The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING MARCH 25, 1853

THE WILLINOTON ACCIDENT ON THE
YORK AND BERWICK RAILWAY.
THE ADJOURNED INQUEST.
WILLINOTON, TXVRSDAY.
On Thursday. the 2nd of March, an engine, tender,
and guard's van broke from the four o'clock train, proceed-
ing from Tynemouth to Newcastle, a few yards to the west
of the Wellington vittlact, and felling ove: the embank-
ment killed the engine driver, William Stephenson, and
maimed the guard and fireman. The inquest on the body
of Stephenson, which had been adjourned three times pre-
viously, was resumed by Mr. Reid, the coroner, at Rose-
hill, near Wsllsend, on Wednesday afternoon.
John Laverick, the fireman of the engine, No. 104, who
who had been confined to bit bed since the day of the acci-
dent from the injuries he then received, and who was
brought to the inquest room in a cab, was first examined.
Ile *Wed the engine, No. 104, was a heavier engine than
is generally run in the Tynemouth branch. It had enly
been employed for short periods about four or five times
during the past five years on this branch. It ran 30 miles
an hoar on the main line, 15 miles an hour on the branch
line, and would be running at 15 miles an hour when it got
cif the line. He felt no sudden jerk before the engine went
off, and be supposed ho fell under the tender. Six of hie
ribs were broken.
A plate layer was examined, but his evidence was not
material.

The court adjourned for half an hour, and on reassem-
bling
Mr. John Scott, shipowner, was examined. He said he
was near the place of accident halt an hour after it hap-
pened, and made an examination of the line. He particu-
larly noticed that the end of a rail was loose immediately
at the west end of Willington-bridge. He put histoot
against it, and bath chair and rail moved with the pres-
sure. The rail was on a longitudinal sleeper. He noticed
• quantity of old timber near this place on the side of the
railway, and a little further west a quantity of loose ballast,
about nine inches high, in the centre of the railway.
It was his impression at the time that the en,line had got
off at this loose rail. But there was nothing particular to
indicate it. It occurred to him, also, that the ermine or
some of the carriages had been off for a considerable
tance.

