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

THE COLLISION ON THE GREAT NORTHERN

RAILWAY.

Yesterday Captain Wynn, of the Board of Trade,
accompanied by Mr. Archibald Sterroek, locomotive en-
gineer of the Great Northern Railway ; Mr. John Den-
piston, the superintendent of the line; Mr. Leech, the soli-
citor of the company ; Mr. Budge, the locomotive superin-
tendent, and other oflicials, made a barite of experimental
trips from the terminus at Hiag's•cross to the Homey M-
ilos, in a train specially provided by the company, with a
view to ascertain whether or not it was practicable to stop
the expems down train at Romney, pia; at ita ordinary
rate of speed, after seeing the danger signal at the ant
moment it is posdble to pensive it.
The result of the area experiment was this. When Cap-
tain Wynn's train ant came within view of the dietaries
signal it was travelling at the rate of 46 lanes an hour. Oa
perceiving the signal, the driver immediately abut of his
steam, and applied the tender break only, and the effect
was that the train was stopped dead at the distance of 65
yards from the London end of the station platform at
Homey—the point of collision on the day in question
having been at the distance of about 130 yards from the
middle of the platform, and at the other end of it. On the
second experimental trip the train started ilOlll the ticket
platform at King's-eroes, and by the time that it nuns in
sight of the distance signal it had attained a speed of 40
miles an hour. At that point every possible means at com-
mand were instantly put in requisition to arrest the career
of the train; the driver gave three beats with his whistle,
that being the regular mode of signalling imminent danger
to the guards, with the view to the applicatien of the
bream; the steam was immediately shut of; the engine
put one of gear ; and all the three breaks applied. The
result wss that the train was brought to a stop jest as the
engine reached tke distance signal—that is, in the space of
610 yards, and at a point 664 yards distant from the place
of collision at the florseey station.

FIRE AT ROCHESTER, SEPT. B.—Early this morn-
ing • most destructive are broke oat In this city, hy which
property to a large amount bee been destroyed. The pre-
mier in which the dames originated were those of Mr.
Dawson, situate at Reigate, and oricupied as • furniture
manufactory. The flames were discovered about two
o'clock by a policeman, who instantly gave the alarm. A
north-materly wind blowing at the time the Eames spread
with great rapidity, igniting the premises of Mr. Goldstone,
• provision merchant, and also those of Mr. Andrews,
builder, both of which adjoined Mr. Dawson's, and •U of
which are entirely consumed. The shop of Mr. Corm",
chemist, is also partially injured. The property destroyed
was insured, though not to the full amount.
ESCAPE PROM CHESTER GAOL—On Wednesday
afternoon, John Frederick Reynolds alias Clifford, a pl-
anner sentenced about a fortnight since to three months
imprisonment as • loggintletter impostor, managed to
escape from the Chester City Gaol. He found • lung ladder
in a yard to which he had access, and by means of it gained
the top of the wall which separates the prison premises
from the burying ground of Trinity Church, jumped into
Mr. Nixon'. garden, connected with the Linen hall, and •
climbing a gate which was covered with iron spikes, he
found himself in Etauley place. He WWI seen running on
the walls towards the Watergate. This happened &hair
half-pest two o'clock. Mr. Nixon, who saw the escape,
immediately gave information at the gaol, and a turnkey
Won afterwards came over the wall in the same way r the
prisoner, and some little search was made for him in the
adjoring gardens, whilst it was known that Reynolds had
taken the road. No further notice we. taken of the escape
until three or four hour afterwards. The prisoner had
thrown off his prison coat and dropped his clogs in the gar..
den. We understand that the governor and hie wile were
at the regatta at the Mac—Chester Chroi•iele.