The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-16 00:00:00

COLLISION ON THE RAILWAY AT
STOURBRIDGE.

An accident occurred near Stourbridge Station,
about half-past eight o'clock on Wednesday night,
which caused great alarm among the passengers, by
the 7 30 p.m. train from Snow Hill, Birmingham.
This train on arriving at the Lye Station—the one
nearest Stourbridge—was detained some time, owing
to there being no signal from Stourbridge that the
line was free. The block system:is in force on this
part of the line, and failing to get a signal from
Stourbridge, the Lye station-master resolved to send
on the train at a caution. In a case of this kind a:train
is supposed to be run all the way to the next station
at caution, but, in this instance, a singular misap-
prehension led to an accident. It appears that the
reason of the line not being signalled clear at Stour-
bridge was that a draw-bar in a luggage train had
broken, and that it could not be drawn out of the
way till thir tackling was made good. At last the
home signal was lowered for the luggage to go on,
and the driver of the passenger train, who had passed
the distant signal at a slow pace thought this was a
signal. for his own train to enter the station and he
at once put on steam. A sharp curve prevented his
seeing the tail lights of the luggage train, and the
consequence was that the passenger train ran into it.
The train was ascending a heavy gradient at the
; time, which took off the force of the collision, but the
paosengers were much shaken and alarmed. There
were upwards of thirty persons in the train, and four
or five of these complained of severe contusions. One
woman fainted with fright. None of the carriages
were thrown off the line, but there was a delay be-
fore the train could proceed.

THE UNITARIAN PROVIDENT SOC lET Y.—Th e
Annual Meeting of the Provident Society (estab-
lished 1784) in connexion with the Presbyterian
Chapel, was held at the Wollaston Road Schools,
on Monday evening last. After a substantial
tea, the special business of the evening was
proceeded with, the Rev. D. Maginnis •in the
Chair. Mr. Job T. Short, hon. sec., read the statk -
ment of accounts; from which it appeared that
the Society is in a very prosperous condition. The
accumulated funds, including a bequest of .2100 by,
Mrs. Scott, amount to £2487. The payments to sick
and superannuated members amounted to ..£9B 103.
The number of members is sixty. The working
expenses were under £3. The accounts were
unanimously adopted. A cordial vote of thanks
was passed to Mr. W. Wellings, treasurer, and Mr.
Short, secretary, and both were re-appointed.
Messrs. J. Guest, E. Blurton, H. Leeson, T. Guest,
and B. Moody were elected members of the Com-
mittee, and Messrs. B. Shakespeare and John
Guest, jun., auditors, for the ensuing year. On
the motion of the Rev. A. W. Worthington thanks
were voted to the Chairman. Business concluded,
the remainder of the evening was devoted to music,
&c. Misses Willward and Harris, Messrs. Bowater
C. Perks, J. P. Maginnis, C. Leeson, A. Nash and
J. T. Short sang, Mr. Forrest accompanying;
and Mr. A. Nash read and recited and Mr. Pratt,
recited. A very pleasant evening closed with a
quardrille and " Sir Roger."
DRUNHENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Monday
I last, before Mr. R. L. Freer, John Colson. for being
drunk and disorderly, was fined 2s 6d and costs; in
default seven days. Police-constable Wallace proved
the case.—Thomas Heston was ordered to pay 20s
I and costs; or in default one month. Six previous
convictions had been recorded against defendant
Police-constable Philpot proved this case.—William
Pearson, of the Lye Waste, having been convicted
of a similar offence on the evidence of Polioe-cou-
stable Harrison, was fined 2s 6d and costs.
A- DRUNKEN Womew.—At the Police Court, on
Tuesday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, Ann Myers, an
old offender, was charged with having been drank and
disorderly on the previous evenins, in Coventtv-etreet.
Police-constable Bladon having proved the caw She
WO4 Alied OA 1144 OGotO ; i 3) dab* 19 dna.
_ .

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—At he Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher and, Mr. B.
Littlewood, Thomas Perrens was charged with
being drunk on the 2nd just, a. Oldswinford. De-
fendant. pleaded '(may. Police-constable Webb
proved the case. Fined 2s 6d rnd 'costs.—David
Bradley, of the Lye, was charged with being
drunk and disorderly, on the 11th inst. Police-con-
stable Harrison proved the case. Fined 28 6d and
costs.—William Gilbert was charged with being
drunk and disorderly, on the 12th. Police-constable
Smith proved the offence. Fined 2s 6d and costs.

