The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 28, 1858.

Upon the return of the jury, the following evidence
was taken : _

ISAAC BALDWIN said : I am a waggoner for Mr.
Hyde. I reside at Prince's End. The accident
occurred on Monday. It was an excursion train. I
went from Prince's End to Worcester. I was accom-
panied by Joseph Pitt. We left Prince's End at ten
o'clock. There was also there Richard Moore, the
deceased, and others. We all dined together. Ido
net know who was the guard. There were two
large engines. There was one before and one behind.
It was a long train. I saw no first-class carriages,
hut a great number of second and third. the guard,
I suppose, was there. I went direct to Worcester.
We arrived there exactly at half•past twelve. I looked
az my watch. As we went the coupling chains broke.
I was thrown forward. They were very bad shocks
indeed ; some young woman's nose bled. I did not
get out to see what the matter was. They would
neither let us get out nor tell us what the matter
was. This was before we reached Droitwich. The
first shock occurred before we arrived at Dudley,
where the train stayed a few minutes. A man of the
name of Walker put his head out and asked what
the matter was. I heard no answer. The second
shock was near Brettle-lane, I believe. The train
was stopped and the breaks were down. There was
another shock at or near Churchill station. I don't
know whether it stopped or not. I cannot say there
were any more shocks. I was not asleep. I made
no inquiries as to the cause of the accident. I think
we left It orcester about or near half past six. Ten
of my friends went on by the first part of the train,
which had been detached. That was near half-past
six. The train was divided. One of the engines
took each part, so that there were two trains, each
ten minutes apart. I was in the second part. Mr.
Skeldon complained of the shocks, but not in my
presence. We went on steadily until we arrived
between Brettledane and Round Oak. It was then
going a tidy pace. The spot is in this parish. As
soon as our trai❑ ran into the other, I went to the
engineer, and he said no one was hurt. I was
thrown over on my head. It was very sudden and
violent.
By a JUROR : It was thrown on its side.
Witness continued : It was dark. There was no

light, in the carriage. I scrambled out of the carriage,
and saw Mr. Hildrick. The carriage was smashed,
as was also the break-van, but it was dark and
I could not see much. I saw several people on the
ground, but did not see either the guard or engine•
driver. I consider the coupling chains of some of
the 'carriages in the first train breaking and coming
on to the advanced first part the cause of the
accident. I assisted Mrs. Hildrick and young Mr.
Skeldon; the former was close to the engine. She
was in the lines at the side. We lifted her out and
put her on the grass. She was quite dead. Her
heal on the top was not much cut. It was near the
brain. Blood was pouring from her nose and mouth.
Her husband was also hurt. She was carried away.
I did not see her again till last night. I returned to
the train, and saw many others injured. I was away
half an hour, and also saw several others dead. They
were strangers to me. I did not see any of the
officials there. My impression of the cause of the
accident is that it was neglect. Had such not been
the case, there could not have been such a shaking
about.
By the JURY : I know nothing of the,detached
train coming on to us.
By Mr. BURBURY : I don't know who told me of the
coupling irons breaking. Skeldon told me the breaks
were down, and he was in the guard's van going from
Prince's End to Worcester. I was hurt in the knee
and on the head, and therefore could not take so
much notice as I otherwise would have done. I
remained near the scene of the accident till the last
train left—nearly three hours. I arrived at my
home a quarter past twelve o'clock. I don't know
Francis Etheridge.
By the CORONER : I did not see him that night.
By the FOREMAN : The doors were locked on one
side. . _

By the CORONER : In the usual way.
By the FonEntatt: They were locked on the side
nearest the up line—the side we got in. It was at
starting. The carriage was very full going.
By a JUROR : The porters would not let us get out.
The train gave a jump on starting.
WILLIAM SKELDON : lam a boilerplate roller, and
live in Princes-lane. I started on Monday last from
Princes lane at twenty minutes to ten. The guard
was in his box. I know him, but not his name. The
carriages were so full that my brother John and
myself left and went into the van. The people were
standing up. I went all the way to Worcester.
After we started, perhaps about half an hour, the
guard asked if either of us had any matches or
tobacco. He put my brother to work the break for
him. He lighted the lamp to keep it liihted, and I
found the tobacco. He began to smoke, and gave
my brother, aged seventeen, orders to work the break.
He had to put on the break when we neared the
station. He said, "Do something for your bread if
you have your cheese for nothing. I will make you

