The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-09-10 00:00:00

BRIGHION RAILWAY ACCIDIINT.

No more deaths Mims occurred eiDOll oar last, mod
the sufferers at the hospital are reported lob.
sing fevourably. The inquest was reamed on Monday
afternoon, and hr. Perry, inspector of the permanent
way, wee called, and gave a statement of several
measurements he had made for the purpose of allCer-
tamping the exact distance from the month of the
tunnel to where the collision took place, and also to
the signal-box. The next witness examined was Mr.
Hawkins, the traffic manager, who admitted his
responsibility for the arrangements regarding the
number of trains, and the time of their starting. One
point elicited was, that an interval of fire miantes is
eonsidered sufficient time to elapse between the elect-
ing of two train, on the same route from • station, sad
that even a slimier period than that is allowed at some
statioas to lute . This, if established, would
show a liberal allowance of time, according to
the time-tables, between tic, trains that imme
into collision on the disastrous Sunday morta-
-1 inoruini; but it is clear that the actual interval wiui
much shorter, as proved by the accident.
On Tueedsy, Coleman, the head guard of the Brigh-
ton excurskii-train, who is still suffering from severe
Wli examined at Hamock's Este. He said that
when the trent stopped ia the tunnel he could see
the way clear out to the north end, sad shouted to
the dune to premed, as in stopping be woe violating
the snip, but meld sot 04 whether be we. Word or
sea. Thus Ins net hut p basic sad assurisia

why the red flag bad been shown. The witness sip-
pisdi his break as tightly as lie could to prevent the
train going back, but be thought it was moving heck-
wards when the collision occurred. In other realm,"
Coleman's evidence elicited nothing new. This poor
fellow has suffered severely, but is now progressing
fairly towards recovery. After the elimination of
Coleman was concluded, the jury returned to Brighton
and took the evidence of several other witnesses, but
nothing Material was deposed to. Iwleed, the facts
a the affair are already exhausted, and little further
light is likely to be thrown upon it.
The proceedings on Wednesday were marked by a
passage of anus of no slight interest sad importance
between the Coroner and Hr. Slight, the secretary of
the company. The Coroner had required that gentle-
man to produce several atatenients concerning the acci-
dent which had been supplied by certain of the com-
pany's servants. These repirta, it appeared, Mr. Slight
had placed in the heeds of Hr. Faitlifull, the
company's solicitor, who declined to prods*, them. The
coroner threatened to commit Hr. Slight unless he com-
plied with his request; but that gentleman elPremed
his determination to act upon the judgment of his
letish
advisor. A warning requiring Mr. Blight to produce the
documents at 2 o'clock was served upon bins, but a bad
DO effect, and the coroner said he should enforce his au-
thority. At a later period of the day Mr. Scott, the
deputy-chairman, while declining to authorise the pro-
, • -I of i'ie •••••••1:. ro used t.. ;ay thi•
•tjon fo. nu. I • for, It,, las at n Tyler.
,LII, I :..vernment neweetor. was tsitnismli with IN: tercets:
to the oienioue which lie lied funned upon the mimed of
the accident. He said that the impression left upon his
mind was that the primary cause of the eatJudrophe •as
11,. want of efficiency in the way in which the tradlic
on that part of the line was worked. Then. were here
many curves, cuttings, bridges, and other obstructions
to the view, and to work such a line with safety an
interval of space, should be allowed between trains, and
care taken that this rule was Dever deviated from. This
course had not been followed, and hence the occurrence
of the accident.
Tbe inquest spin attach adjourned till after the
meeting of the directors has been held.