The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-06 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE CHESHIRE

JUNCTION RAILWAY.

The adjourned inquest in this ease was held yes-
terday (Monday).
George Bradshaw, dagger, Bolton, said he was a passen-
ger by the train from Chester at • quarter past seven on
Wednesday evening last. When they left Frodsham-station
the train began to go gradually slower to the tunnel, and
he observed two men throwing sand on the rails. ft did
not rain when they left Chester, but it began when they
got on the way. When they got half a mile into
the tunnel the train stopped, and he felt a shock
from something as he thought behind. Nearly 10 minutes
after there came • terrible shock. He had his collar bone
dislocated, and three ribs broken. Ile got out of the wag-
gon soon afterwards, but returned again to it, in conse-
quence of the engine-driver saying it was not safe to walk
along the tunnel. A man got between some of the car-
rives, and he heard him unhook the coup:ing chain. That
part of the train in which he was then went forward to
Moore station. Did not see if there was a light behind at
Chester. At Moore he observed a man who was the engine
stoker attach a red light behind the (shortened) train. At
Moore, • gentleman who was • passenger got hold of the
engineer by the collar, and asked him his name. The
man gave a name, but he did not recollect it. The
engineer told the gentleman he would go to Warrington
for water, and then return for the train. He was away
some time and then returned, saying he had orders to go
to the tunnel, where he went. After a time he returned
with the engine crowded with passengers covered with
dirt and injured, and then he took us forward to War-
rington.
By Mr. Bennett, solicitor—They were three quarters of
an hour in the tunnel, and had been there he thought half
an hour when the second shock came.
By Mr. Browne, solicitor for the General Railway Com-
mittee of Management at Chester—There might have been
a light behind the train before they got to Moore.
By Capt. Laffan, royal engineer—Was on the right side
of the train as they entered the tunnel, and saw no railway
servant at the tunnel mouth. lie saw no man with a light
peas them in the tunnel till after the great crash.
The coroner here asked if the directors would supply the
jury with • copy of the bill advertising the starting of
trams from Chester on the day mentioned.
Mr. Bancroft, chairman, produced a copy.
John Speakman, hop merchant, Warrington, left Chester
by the last of the three trains that entered the tunnel, and came
in collision. They left Chester at half-past seven, and went
at about 20 miles an hour. At Frodsham there was a
thunderstorrn,with hail. They stopped two minutes, and then
went on at the same pace as before. Ile saw no railway ser-
vant at the entrance to the tunnel. They came in collision
with a train before when about half a mile up the tunnel,
and he was much shaken. Ile got out, went round the
back of the carriage, which was the last in the train, and ran
up the side of the tunnel to see what was the matter. There
was no light behind the train he was in, nor side lights.
lie learnt there had been a collision on getting to the front,
and stopped to see the injured got out. He saw five persons
got out who had been killed, and about fifteen who were
seriously injured.
The foreman of the jury elicited from the witness that
there had been great irregularity in the starting of trains
in the morning.
By Captain Laffan—Had been at Chester station half an-
hour when he left, and saw no guard, van, or break van.
He saw a train leave 20 minutes before that but saw no
guard van or break to either of the trains.
By Mr. Bennett—After the collision in the tunnel he
heard a fourth train come up to the entrance, where it
stopped, having been signalled. It' there had been a tail
light, therefore, to his train it could not have been
knocked off.
Henry Jones, station master at Frodsham, examined—
On Wednesday he was on duty, but could not nay how many
trains passed to Chester. he first train reached at a quar-
ter to 11, and another a few moments after. The first train
was a heavy one, and a second engine was attached. The second
train was in sight before they went away. A train could
be seen from the tunnel mouth at Frodsham, or about one
and a half miles. The ordinary staff to our trains is an en-
gineer, fireman, and guard. There was a guard to the first
train, at a quarter to 11, and there were extra servants that
day that he had not seen before. There was an engineer, fire-
man, and guard to the second train, which was a heavy
one. There were additional trains that day for the rarer,
of which he had received notice, and the notice
said what time they would arrive at Chester, but not
the times they would come from Chester, except as
stated in the printed bill produced—. that trains would
return after the races, commencing at 5.30 p.m.,
and continue running, so soon as filled, up to 9 p.m.
Another train came towards Chester in the morning,
about 12 o'clock, but he was not certain of the times
during the day as he had no clock in that office. It
remained at an old office. In about 10 minutes
or a quarter of an hour after that a fourth train came up,
and passed without stopping. He could not say h: _w many
other trains passed before the regular train at 1.30, as he
did not make any note of trains passing at such time unless
they had business with them. lie believed four other
trains passed up after 12 o'clock to half-past six in the even-
ing. The first return train from Cheater races reached
Frodsham at about 6.25. He looked at his watch at the
time, because the train was not due till 31 minutes past
six that is to say, the ordinary train was not.
He ascertained that it was the ordinary train and a race
train also. It remained two minutes. There was engineer,
fireman, and guard to the train. There was no light be-
hind the train. None of the trains ordinarily have lights,
except those that are to travel in the dark. There was no
light on account of the tunnel. The second train came up
about ten minutes or more after, and went on without
stopping. It is not usual to stop trains in case of another
being before it, unless they come within five minutes after,
or unless they know something has impeded the former.
The next train did not come up till after seven, but could
not say how much after ; and fifty or sixty passengers got
out. !here was a guard, but did not recollect his name
or on what train he was ridiug. Could not say
if there was • guard's break. Near 10 minutes
after another train came up from Chester, and stopped at
Frodsham. This was the second train in the collision.
It remained at the station two minutes, he having put
the caution signal up because the other train before it
was not out of sight. The train left before the other was
out of sight, but the first of the two sans a mile and a
half in advance. There was • guard, but did not recollect
his name. Would ewear no truih passed that stopped at
lain station that night without a guard. Could not say if
there was • guard-break. It had a tail light. The next
train came up in 20 minutes or half an hour. He was nut
sure if this had a tail light or a guard's break.
In 20 minutes or half an hour more another train came up
and afterwards returned. That might be at half-past eight
o'clock. Not many minutes after this left the station, he
heard a collision had taken place in the tunnel, and this
train came back to the Frodsham station in consequence.
He was net aware there was any signal post or servant of
the company on duty at the entrance of the tunnel, to give
notice that a train had entered, or was in the tunnel. He
did not notice any difference in the speed of any train ex-
cept the third (the first of the three that came in collision),
and that went away slowly, in consequence of the rails
being wet.
By the Jury—lt formed part of his duty to require a red
light to be fixed behind a train at night, if without one.
Saw no necessity for tail-lights for going through the tunnel
in the day. An engineer could sae through the tunnel if
there was not another train before him. There were side
lights to the fourth, fifth, and sixth trains.
The inquest was proceeding when our report left.