837

work." He appeared sober. Our conversation took
place, I think, between Dudley and Stourbndge. My
brother, with assistance, did manage the break to
Worcester. The guard was smoking his pipe.
Between Prince's End and Worcester, near Dudley,
or Brettle-lane, a coupling chain broke. We felt a
shock which almost threw me down. At the station
named the guard came into the van and said he
wanted a chain ; and took a large one. The check
threw me off the seat. It was a very severe shock
against the side of the van. He said a chain of the
couplings had broken. He only mentioned one. We
did not get out. Baldwin was not in the van, although
I was with him at Worcester. I cannot say when
another chain gave way. There was another little
shock, and the guard got out at the next station and
said another coupling chain had broken. He took
another chain; but brought it back, saying they
could do without it. Nothing of any consequence
took place between there and Worcester, where we
arrived at twenty five minutes past twelve. There
were forty five carriages. We had two engines part
of the way. I should imagine there were 2,000
people in the train. The trains were fearfully
crammed. There was a large number of children
from the different schools. I heard no complaint at
Worcester about these checks. I heard no reason
assigned for dividing the trains on the return journey.
The first portion of the train left at 0.20. The
guard wanted me to ride in the van again ; but
declined, saying I would have a comfortable seat
back. As far as I could say, he was sober. His van
was in the rear. Between Worcester and Brittle-
lane, about five minutes past eight by the latter
place, we had a shock, and I was instantly
thrown violently forward against the opposite
side of the carriage. My tongue and nose were cut,
and ever since I have had pains in the head. I feel
shaken by it. As soon as the carriage stopped I
went out and asked the engineer of the last train
what was the matter.

FRANCIS ETHERIDGE : I am a collier, and live in
Moor-lane. I know none of the persons injured. I
was coming down from work about twenty minutes
past eight. I was going from Worsley to my home.
I saw the carriages coming from the Round Oak.
There were, I think, twelve or thirteen. I saw no
engine and no lights. I wondered where the engine
was. It was going at a great rate. I waited till I
heard the smash and Then ran down. There was a
lamp in a man's hand, and I made a fire. It was
about three hundred yards from the bridge. There
was awful screaming and shrieking. I saw seven or
eight dead bodies under the wheels of the first three
carriages, viz., of those coming down from the Round
Oak station. I did not notice anything else I was
intent on taking the bodies out of the ruins. I don't
know either the guards or the engine driver. I don't
know the man with the light. I should not know
him again if I saw him. I saw several more dead
bodies. I saw a man in what I suppose was a guard's
dress, but I don't know any of them.
ADONI BEZEC GORDON : I am a field watchman,
and was near the scene of the accident on a pit bank.
I heard the whistle. It was a little before eight when
the first train went up. In a quarter of an hour I
saw it coming 'Hick without an engine.
Mr. BURRURY cross•examined the witness, but
nothing material was elicited.
The Rev. E. C. PERRY : I am a clergyman, and
live at Capperfield, near Sedgley. I left the Bilston
station at haltpast nine o'clock in the morning. I
was in a second-class carriage; there were no first.
I had a party of nearly 200 school children and
adults under my care. There were about fifty car-
riages in the train. There were two engines all the
way to Worcester, both in front. I saw one or two
guards. 1 did not hear any complaints after leaving
Bilston in reference to want of accommodation. We
rece►ved a shook when near Brettle•lsne station ; the
latter part of the train separated from the fore part.
The train did not reach many yards, some men, with
blocks of wood, shunting it back. I had my head
out of the window, and upon the two parts coming
together I saw a man go under, I supposed for the
purpose of joining the carriages. There were
several shccks afterwards of minor importance ; one
more serious occurred just before we got to Kidder-
minster station. I immediately left the carriage, and
ran by the side till the carriages came together, and
were again coupled. I observed that the chain or
chains were broken. The middle chain was not
broken, as I noticed the man put that chain on ;
the side chains must have been broken. I then
got into the carriage, but I previously had a con-
versation with the guard, on which I asked him
if the engineers were playing any tricks, or were
drunk ; he said they were not. We then went
steadily on to Worcester. We left Worcester at
about half-past six o'clock by the first part of this
train, being propelled by one engine. The guard was
with the train; there would be an average of fifty
persons in each carriage. A second engine joined
the train at Kidderminster, and the train went
steadily up to the Round Oak station. We were
going up the incline when the latter part of the train
Aagain detached itself from the former, and ran down

