The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-30 00:00:00

Dcbonsbire.

Ex rrER. A laming Accident. Wednesday
being the day of the Barnstaple and North Devon
run, an excursion train was advertised to leave the
St. David's station, near Exeter, for Barnstaple,
at 9.39 a.m. The weather being delightful and the
attractions great a large number of persons from '
Exeter and the vicinity took tickets. The train con- ,
sated of about 10 carriages, two of the third class
next to the engine being fortunately empty. It
left the station shortly after the appointed time, and
proceeded at a moderato pate towards Cowley-bridge, '
which is situate about a mile from Exeter. At this ,
spot the Creffiton and North Devon lines branch off
by a bridge across the river Exe. After passing a
few yards over the lino above this bridge the engine,
by sone: means not yet satisfactorily explained, ran
ofT the line, carrying with it the two empty carriages,
hut meat fortunately, in consequence of the breaking
of the coupling iron, leaving the other carriages
which contained the excursionists on the line. '1 lie
engine and caniagcs in lineation fell over on their
autos upon the embankment, and the carriages were
shivered in pieces. Beyond a few bruises the pas-
sengers in the carriages on the line escaped serious
injury. We regret to state, however, that Mr.
Mean, the superintendent of the St. David's sta-
tion, was seriously injured. It appears that he was
on the engine with the driver and stoker at the time
when the accident occurred. Ile was thrown off
under the Ceps of the tender, and was obliged to be
dug out of the debris. His leg was broken and he
was much bruised about the body. He was Carefully
conveyed home on a stretcher, and received prompt
surgical attendance, and is happily progressing favour-
ably. Mr. Mean, by his courteous manner, has won
universal respect, and this alarming accident has
awakened a deep feeling of sympathy for him. The
driver wu thrown out and fell near the steps of the
Under, but he escaped without injury. The stoker
was thrown witheonsiderable violence into an adjoin-
ing field, but be has not Bussainal any serious injury.
Had the two carriages next the line been occupied
by paragon the lose of life must have been fearful.
Mr. Long, the deputy-superintendent, on bearing of
the accident, was most promptly on the spot, and,
by his active exertions, aided by a staff of labourers,
the line was expected to be ready again for traffic
this afternoon. The telegraph wires were smashed
by the overturning of the engine and carriages, the
consequence of which is that telegraphic communica-
tions from Exeter to the North of Devon is for the
present stopped.
The Bishop of Exeter has, it is said, sanctioned a
plan proposed to him for organising a community of
women desirous of devoting themselves exclusively
to works of piety and charity. They are to be called
"Sisters of Charity," or "Deaconesses." No per-
petual vows are to be taken. A period of probation
will first have to be passed, (luring which it will be
allowable to leave at any time. After this an en-
gagement to the society for a period not exceeding
five years, will be made, renewable at the expiration
of that term. The new society "will be cradled in
the vicarage of BuckLuid Nlonachorum, near Ply-
mouth, till its growth has enabled it to obtain and
occupy suitable premises of its own."

THK AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND THE
Hauvierr.—Farmers in the west of England, and
especially in Devonshire, have experienced great
inconvenience by reason of the scarcity of labourers,
which has in many instances retarded harvest
operations. Several reasons are given for this
scarcity. Many labourers have emigrated; other.
have been attracted to the railway works, where ;
they get much higher wages, and a large number of
young labourers have enlisted in the army. The
farmers complain bitterly of the abolition of the
apprenticeship system, to which cause they mainly
attribute the present scarcity -f iabonrers. There
can be but little doubt that another cause is the
smallness of the wages paid to the agricultural
labourers. In many came there have been improve-
ments in this respect, but even now 12e. per week
is about the highest sum paid to the labourer, while
in some instances 9.. per week only is paid. It
must, however, be borne in mind that the labourer
has other small privileges, such as a supply of cider
daily, and, in some cases, a plot of ground at a
nominal rent, for the cultivation of vegetables, ate.
Still there mil be no doubt but that one cause of the
present dearth of able-bodied labourers is the low.
ness of the wages which are paid. The weather for
harvest operations in Devonshire and the other
western counties has been favourable on the whole,
and the cereal crops are good and of excellent
quality. Potatoes are in some places affected by the
disease, but the yield is abundant. The recent
heavy showers bad a most beneficial °Suet on the
green crops and the pastures, which were much in
need of moisture. 'file apple crop is abundant, and
cider, it is said, will be cheap and good.
Devossinne DUMPLING.—On the opening of
the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway the navvies and
other persons employed in constructing the line were
entertained at dinner, the principal feature being a
! Devonshire dumpling" of unusual magnitude. It
was in the form of a cone about eight feet in dia-
meter at the base, and ;bout thirteen feet in per-
pendicuLar. height. It weighed 2,1001 b., and its
ingredients were 5731 h. of flour, 1911 b. of bread,
3821 b. of raisins, 1911 b. of currants, 3121 b. of suet,
951 b. of sugar, 320 lemons, 14-1 nutmegs, and 3601 k
of milk. It was baked in sections, and then built
up on a wagon, the fabric being kept together by
hoops and other mechanical devices.