The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-02 00:00:00

SHOCKING ACCIDENT IN A FOUNDRY.

A ead occurrence took place at noon on Wednes-
day, in the Irwell Foundry, which is conducted by the exe-
cutors of the late Mr. Samuel Ellis, of Manchester. Two
young men, named William Reece and Robert Evans, were
engaged at that time in moving a masa of iron, weighing
five tons, in one of the workshops, by means of a travelling

crane 20 feet above the floor, when one of the balks of tim-
ber supporticg the crane sudden:y broke in two, causing
them and the machinery instantly to fall upon the floor
below. Reece, who was about twenty-one years
old, fell head foremost, and was found to have

sustained a fracture of the skull and a fracture
also of the right arm, from which he died almost imme-
diately. Evans, who was 17 years old, appeared to lie la-
bouring under a severe concussion of the brain when taken
up by his fellow-workmen, and a surgeon was sent for. but
arrived too late to render assistance. The unfortunate
youth died in about 10 or 15 minutes after the occurrence.
Aw inquest was held on the bodies of the deceased on Wed-
sesday evening by Mr. G. 0. Rutter, deputy-coroner, when
it was stated in evidence that the balks of timber on which
the crane was supported had iron tie-rods running under-
neath them longitudinally, which had been placed there to
strengthen them. One of these tie-rods, at its junction with
the' timber, near one end, had broken, owing to an old
fault or partial fracture which had not been observable to
outward inspection, and this led to the balk of timber in-
stoutly snapping asunder underneath one end of the crane.
James Stephenson, a workman, who was present at the
occurrence, told the jury that the whole weight of the five
tons of iron was not on the crane at the time. They had
been turning the piece of iron over, having lifted up one
end only, and had nearly completed their task when the
apparatus gave way. They had lifted the same piece of
iron with it three weeks before, and had once raised a piece
machinery with the apparatus weighing ten ton•, so that
they bad no suspicion of danger on the present occasion.
He said the wood was perfectly sound, hut it would not be
of sufficient strength without the tie rods.
A witness, named Nathan Smart, said he was on one end
of the beam when the tie-rod snapped, and had only time to
step off upon a platform before the beam went down.
The evidence generally went to show that the occurrence
was purely accidental, and the jury found a verdict t- that
I effect.

LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY.—Tho half-
yearly meeting of this company was held in Carlisle, on
Wednesday ; Henry Howard, Esq., in the chair. The
Secretary having read the report and the accounts, ab-
stracts of which have appeared in this paper, the Chairman
moved that they be approved and aaopted. Mr. Heed
seconded the motion. A short discussion ensued upon
several items in the accounts, and several questions asked,
which were satisfactorily explained. The report and ac-
' counts were then adopted, and the dividend of 2/. per whole
and 10s. 10d. per third share formally declared. Messrs.
O. W. Hsaell, W. Garnett, and W. Jackson, were re-
elected directors ; Mr. Brathwaite was likewise re-elected
auditor. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Board
of Directors, the meeting separated.