The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-02 00:00:00

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.

Monday Evening.

This evening a telegram was received by the House Surgeon
at the Radcliffe Infirmary, from Sir W. Jenner, as follows:
"The Queen has commanded me to ask, in her Majesty's
name, how those injured in the late accident are progressing."
To which a reply was sent to the effect that they were all
going on favourably, with the exception of six, who were in
a critical state. The six poor creatures alluded to are
Zillah Fryer, suffering from a severe fracture of the arm
and scalp, who is supposed to be fast sinking ; Fanny
Yeates, the daughter of the Ilighworth publican who
lost his wife in the accident, but recovered his child at the
inn at Thrupp ; Mrs. Danby, from concussion of the brain,
whose husband was fatally injured, but whose death has not
yet been communicated to her; Joseph Simmonds, of
Waterperry, arm amputated; George Ward, injury to the
thigh clavicle and collar-bone and Annie Barker, or Barber.
The child Yeates has-been quite unconscious since her ad-
mission on Thursday. Four of the patients have left the
infirmary—namely, Jane Nlyel,.taken by her sisters to Fins-
bury; Alfred Gibbs, to Reading; George Barrs, to Windsor;
and George Dee, to Wolverhampton. The six injured at
the " Randolph" Hotel are much better,*and the same may
be said of most of the other sufferers. The Rev. Mr. Free-
man, staying at the "Railway" Hotel, who it is said was
affected in his mind after the accident, has almost recovered.
He was formerly a member of Christchurch, and is well
known in Oxford. The body of Miss Grimshaw, the last of
the claimed, wi.s so badly mutilated that her sister had some
difficulty in identifying her; but she recognised her by her
dress, boots, hair, and by a ring she wore, which was that
of her deceased mother. Up to this time the total number
of deaths is thirty•one. The passing bell has been tolling
this evening, and produces a depressive effect in the city,
whilst the grief for the unfortunate sufferers does not in the
least decrease.

It is in contemplation to open a subscription, both in the
city and county of Oxford, for the relief of the sufferers.
The project has received the hearty assent of the Lord Lieu-
tenant of the county, who has addressed the following letter
to the 3layor of Oxford (J. Round, Esq.) :

"Blenheim, Christmas Morning.
"My dear Sir,—lt has occurred to me that a subscription
may possibly be set afoot in Oxford and neighbourhood for
the relief of some of the sufferers in the accident at Shipton,
which has appalled us all, s. fearful.,in its magnitude and
. the number of its victims. In any case expenses will have
been incurred both at the Infirmary and other places where
the sufferers have been removed, and I shall therefore be
much obliged if, as I am leaving home for some time on
Monday, you will allow me to place in your hands the en-
closed cheque for £2O, which can be applied in any manner
for the above object which you may consider advisable.
Pray make any use you like of this letter, and believe me,
yours faithfully, "MARLBOROUGH
"Thryor of Oxford."
urtor.•
a ld;

OPENING OF THE INQUEST:
The inquest on the bodies of Edward Sylvester and
twenty-five others, Who met their deaths in the Shipton
railway accident, was opened on Saturday forenoon
in the Manor-house of Hampton Gay, the residence
of Mr. .Pearson, the paper manufacturer.
Mr. William Brainier, coroner for the central
district of the county of Oxford and for the city,
presided.
Mr. Webster, of the Home Circuit, appeared for
the Great Western Railway Company, the officials of
the company present being—Mr. Grierson, general
manager; Mr. Armstrong, locomotive general super-
intendent at Swindon; Mr. Tyrrell, general super-
intendent; Mr. Stevens, divisional superintendent ;
Mr. Gibbs, station-master at Oxford; and Dr. Cooper,
the surgeon of the company, together, with a large
number of the friends of the deceased and notable
persons of the neighb3urhood.
The Coroner, in opening the proceedings,said, - Gentlemen
of the Jury, you are called on to-day to discharge a very
painful duty, and to satisfy our fellow-countrymen, and I
may say our Soverein, by the verdict which at the end of
the investigation will be recorded by you, that every possi-
ble care has been taken to ascertain and carefully record
the causes of the deaths of these unfortunate persons. I
believe that in the history of railroads nothing has occurred
to the amount of this in this country. I am almost afraid
to speak of it in any terms except the most moderate I can
find, because I think that in the beginning of our inquiry
we should avoid even fancying any conclusion, bukshould ,
qnly,listen carefully to any evideu&' which maybe given
'before us. • I propose to-day to take careful and acenrate evi-
dence, so far as it to obtainable,, as to the identify of the
bodies, which you will have to view, so that t can then give an
order for the interment of those bodies. I think that will
be sufficient to occupy the day now before its, and I shall
then propose to adjourn for a few days, to afford opportu-
nity for the interment of the bodies. I submit to you,
gentlemen, that by your oath you have had pointed out to
you to well and diligently inquire, and to-. make such a
presentment as may strike you as resulting from those
inquiries ; and I think we shall use the most discre-
tion if we confine ourselves to the evidence, irrespective
of anything we may have heard out of doors. I shall
be very glad to here your assistance in the examination,
to put such quEstions to the witnesses as any of you
may suggest relative to the inquiry we are to pursue;
and I am also glad to have the valuable assistance of the
gentlemen connected with and representing the Company.
-here are also some representing the deoeased. .It will
be my duty, should any point of law arise, to charge you on