The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-06 00:00:00

[TWOPENCE

THE ACCIDENT ON THE LYNN AND
HUNSTANTON RAILWAY.

On Tuesday afternoon an inquest was opened on
the body of John Dennis, who dhoti at his house on that
morning of injuries be had received. After the jury had
been sworn (Mr. W. Mills being sheriff's officer), they pro-
ceeded in a special train to look over the sore of the dread-
ful accident ; the whole of which, by the wreck of materials
and gore, presented' ghastly appearance.
The inquest was resumed in the evening at the Volun-
teer' Stores, Union.street, Lyns, before E. M. Bales, Esq.,
deputy coroner, who briefly addressed the jury, after which
the following evidence was takes :
George Billing, shipowner, deposed—l went to Hun-
etude@ yesterday by the twelve o'clock train. The
deceased, Mr. J. Dennis, wee one of my party. We
travelled third err, and started from Hunstantoe about
eight o'clock at night by the second portion of the
return excursion train. Nothing occurred till we had
the last station a short distance. My attention was
first pared
called to the vibration of the carriage from side to
side. Mr. Lard was on my right heed aide, with his back
to the engine, io the oompartmeot next the engine. On that
seat was Miss Cleric, Ifre. Brown, Mrs. Laird, all with
their backs to the enema Mr. Dennis sat opposite to Mr.
Laird in the nine compartment. Ile Palmer and Mir
Billing, my niece, next. In the asst comportment I do
not know who set with their backs to the engine. Os am
right, facing the engine, 1 sat next the door, Mn. Wag
op my late, and rue other perk on the seem midi;
I do net harm ere they *see After the effes-
tics, which Jared perhaps • minds—at least • per-
ceptible time—the carriage upset (I think on its
aide). I felt something on my feet, after which I got
oat of it bole in the loot, briars pushed • portion of the
board down. Then I assisted my wife out. I never felt •
shock before the vibration. I then looked for my niece and
My niece herself. I stood upon the grass
party
the The gtris °l° p t
en oe I raw that I could recognise
carried out of the first compartment was the deoeseed
John Dennis. It appeared to me that the persona were •
mined from under the carriage. I should may that the first
compartment was knocked to pares, bat of this I am un-
certain, as my eyright is not good and it was getting dull.
I I come back with the wounded. believe the deceased,
Jobs Dennis, wee brought back in the same trim Mrs.
Clark and Mrs. Brown, Miss Palmer, and Mr. and Mrs. Laird
were of our party. When the deceased was picked up be
appeared to be much injured. I spoke to him.
By the Jury—l dont think we were going faster than
an ordinary train goes. I can't say whether we stopped
at Wootton. I would mot say we were not going faster than
an ordinary train. I did not know it was an incline. Oer
carriage was somewhere in the centre of the train. It was
a thirebelass carriage. It was one of the beet kind of third-
class carriages.
Dr. Kendall deposed—l am a surgeon, residing at Lynn.' I
knew the deceased. I saw him last evening, being seat for
u the surgeon of the compaey, by the company's order, by
telegram. Wham I arrived aa near as we arid get to the
line, the first injured person I saw wee the denser. He
said, "Oh, my friend, lam very much hurt." I his
leg broken, and ordered his removal to the carriage placed
at the disposal of the wounded. I afterraide saw others
wounded. After we got to Lynn I had him placed on •
stretcher and taken home. I requested Mr. Allison and my
resistant to set his leg. Later I west to see him, between
twelve and one, and found him is • state of collapse, but
perfectly sensible. He died at half-put 2 o'clock.
By the Jury—He did not complain of his body. He died
from the shook, never having rallied. I had come from
Hunstantoe by • previous train, at • quarter to eight.
The Coroner adjourned the ioquiry till Monday, at 1 o'clock
at the Town-hail, to give the railway comply an opportunity
of being represented.

The juries wait by a special train which the railway com-
ae:ay placed at their disposal on Tuesday afternoon to view
the spot where the accident happened. They were accom-
panied by the coroners and by Mr. Light Simpson and Mr.
E. Self, directors ; Mr. J. S. Valentine, the engineer of the
lime ; Mr. Henry Edwards, solicitor, fro. Upon arriving at
the spot Mr. FAiwards emoted the juries that the company
wore most willing to afford all information in their power in
order to discover the cases of the accident. The damaged
carriage, were inspected, and on the return of the train
to the Lynn station the engine also. Upon the engine
were found marks indicating that the bullock had certainly
been struck and no doubt killed by it. At the place where
the train came upon the bullock there is a four rail fence ;
but at the place where the train came to estop there is but
a slanting single rail fence, not much more than a foot bfit
and a dry dike between the rAlway and the gratin
by the side of the railway. There seems no doubt that the
bullock jumped this teem, se bullocks will do espe&ffya
hot weather sad when the water supply is mtg. The
line wee cleared far the usual traffic on Tuesday, and it has
not been found that the permanent way has been injured.
Mn. Laird ha revived considerably, and there are now
great hopes of her recovery. The other injured persons are
doing exceedingly well.