838

the incline towards Stourbridge. The first portion
of the train, after staying at the Round Oak station
for a few minutes, ran back after the detached part,
and ran on to within a hundred and fifty yards of the
scene of the accident. We then heard that an
accident had occurred, and that scveral persons were
killed and wounded. By the tinfi we got out of the
carriages, several persons were being carried away.
I did not see the guard, nor the person who was on
the tender when I left lidston. It was very dark
indeed. They may all have been there, but I did
not see them. I made no inquiries when I got to my
destination.

By the JurtY: I cannot say there was a guard. I
saw no lights at all. I did think it was to be solely a
train for children. I made no objection to so many
persons getting up ac Round Oak, Worcester.

JOHN PHILLIPS said : I am station master at Wor-
cester. I was at the station when the excursion train
arrived about half past ten on Monday. There were
two engines, both in front of the train. I do not
know their power. I don't know the names of either
of the drivers. The guard in the front was a
stranger; in the latter was Cooke. There were
probably forty carriages. 1 don't know the number
of passengers. If anything wrong occur:ed between
Round Oak and Worcester, it would be the guard's
duty to complain to me ; but he did not do so. We
keep chains at the station, none were then asked for.
They are called " couples " and " side chains." I
rode from Netherton to Round Oak on the engine.
I was there the greater part of the day. I was not
at Worcester when the train returned ; I was at
Dudley. I left my head clerk in charge. There are
telegraphic communications between the stations, but
they were not put in requisition. There are no
signals for go'ng up or down the incline. I was at
Dudley when the news arrived, and remained there
to'assist the wounded. It is not allowed the guard to
take persons in the van in ordinary trains, but it has
been done. It is the station-master's duty to see to
the safety of the train generally as it passes the
station. Robert Beacon, a porter, gave me the chain
on the night of the accident at the Round Oak. The
chains are in the same state as they were then. The
screw coupling is an inch and an eighth diameter at
the bottom of the thread. There is not, I believe,
any way of testing them.
By Mr. KING : It is my opinion that the shackle
and side chains were all fastened, from the fact of
finding that the shackles are broken, and the screw
coupling was wrenched from the buffer plank.
By the JURY : I cannot swear these couplings, &c.,
belong to the carriage, but I have no reason to
doubt it.

Cross examined by Mr. Burtauriv • There is no
signal for obstructions between Round Oak and
Brettle-lane. It is not required. If two couples
broke in the morning it does not follow that they
would break with less strain in the evening.
By a JUROR : I am master of both goods and pas-
senger stations. My offices were at the goods side.
I often begin at five ; at ten am only just finished. I
am called from one side of the line to the other when
required.
The inquiry was then adjourned for a week.

pug 'iarl►et an OLitg

FRIDAY EVENING.
THE return of the Bank of England f,,r the week
ending Wednesday last, the 25th inst., shows the
following changes compared with that for the week
preceding :

Decrease in Circulation
Increase in Public Deposits . .
Decrease in Other Deposita
Increase in Goverunient Securities
Decrease in Other Securities 114,205
Increase in Bullion
Decrease in Rest 42,834
Increase in Reserve 272,286
Bullion in both Departments
Circulation, including Bank Post
Bills

The most prominent features in this comparison are the
large additions to the stock of Bullion, the increase in the
banking Reserve, and the continuous falling off in the
Private Securities, which are now hat a fraction over fifteen
millions. The addition to the. Bullion is mainly owing to
the cessation, or rather to the diminution, of the conti-
nental demand for gold; and the Reserve has been
strengthened by the Public Deposits and the release of
Private Securities, constituting a larger aggregate than
the sums repaid to depositors and those invested in Public
Securities. It is clear, front the uninterrupted decline in
the Private Securities, that whatever demand there may be
for money, for commercial or other purposes, it is readily
satisfied without having recourse to the Bank. 'l'h
return, as a whole, is essentially satisfactory ; bat the
proprietors would probably be better pleased if a little
more active employment could be found fur the large masa
of notes lying idle in the

With respect to the position of the Money Market, we
have not much change to announce in it since our last