The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNEf3DAY EVEiIiNG, JANUARY 4, • 1685.

VIE ACCIDENT O! THE NORTH rENT

JaiLWAY.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. 0. J. Oarttar, coroner
for West Real, held sa adjoined inquiry et the Royal
Vedas Heepthd, Wooled* Into the corsainstanees attend-
beg the deaths of Rdward Allem, John Onllee, and Joseph
Hunt (all in the employ of the South Eastern Hallway
Company), who W. their lives tress inlmise re
caked by the frightful collielos which took place
in the Bisokbeath tunnel on the seining of Fri-
day, the UM ult. The jury line assembled at the Free-
masons Tavern, when the body of Hunt, who expired on
Thursday last, was identified by his brother, John Forest
!Junto' stationer residing at Folkestone. The mom wee
then cleared, and sitar • conference between the coroner
and jury it was determined to adjourn to the Royal
Marine Hospital, for the purpose of taking the
deposition of Readmit, the brealcaman of the bal-
last train, the stoppage of which in the tunnel was the
pnmary muse of the accident. The court havies rearm-
ed at the hospital, Randall was carried from his ward to
the inimeseroom, under the charge of Dr. Campbell, who
elated that the sufferer was just rsooveriag hie meowed
health, mad would probably be able to leave the hospital is
about • fortnight. The men had three of his toss out off,
but he was hippy to say that such • cure had been
effected that he would be able hereafter to follow some
employment. The maw said before he examined the
wham, he wished to impress upon his mind the importance
of his giving the moat clear and distinct answers to the
questious which would be put to him. Stelae:mental had
been made by other vitalism. of a somewhat contradictory
nature as to what took plain with regard to the
ballast vein in the tunnel, and it was on
this point that he wished especially to have
evidence of the whams. Thomas Randall was then sworn,
sad said be was • breskesma in the service of the South-
Ratan Railway Company, sad resided at Brooleeplace
Old Kent-road. He acted ea breakeinan to the ballast-
train which come to • stop in the Blackheath tunnel as
the eight of Friday, the lush Deoeseher. He was quite
certain that the lamps attached to his break were lighted.
• sualber of platelayers were in • carriage attached to his
break. lie did not, when the train same to • stop, ask any
of the plaielayen for • heifer, and did not hear any other
person sale for • lucifer. No perigee caked witoess for •
light. When the train came to a stop he heard some perms
call out " Put the brisk on," but he did not know the voice.
He was not at all aware that the train was about to be
divided. Lancaster, the guard of the train, did not some beck
to bin, jolt before the collision, and toll him to put the break
on. Some wawa called out "Tom, put the break on ;"
bat he could not tell who it was. The tunnel at the time
wee full of dense smoke, and he could not see or scarcely
bear. He could not say whether, when the train stopped,
any person came along with • band-lamp. The Coroner—
Now 1 wish you to pay particular Wootton to am or two
questions. Remember I have hoard • great deal, and I wish
you to he oaref ul how you reply. Have you seen Lancaster
slime this accident, and during this inquiry! Witams—
, Yes ; I saw him on Friday week. He came to the hospital
and saw me. Cormar—Ad did you have no conversation
with him respecting this subject? Witness—l did not ;we
said nothing abut it. Caresser—You are perhaps aware that
It was stated at the isquiry beet week that Dammam came
back to you just before the oollidoe, and told you to put
the break on, and that be obtained a light from on. of the
platelayers in the carriage next your break. Do you know
anyttliug about this? Witness replied in the negative, sad
said that when a train come to • eland-still In • place like
that, he should always put beck without waiting to be Mid.
The Cormier—Ham you sees a other perpoo belonging
to the train since this aocideot I Witness—No other perms
but the timekeeper. Coroner—And was anything said about
the subject? Witness—No. Coroner—lan you had no
commuoicatioa with Lancaster goal yon saw him! Witness
—No, that I swear. Coroner—And has no person told
you to hold your tongue! Witness—Oertainly sot.
In reply to other questions the witness stated that when
the collides took place he fell off the break on to the eh-
foot way, and his life was thus saved, as he escaped with
three of his toes being cut off. The Coroner said he did not
at present wish to examine the witness on any other point,
his object on that occasion being to see how far his state-
ment agreed with teamster, the guard of die train, and the
two pletelayeri, who had gives evidence. The whose' had
confirmed the evidence of the platelayer, so far that be-
fore the collision some person called out, " Put the break
on," although he was usable to my who that person was.
The inquiry was then adjourned until that day fortnight.

PLEECIAG A SIMPLETON.-CURIOUS CASS OP