The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-31 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EXPRESS.

SlR,—The extraordinary notice issued by the

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to each pas-
senger that they will nut be answerable for any accident to
the person, deserves more discussion than it has yet re-
ceived at the hands of the press. For a long time previous
to the year 1830 stage-coach proprietors and carriers issued
notices that they would not be responsible for parcels or
luggage, and, as the " common law" seemed to favour that
exemption, the legislature stepped in, and by the Carriers'
Act of 1830 declared that stage-coach proprietors and car-
riers should be liable for luggage and parcels,notwithstanding
any notice issued by them, up to 101., but above
101. value they should be liable if an insurance rate
were paid. The present step to adapt the old common law
to damage to the person, is novel in its application, al-
though the idea seems to have been promulgated in 1844 in
" Nash's Railway and Carrier's Law," where the author
seriously advises that such a notice should be given with
each passenger ticket, as well as with each receipt for goods.
The Court of Exchequer hu lately given countenance to
this limitation of liability, but it remains to be seen if the
legislature will be long before it steps in and declares that
" notwithstanding any notice the companies shall be liable
for loss or damage," as it did declare in 1830, and again
when it passed Lord Campbell's act for compensation when
death ensued—an act which the " notice" given by the
company lets at defiance, and if that be tolerated the
exempla will soon be followed by all companies.
Hoping this may be worthy of public notice, I am
yours, &c., A VICTIM.
Strand, Tuesday.

_ .
ATTEMPTED SVICIDE.—A case of family embroil- complete tea of merry faces all round the platform.
ment took place recently in Belfast between parties in a Those who had seen the royal reception of 1819, could not
respectable line of life, which very nearly terminated but feel both surprise and pleasure at the improved appear-
fatally. A commercial traveller and his wife, both ante of the people, both in countenance and costume,
foreigners, have been residing at lodging; and Sunday affording, as it did, u most gratifying contrast to the pic-
evening, after dinner, some conversation ensued between Lure exhibited in the terrible famine year. The scene was
them, the effect of which was to excite in the lady deep
feelings of jealousy. The gentleman threw himself on a now animating in the extreme. A crowd of brilliant ui::-
sofa, and fell into • sleep, and the lady lett the house, forms followed her Mujoity at a respectful distance; the
having first written a note, which she left on the table, guard of honour, which formed two sides of a triangle to
with her gold watch and jewellery. The poor woman re- protect the platform from undue pressure, presented arms ;
paired to Prince's Dock, about nine o'clock, into which she
and the fine band of the 46th Regiment equek up the
threw herself, and from which her rescue was almost miracu-
lous. Three boys had been in a boat down the river, and were national anthem. Her Majesty could not restrain her
returning,wheu a cry was raised of a body in the water. They laughter at many of the expedients which her Irish subjects
pulled to the place indicated, and one of them succeeded in had adopted for the gratification of their loyal curiosity.
securing a hold of the poor woman's dress, and with great Among others, they hail taken possession of several huge
difficulty she was taken out. She was quite insensible, and
it was the general opinion that she was dead. She was cranes that surround the landing, clustering to the
immediately conveyed by one of the constables, aided by top lite so many bees, and hanging in dozens out of the
others, to the general hospital, where proper means were pendant portions of the chains, which, as they oscillated to
adopted to resuscitate her, and fortunately with effect. At and fro, rendereeli the waving of hate and handkershiefs,
a late hour last night she was recovering, and continued it, and similar loyal demonstrations, a service of some slight
a fair way. Iler husband had been searching for her
through the town, immediately on his reading her note, but danger. Her Majesty, having entered the railway station,
in vain. He called at the police-office, with a view to was greeted with a fresh ovation, as every available space
obtain assistance, and it subsequently turned out that the was filled with elegantly dressed ladies, who waved their
object of kis search was then in the general hospital, under cambric handkerchiefs in a perfect fur,re of enthusiasm
the circumstances detailed above.—Beffnel Mercury.
for their female Sovereign. At this juncture curiosity had
FATAL ACCIDENT AT LONGUOPE.—An accident
nigh got the better of politeness and due respect, as the
ocurred at a stone quarry near the llopebrook tunnel on
1 the Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway, on Monday well-dressed crowd, more eager than the masses, closed
morning last, by which a quarry man, named James Green, round the Queen, and the royal servants had some little
lost his life. It appeared that the deceased and several trouble in preserving a sufficient apace clear for her Majesty
other men were employed on Monday morning getting out to walk to her carriage. The state carriage in which her
the stone flora the quarry for the purpose of its being
used in the building up of the side of the tunnel. The Majesty took her seat is an elegant structure,
men commenced work at five o'clock, and the deceased coloured externally in royal blue, std arranged in
having put a quantity of powder in the blast-hold, nearly the interior as a gorgeous saloon, lined with rich
three feet deep, and lighted the fuse, the alarm was given,
tabaret and containing all the appliances of
and the whole party retreated to the top of a bank, about j
66 yards from the place at which the explosion was about a regal drawing-room. The Lord-Lieutenant and
to take place. Oec of the men, who was standing nearer Countess St. Germans were honoured with seats in the
the blast than the deceased, saw a large stone coming to- royal carriage, and three other carriages were attached. in
wards him, and avoided it by bobbing his head, but the which were the royal suite, the railway directors, and the
stone fell upon the deceased's head, knocking in his skull,
representatives of the London press, who hate to make
and scattering his brains about. The poor fellow was taken
their acknowledgments to the company for the special ac-
to a house near at hand. where he died about six hours
after the catastrophe occurred. An inquest was held on the commodation with which they were favoured on this occa-
body, before J. Lovegrove, Esq.. when the shove facts hay- !ion. The train idiot like an arrow from the platform,
ing been fully inquired into, a verdict of " Accidental travelling at the rate of GO miles an hour, and was cheered
death" was returned.—Glouces• er Chronicle.
all the way to town by the crowds of people who covered
TIIE ABERDEFIN CLIPPER-BUILT SIIIP CAIRNGORM.
—The overland mail has brought us accounts from the the eminences on sit
• Straits of Sunda up to the 2nd of July, by which we find row terminus, her Majesty found an elegant waiting-room
:net side. On arriving at the Westland-
, that the Aberdeen clipper-built ship Cairngorm, Captain prepared for her reception—an apartment which, considering
John Robertson, had passed through, having made the run
r the abort tit ,e in which it had been prepared, reflected
from Lisbon in 60 days. This is another proof that our
great credit on the railway directors, and the artisans to
r ship-builders simply want encouragement to compete moat
successfully with our American friends or any other naticn. whom WI execution had been entrusted. This really