The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-04 00:00:00

THE ACCIDENT ON THE MIDLAND LINE.

TO THE ZDITOR OF Tlll ZIPIIIBI3.

Sza,—Though I do not pretend to be a prophet,
I have no ambition to be s prophet of ill. I have several
times expressed my belief that, ere long, we should have
some dreadful accident at Market l4arborough station. My
reasons for this foreboding were these :

Some years ago theeß7mby and Stamford line woe made,
a branch so subordinate, that only one pair of
rails was laid down. and two at the stations,
and only three passenger and one goods train ran
each way for six days in the week. Market
Harborough had a little station on this line, and things
jogged on in a decent humdrum way, the accommoda-
tion being about equal to the traffic. Latter;y, how-
ever, a change has come over the spirit of Villa dream. The
Midland Company thought they should like to be able to
convey theirown passengers and goods nearerto London, and
the Leicester and Hitchin line was made, joining the Rugby
and Stamford line a little to the east of Harborough, and
leaving it a little to the west. Will it be believed that all
the up and down London traffic of 633 miles of Midland
Railway, with 16 porringer trains and innumerable heavy
goods, excursion, and other trains have all to put up with
the accommodation at first provided for the original Rugby
and Stamford line? In addition to this the station is very
badly situated, the curves and cuttings to the east prevent-
ing the traine being seen from the station, or the station by
the trains till they are close upon one another. As if, too,
this were not enough, the Northampton and Harborough
line has since been opened, on which eight passenger trains
run daily, besides a heavy goods traffic, to and through the
self-same station at Harborough.
. . .

Whatever may have been -the delinquencies of subordi-
nates in this recent catastrophe, I submit that a grave
responsibility rests upon the two companies—London and
North Western and Midland—who have accumulated the
traffic of one of the greatest thoroughfares in England upon
a little cross-country road.—l am, Ito.,
Sept. 1. OUR IRON ROADS.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE WATERAIDE, RAT-
CLIFF.—ShortIy before one o'clock yesterday afternoon a
very extensive fire broke out at some waterside premises in
Narrow-street, Hateliff, adjacent to the entrance of the
Regent-anal Dock and Radcliff-cross. It originated at
Eagle's-wharf, tenanted by Mr. Ritchie, sack merchant.
The property comprised a large warehouse, and extended
from the street down to the riverside. It appeared that
the workpeople had left to get their dinner, and on return.
ing a cry was raised that one of the upper floors was on
fire. The workmen did their beat to suppress the flames,
but owing to the large stock of sacking in the place, the
smoke was so dense and overpowering that the men bad to
effect • retreat. In a short time the fire made its
way through the roof, and in consequence of the
strong wind that was blowing at the time, the
most serious apprehensions were entertained for the safety
of the adjacent wharves. The Crown steam flour mills and
wharf, in the occupation of Mr. Hammond, which adjoined
Mr. Ritchie's premises on the west side. nearest itatcliff-
cross, soon became fired, and all the efforta of the brigade
failed in saving this property from destruction. The pre-
mises were four storeys in height, and had a river frontage
of some extent. On the alarm being raised along the water-
side the Thames poles culled out the powerful steam float-
ing engine. The one moored off Rotherbithe was the first
to arrive, but the tide being down some delay took place
before the hose could be got to bear upon the seat of the fire.
About the same period a strong body of the fire brigade
reached the scene, as also two of the land steam engines
belonging to the force. The latter did great service.
The fire continued to rage with unabated fury, nod an im-
mense sheet of flame rose from the burning mass, which
could be Been fur some distance up and down the river.
Owing to the extreme narrowness of the thoroughfare the
firemen had great difficulty in obtaining a position which
would command the range of the conflagration. The fire
crossed the street and ignited another warehouse and
counting-house, belonging to Mr. Ritchie, which stood on
the opposite side of the way, and which wore nearly destr3yed.
The premises of Messrs. Morris and Cox, London-wharf,
and the extensive stores of Messrs. Baldwin and Murphy
were also placed in great peril, but by the well-directed
efforts of the bilgede and the efficient working of the steam
engines, they escaped with comparatively small damage.
By 3 o'clock the firemen had obtained a mastery over the
fire, but of the Crown flour mills and Mr. Ritchie's pre-
mises only the bare walls remained.
Two MEN BURIED ALVE—For some time past
extensive alterations and enlargements have been carried on
at Beaky/nod-Im% which has recently been purchased by
and is being prepared for the reception of the Duke of 84,
Albans. Oa Tuesday morning a number of bricklayers
labourers were engaged in excavating new foundations
through a partially-formed mod rock, when the upper
portion, weighing several tons, gave way. Before effectual
means could be taken for its prevention it fell in, and
buried two of the men beneath it. Their companions et
once set to work to rescue them, bat before they could be
taken out one of them was quite dead, and the other died
almost immediately after being extricated. The names of
the unfortunate men are Thomas Wildg•oose, aged 39 years,
and Charlie Kirk, aged 18 years.—Neffinagiam Daily
Guardians. _ _

-.
LOSS AND RECOVERY OF 2,5001.—A few days
since Mr. Richardson, a gentleman residing at the village of
Old Charlton, on arriving home by the North Kent Railway
from Bt. Clement's-lane, City, found that be had by mane
means lost the large sum of 2,8004, consisting of two Bank
of England 1,0001. notes, and a cheque for 5W Handbills
were subsequently Issued, offering a reward of 1001. for the
poverty, which, to the great delight of Mr. Richardson, has
been restored to him by two journeymen bakers named
Joseph Barron and Richard Shepbenl, who reside in London.
It appears that these men came to Woolwich to visit a
fellow•workman, and, on the night of the loss, picked up the
Dotes near Charlton Church and the residence of Mr.
Richardson, who ha', of course, cheerfully paid the promised
reward.