this station at the usual
express speed, and is due here at about 9.5 p.m. The
train was a few minutes behind time but WAR proceed-
ing at the usual rate, and had passed time,
station
by about 200 yards, when the passengers were suddenly
thrown together in confusion, some receiving bloody
noses, and others being badly bruised. Fortunately,
however, no further damage was sustained by them ;
and on leaving the train they found that they had run
Into some trucks, which by some negligence had been
left on the line without danger signals to guard them,
while it was known that the express train was due on
the same line of rails. The effect of the collision was
to dash the trucks (three in number) into splinters and
breaking down the telegraph wires. Two of the wheels
of one of the trucks had in an extraordinary manner got
under the fore wheels of the engine and became firmly
fixed in it, and it is thought that the engine would
have left the rails and ran off down an embankment but
for these wheels holding It upon the line. At the place
where the collision occurred there is an embankment
leading over some low lands adjoining the River Avon,
and had the train gone a little further and run off the
rails, it must have fallen bodily into the river, which
was much swollen by the late rains and is always deep
at this place. The escape of the passengers was Indeed
miraculous. The party most injured was the engine
driver, who received a severe blow on the chest, He
was convoyed to Worcester in the course of the night
and attended by Mr. Bverett, surgeon, who pronounced
his injuries as not serious. The damage to the company
is considerable, the three trucks being completely
destroyed. One of them was loaded with scrap iron.
The extent of the mischief being ascertained assistance
wan obtained from Evesham, and in about an hour the
disabled train was dragged back to Evesham ; and afresh
engine being obtained the passengers were sent on their
journey. The line was cleared in about an hour. How
the trucks got on the line of course the authorities can-
. .

not yet say but the foreman porter at Eve%ham, who
has the management of the shunting of trains, has been
taken into custody and will be examined before the
magistrates. It is due to the public that the most
searching investigation should take place, and the culprit
be punished.
A MOTHER AND CHILD KILLED ON THE RAILWAY.
—A melancholy occurrence took place on the Stockton
and Darlington Railway, on Saturday. According to
the m idence adduced at an inquest held at Berry Edge,
on Monday, it appears that Peter Campbell, a man
evidently in the humbler walks of life, along with his
wife anti two children, started on a long journey—from
Wolsingham, in Wcardale, to Rexham, in Northumber-
land—which they intended to foot all the way. Arrived
at Crook, they chose the line of railway as a leas tedious
path than the turnpike. Soon an engine and train of
wagons came rushing up from behind them on the down
line. The driver blow his whistle, and the father and
one child he had in his care stepped clear of the line.
The mother, however, with the other child, which she
carried on her back, in her bewilderment stopped in
between the line of rails on which the engine was run-
ning, and before the driver could pull up she was
knocked down. The child's death was instantaneous,
the mother's occurred shortly afterwards. A verdict of
"Accidental death" was returned.