The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-18 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT ON THE
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.

An accident occurred yesterday morning, at the
Witham station of the Eastern Counties Railway, happily
unattended with any loss of life. A luggage train arrived
at the station about a quarter to three o'clock, bringing
in safety two barrels of gunpowder, one for Braintree and
one fur Mallon, one weighing 3qrs. Glbs. and the other
3qn. 171 be. These barrels, which were on the last truck,
were taken off at Withers, worn the Malden and Braintree
Line joins, and placed by a porter at the station,
who acts u night inspector on the up-line, whilst he went
into the office, u he explains it, to book hie train. The
mail train to London arrives at the station at four minutes
to three, and the powder had not been on the line more
then eight or ten minutes before that train came up. It
stopped short of the barrels, but on moving on again passed
immediately over them, and some of the cinders from the
tire.box falling upon the powder, the barrels immediately
exlpoded The arena that ensued was frightful. The
carriages were thrown off the line, and all sustained more or
less damage by the severity of the shock. The engine, how-
ever, for a few moments maintained its course, showing
that the explosion could not have absolutely taken place
until it had passed over the barrels.
It is suppised to have occurred whilst the carriage called
the guard's brake was in the act of passing. The explosion
shook the houses in Witham, which ts half a mile off, and Is
said to have been heard at Colchester, foarteen miles distant.
In the more immediate vicinity of the station the windows of
, the heroes were completely shattered. Of course the con-
sternation WU immense. When people hail recovered their
fright they began to look after the pamengen and persons
attending the train. The engineer and stoker were found to
be stunned, but not otherwise hurt. The guard had his arm
bruised only, and the passengers, of whom there were
twelve, were only fearfully alarmed. The line was
ton up for a short distance, and was replaced as
speedily as poseible. Some of the rails were bent
in an extraordinary way. The train wee delayed two hours
at the station ; a fresh engine and carriage having, of course,
to be provided. This accident into some extent attributable
to the short-handedne of the company's servants, who, all
down the line, appear to have infinitely too much to do.
The miraculous way in which every one escaped this terrible
accident Is a subject of the most lively gratitude.

SHIPPING.
MAILS Aturgna.—Dablin, 4 ; Donagmdee, 2; Fresh, 1;
Flanders, 2 ; Holland, 1.
LONDON, Dec. 18.—Wind this day at noon, E.S.E.,
fresh breeze, and floe weather.
LITIIIIPOOL, Dec. 16.—Variable and light. 17th, 8.,
moderate.—Arrived: 16th, Victor, Batavia, for Cock ; Jenny
Wean, and Crisis, Calcutta; Enterprise, New York;
tem, Quebec. Sailed: &sepias, Bahia; Carleton, Tam-
pico; Abeam, New Orleans • Sarawak, Philadelphia; Eu-
ropa (st ), New York; Leicester, Boston. 17th William
Parker, Bombay; St. Helier', Buenos Ayres; Maas,
and Caustic. New Orleans; W. A. Cooper Mobile; Jenny
Lind, New York; Washington, Virginia; Norfolk, Boston;
Cresson, Newfoundland.
Diu, Deo. 17.—8.5. E. to E.—Arrived : Halterdam, Rot-
terdam, and sailed for Cape of Good Hops; Marchioness of
Queensbury, Hull, and sailed for Savannah. 16th. Arrived
from the river and sailed: Juliana, Cape of Good Hope
Valleyfteld, Siena Leone. 17th. Arrived from the river and
sailed: Indus, Pernambuco; Barbara Gordon, Tobago;
Mary Skelton, Baltimore.
Waumagouvr, Dec. 16.—The Bee, of New Ross, from
Liverpool to New Orleans, was lost en the rocks, on the coast
of Mane, near Ansberg, yesterday, after cutting away her
masts; crew (except the carpenter) saved ; materials being
saves.
Coax, Dec. 16.—The General Scott, for America, drove
whore at the east and of Harbour Bow yesterday, and lies
without damage. The Ann Wise, from Odessa, after anchor-
ing, dragged ashore to the eastward of Ceremony Bay; she
is yet uninjured. The Thomas and Edward, schooner, Cork
to Liverpool, drove en shore at Hitchen Cove, on Sandy
Beach, with windlass upset.
Livaaroor., Dec. 16.—The Thames, of and from Bridg-
water to this port was driven on shore on Crosby Point yes-
ter afternoon, and remains ; crew saved.
PORT LOGAN, Dec. 12.—A mast, seventy-three feet long,
supposed to be a brig's mainmast, and a main-beom, were
washed ashore a few days ego in Ardwell Bay.
Kurarrovne, Dec. Ib.—lt is blowing a violent gale from
south east, attended with rain.
Dais, 17.—The Elizabeth, Newcastle to Genoa, has
been in contact with the Henry Cotes; the latter received
s
Swamis, Dec. 17. The Bartel, Cardiff to New Orleans,
put into Mumbles last night, very leaky ; cargo shifted, and
part thrown overboard, will aims in here to discharge.
AYR, Deg. 16.—The Neptune, French logger, Dublin: to
Troop, got on shore 13th instant, on Brest Rock, and dis-
sopm:id yesterday evening, during a heavy gale from the
uthward; crew saved.
DUBLIN, Dec. 16.—The vessel reported by B.M 8.
Banshee, outside the banks, proves to be the Comlesta,
barge, Idverpool to Savannah; she has been mimed into
Ktegstown, leaky, with for of rudder, and dhneasted.
W 11TOILD, Dec. 18.—The Aspasis, from Constantinople,
ran on Bannon Bar yesterday, during a gale, and went to
pieces ; captain, wife and child, and eleven of the crew
drowned.
Waziurann, Dec. 16.—The Alexander, of this port, in
coming up the river yesterday, went :shore between Pump
aeck Point ; meet discharge
HAXWIBII, Dec. 17.—The York of and from Sonthwold
to London, Is on shore on the Pye Sand, and is discharging.
0111115 T, Deo. 16.—The Mary, of London, wee run down,
on the 14th init., off Cleanses Buoy, by the Duke of Hue.
dough (st.), from Leith to Hull, when the former sank.
Humus, Dec.l6.—The Bevan, of and for London, lying
at anchor in Courtnuakery Bay, parted yesterday from her
chains, and drifted on the rocks near Howe's Sand ; crew
(except two) saved. The Albert, of Belfast, for Cork, has
been assisted in here disgusted, during • heavy gals yester-
day, off the Old Head. A schooner, from Rochelle to Wa-
isted (cargo, mice), has been wrecked in Osnworly Bay,
near Barry's . schooner, supposed to be the Mates,
of Tames*, has been wrecked sear Oyster-haven, in Dun-
ham Bay ; part of cargo (oil cakes) mad.
Warms, Dec. 16.—The Nancy, of this port, in taking the
harbour yesterday, struck the per, pricked an ha anchor,
and sank.
Toyama., Dec. 16.—The Pandora, of Wexford, went on
shore this day between Ballycotton and Ballymina ; crew
lost.