The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT CHESTER.

A dreadful accident, which has rosnited in the death of one
person and the serious injury of ten others, occurre'd at
Chester on Monday evening. The Liverpool Courier says :

From the facts which our reporter, who was present
in the city with the South Toxteth Conservatives, was
able to glean on the spot, it appears that the 5.10 p.m.
train from Chester to Birkenhead was a little late in
starting, and when it got to the points which would
turn it from the Holyhead line on to the Birkenhead
Railway, and steam was being put on, the two last
coaches, which had third-class compartments, jumped
off the metals, from what cause it is at present un-
known. The two carriages were dragged with
fearful jumps for about twenty yards, when the last but
one turned over on its side, and fell upon a small em-
bankment just opposite the stage where tickets are
taken on the trains arriving at Chester. There were
about twenty persons in the overturned carriage, and
their screams were heard in the station, from whence
assistance was at once despatched. The last carriage
of the train kept its upright position, but was turned
across the line. The driver at once shut off steam,
aud the occupants of the other carriages, though
shaken and alarmed, were not injured. The last
carriage contained in one compartment Inspector
Allison, of Birkenhead, four police-constables, and
a young man, all of whom at once got out and assisted
in getting the injured persons from the overturned
carriage. Medical aid was at once summoned, and the
injured persons were taken to the Queen Hotel and
the Alban Hotel, adjoinieg the station, while others
were removed to the infirmary. Many of the injured
were cut with glass of the broken windows, while
others were maimed in the body I:.y their fellow
travellers falling upon them as the carriage over-
turned. Professor Mitchell, the well-known swimmer,
as in the overturned carriage, and he had a narrew
escape from being killed. He had put his head out
of the window to see what caused the jumping
of the carriage, and just drew it in in time to
prevent decapitation. In the same compartment with
him was Mr. F. J. Jeffery, of 49. Grav-street. Liver-
pool, who was slightly injured. Mr. Edward Roberts,
cotton broker, 106. Dalrymple-street, was seriously
injured about the right side of the head and face,
and there is little doubt but that he will lose his right
ear. The case which terminated fatally was that of
Benjamin Hyman, pedlar, of 17, Woodfield-road,
Paddington, London, who was not expected to re-
cover from the first. His ribs were broken, and he
was otherwise injured. He died at the infirmary at
nine o'clock. Six of the injured received the greatest
attention at the hands of Mr. Giles, the pro-
prietor of the Albion Hotel, who at once en-
gaged a staff of nurses and summoned Drs.
Watson, Taylor, and M'Ewen. When the injured
persons had been rescued from the carriage, the officials
at Chester-station at once put on a large staff of work-
men to clear the line. The overturned carriage was
raised from the embankment by a crane, and again put
on the tine. None of the wheels were broken. Traffic
over the spot where the accident occurred was resumed
by eight o'clock, at which time a heavy-laden train
proceeded to Birkenhead, with some of the messengers
who had been delayed. No such accident has occurred
at Chester for years, and it is th,mght if the carriage
that was overturned had not been very strong few
would have escaped with their lives, as the pace with
which it went down would have shattered it to pieces.