CHARGE OF THREATENING.—Franck Hillman,
was charged with using threatening language to
Phcebe Colman, on the 2th ult. The threat com-
plained of was that he threatened to murder her,
and was afraid of her • life. The Bench said they
were willing to bind defendant over on complainant
paying costs. Then she said she could not, as her
husband was out of work, and the summons was dis-
missed.

INFRINGEMENT OF THE MINES' REGULATIONS
ACT.-11011Ey Hickman was charged under the 25
and 26, Mining Regulation Act, 26 sec., for that he
being the owner of a colliery at the Lye, did neglect
to send to the Inspector the name or address of the
manager of his pits. Mr. Walker appeared to prose-
cute, and Mr. Perry defended. Mr. Walker, in
opening, said that the summons was taken out for
refusing to send in the name and address of the man-
ager, which was not done until the 23th of April, be-
ing sixteen months after the Act had come into oper-
ation, and it was for neglecting to send in the name
and address that the present proceedings were taken.
He did not wish to press for a heavy penalty, but he
must say that the Act had not been complied with.
Mr. Perry addressed the Bench for the defence, and
contended that it was an accidental omission, and
defendant was fined 43s and costs.—Benjamin Rob-
inson, manager, of Mr. Hickman's colliery, for that
he did on the 19th October, use a single link chain,
to let persons up_and down the pit. Defendant was
further charged with not fencing off the fly wheel.
Defendant pleaded guilty to both offences. Mr.
Walker said the:summons was issued under the 24
General Rule, and defendant is liable for the offence
to a penalty of .220 for each offence, but when com-
plaints weremade, the chain was altered, and the
wheels fenced out. Fined 20s and costs in each case
VACCINATION ACT.—Thomas Flood, was sum-
moned by James Barmtt, for refusing to have his
child vaccinated. Complainant proved the case.
The defence was that the child was not well. The
case was not pressed and defendant ordered to pay
costs.

BIRRELL'S DlORAMA.—Birrells great Diorama of
Scotland, has been exhibited here during the past
week to crowded and enthusiastic audiences. The
beautifully painted representations of Scotish
scenery aroused, if possible. more enthusiasm on
the present than they did on their first exhibition
in Stourbridge, and we are confident that if their
stay could have been prolonged for a much greater
period, the Corn Exchange would still continue to
be crowded with delighted spectators. To the
readers of Burns and Sir Walter Scott the diorama
has innumerable charms; and we are confident
that none of the admirers of the above poets who
saw their ideals realised in the lovely scenery be-
fore them could help feeling a thrill of delight.
Thera was Loch Katrine in all its witching beauty
which Sir Walter Scott has immortalised in his
Lady of the Lake; and also Melrose Abbey which
the same poet has described in the noblest strains
of his muse. There were also beautiful changing
views of Edinburgh, Glasgow, &c., with splendid
representations of the Isle of Staffa, with its won-
derful conformation of basaltic columns, the Pass
of Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Balmoral Abbotsford,
and other scenes of interest too numerous to men-
tion. In addition to the attraction of the diorama
there was a very pleasing entertainment by mem-
bers of the Company, who designate themselves
the "Royal Caledonian Minstrels." Foremost
amongst the vocalists were Miss Griselda Wess
, and Mr. Birrell, who perfomed some duetstogether
in a first-class manner; and also performed apiece
from Rob Roy in a manner which showed they
possesseil histrionic ability of a superior order.
They were vociferously applauded :by all present.
Mr. Stuart Dla,cAlpine's ventriloquial entertain-
ment was a decided success, his introduction of a
Scotchman and an Irishman in the first part of his
entertainment being provocative of immense
laughter; whilst his old Scotchwoman's, quaint
remembrances in the second portion was, if any-
thing, a still more astonishing performance. Mr.
John Boss's bagpipe playing, and Mr. Kiesser's
performance on the pianoforte and harmonium
were very clever. We need only remind our
readers that to-night is the last on which they will
have the opportunity of witnessinq the very best
entertainment that has been in this town for some
time past.