The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-07 00:00:00

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR
SALISBURY.

On Tuesday afternoon a terrible railway accident,
resulting in the loss of four lives and injuries to
more than sixty persons, occurred on the Salisbury
and Wimborne branch of the London and South-
Western Railway. The train to which the accident
occurred was one leaving Salisbury at 4.30. It
consisted of two engines and some six or seven
carriages, which, owing to it being Salisbury market
day, were well filled. The train left Downton, the
next station to Salisbury, all right, but did not
reach Breainore, the next station. On a bridge
over the river Avon the whole train, but not the
engines, left the rails, while running round a long
curve at the rate of 40 miles an hour. It proceeded
some hundred yards after this, and then, still going
at a fearful speed, rushed down an embankment.
Carriage mounted over carriage, and the whole train
became a complete wreck. One of the carriages was
partially embedded in a small stream or ditch by the
side of the line; the rest went into the field beyond.
In one case nothing but the floor of a carriage was
I left; in others roofs and sides were crushed in.
1 The rails of the permanent way were twisted
about like pieces of wire. The cries and shrieks
of the wounded for help were heartrending, and
the scene was one of terrible excitement. How
it was that so few were killed is little less
than a miracle. The accident happened exactly
opposite the Downton College of Agriculture, and
Professor Wright and son and the whole of the
students turned out and rendered most valuable
assistance in exhicating the dead and wounded.
Assistance was telegraphed for to Fordinghridge and
Salisbury, and Drs. Rake and Clifton, from Fording-
bridge, and Dr. Coates and Mr. Hartley, of Downton,
quickly cane to render medical aid to the injured. A
relief gang was sent in a special train from Salisbury,
and the more seriously injured were taken to Salis-
bury Infirmary.
It was at first reported that there were five persons
grilled, but only four dead bodies were extricated from
the wreck. One was that of Mr. Walter Waters, of
Hyde Farm, near Fordingbridge, a nephew of Mr.
George Boyd, a large traction engine proprietor, .of
Boyd Farm, near Salisbury. The other three were
Miss Lilian Kate Chandler, daughter of the Ford ing-
*bridge stationmaster, who was returning home from
school; Mrs. George Corbin, wife of a Ringwood
tradesman, and a Mrs. Lush, of Godshill. The
:three last named were all drowned in the carriage which
overturned into the water. The corpses were taken
tothe Downton Agricultural College, where also some
of the injured received the kindest possible treat-
ment. Among the more seriously injured were Mr.
Ridley, of Damerham, Wilts; Mr. James Coventry,
.of Fordingbridge ; and Mr. Stanford, of Cranborne ;
and among others injured were Mr. Allen, of Poole;
Mr. J. Good, ,of Wimborne; and Mrs. Brufford, wife
of a Wimborne engine-driver. There were over 100
'persons in the train, and very few escaped without
some hurt. Breakdown gangs arrived about nine
'o'clock, and began repairing the permanent way.
Another account says: The train was the ordinary
passenger train, and was moderately well-filled. It
was being drawn by two engines, the first one being
what is known as a pilot, over the bridge when the
.axle of the second engine snapped, and the train was
in part precipitated over the embankment and into
the river. Many of the passengers escaped by retain-
ing their presence of mind—among others, Mr.
Hillier, bookseller, of Salisbury, and Miss Kate Faw-
cett, daughter of Mr. W. Fawcett, of Churchfields,
Salisbury, both of whom received a severe shaking
and slightinjuries, but returned by the next train to
Salisbury. Information by telegraph was immedi-
ately sent to Salisbury and Wimborne, and from the
former.place a special was soon despatched with Mr.
S. N. Davis, the superintendent of the London and
South-Western line on the Salisbury district. He
took with him three doctors, Mr. Gowing, Mr.
Wilkes, and Mr. C. W. Coates. On the arrival of
the special on the scene of the catastrophe every
effort was at once made to rescue the passengers.
Assistance had already been at hand, the news of
the occurrence having reached the ,College of
Agricul`ure in the neighbourhood, of which
Professor Wrightson is the head. To this
, establishment many of the injured were con-
veyed, while others were brought by the next train to
Salisbury, and carried to the infirmary. There was a
(crowd of about four or five hundred persons at the
station, many of them inquiring as to whether their
relatives or friends who had gone by the unfortunate
train were among the injured or killed. The throng
increased up to 8 o'clock, when a train from Downton
was due, and many persons went by the last up-
• train to Breamore, while others drove over by road.
A most touching scene was presented on the arrival
,of the injured passengers at the Salisbury Station,
where many anxious friends awaited the train which
• conveyed them from the place where the accident
. occurred. Mr. Davis, the Salisbury station-master,
'who, accompanied by his two daughters, had pro-
ceeded by a special train to the relief of the sufferers,
was observed on the engine as the train made its
way into the station. Stretchers for the conveyance
•of the injured to the infirmary were in readiness. No
fatal accident has occurred on the line for a long
•time past.
It is believed, after a careful examination, that the
(cause of the ac,ciAnt was the breaking of the iron
coupling connecting the van and the first carriage.
The whole of the carriages were sent into the marshes
and the river, the train being a-complete wreck. Some
•of the carriages were found in thetog The accident
occurred about a quarter of a mile from the viaduct.
The two engines did not leave the line; and what
made the carriages leave it, beyond the snapping of
the iron coupling, seems a mystery, as the train was
proceeding cautiously at the time. None of the rail-
.way officials were injured, the firemen and stokers
escaping, remaining, in fact, on the engines.