Mr. George Beck, managing engineer at the Willington
Colliery, confirmed Mr. Scott's evidence regarding the loose
rail. He also noticed several pins out of the rails. He no-
ticed the train before the accident. Re thought it was run-
ning at a high speed-28 miles an hour.
Mr. T. B. Harrison, engineer-in-chief of the York and
Berwick Railway, said the Tynemouth branch was opened
in 1839, and came under his management in 181.5. The
line was then new to him, and he considered it in a good
working condition. From the circumstance of the rails
being laid on longitudinal sleepers, he paid a great deal of
attention to it, to compare it with other systems in use. In
184.5 he found that there were two sections of the line, one
in the Heaton Cutting, about 200 yards in length, and the
ether near to North Shields, about the same length, which
for a period of four years had been worked with...vat cross
tie,. From his experience, when a line is laid en longitu-
dinal sleepers, the line being straight, the embankments con-
solidated, and the ballast sound (and he might remark that
Ole great part of the North Shields line wee particularly so),
such a line was quite safe without cross ties. Stone block
lines were without ties, and experience had proved that the
tendency to get out of gauge was not one-tenth part as great
on a longitudinal line as on a block line. The ordi-
nary attention of the workmen would keep it in
order. He had severely tested the longitudinal
sleepers, and found, with all the force he could
put on them, they did not spring more than an eighth of an
inch. From their mechanical arrangement they formed
one continuous piece of timber from end to end. Mr. Har-
rison described the Willington and Ouseburn Viaducts as
perfectly safe. They were examined, he said, twice a year.
Extensive alterations were being made oa the Willington
Viaduct, which would have been finished before the acci-
dent, but for the inclemency of the weather. He stated
that since the York and Berwick Company took possession
of this branch, they bad carried ten millions of passengers,
with not a single accident, except in one instance, and that
was by the act of his own. He referred to a drunken man,
who jumped oat while the train was in motion, and we.
killed. He might also mention that, though they carried
four millions of passengers a year over the whole of their
lines, they had not had a single fatal accident since he (Mr.
Harrison) took the management. He remarked that the fact
of jurymen and witnesses heel ogseen holes in thermals without
pins, was no proof that the proper complement of pins was
not in the rails. As the workmen, when they were repair.
ing the way, always made fresh holes for the pins when it
was necessary to replace old ones.
In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Harrison said he could
not give an opinion as to the anise of the accident.
At the conclusion of Mr. Harrison's evidence, it being
past 8 o'clock in the evening, the inquest was further ad-
journed until Hayek 31.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, M 24.
The harsh and unseasonable weather is still the
principal theme of conversation, and occupies every
one's attention ; and the accounts from all parts of
the country show that there arc no local exceptions
to its prevalence. The Limerick Chronicle says :
Cold north•east winds and severe frost indicate the hard
complexion of this month. Rude health can brave with
impunity the parching dry atmosphere that reigns out of
doors, but to the aged and invalid this inclement season is
most distressing. One of the severest and most protracted
winters on ren.rd has necemarily retarded al' agricultural
operations, and we must be content to expect a very late,
though we may hope a good and sufficient, harvest in all
green and cereal crops, excepting wheat.
A Mayo paper thus complains on the same sub-
ject:
I We never recollect so unpropitious a spring as the pre-
sent. Farming operation are at a stand still, and up to the
present we believe there has not been a fractional portion
of the corn sown as has been usual at this period of the
fear. Potato pl intiog is also much retarded by the severe
rosts and heavy showers of snow. The wheat crsp looks
exceedingly delicate, notwithstanding that every advantage
is taken of fine days ; still we fear that there will be a con-
siderable deficiency in the average area of land cultivated.
Monday we had heavy showers of snow, with a high easterly
wind.

Similar statements appear in all the provincial
journals.
The Dublin University Commission met on Tues-
day at the archiepiscopal palace. Present : The
Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Chancellor, Dr.
Longfield, and Professor Hancock, secretary. The
next meeting of the commissioners was fixed for
Tuesday, the 29th inst.
The Board of Trinity College have decided on
oommencin.g the erection of the new wing to the
university immediately. It will consist of spacious
museums, lecture halls, model rooms, drawing
rooms, &c.

_
The Galway Packet, noticing the progress of emi-
gration, says:
The last American mail brought the sum of 6001. to the
little village of Ballyvaughaii, which is on the opposite aide
of the Bay of Galway. We have beard that this large sum
has been sent home for the purposes of emigration ; so that
the neighbourhood of Ballyvaughan is likely to contribute
its full contingent to the host of emigrant' who are daily
rushing towards the English ports. A few mornings past
the railway terminus wu crowded with the relatives of
the emigrants bidding them farewell on their departure for
America. The strength and hope of Ireland are so rapidly
passing away that sufficient hands will not remain to till
the soil.

The following statements on the same subject ap•
pears in the Limerick Chronicle :

Over a thousand money letters from America have
passed through the general and district post-officee of this
city and county, and counties of Clare and Tipperary, the
last few dam and culled at the various banks, to friends in
Ireland, to *alibis them to emigrate this spring. During
the last week, 17 paupers (chiefii females), of the Limerick
Union workhouse, received remittances of from 101. to 121.
each, from relatives and friends, not more than 12 months
lin America, to enable them to emigrate forthwith. A pau-
per girl in Kilrush workhouse received 251. from Australia,
through the Family Colonisation Society, to take out her-
self and brother. Three young gentlemen from this keality
who went to seek their fortune atjAustralis, have returned,
completely discomfited with bad news from the diggings.
- - -

_ _... ...
Great numbers of money letters from emigrants to
their friends at home have •also been received in
almost every part of Ireland by the last two or three
mails from America.

Mr. J. F. Maguire, M.P., publishes in the Cork
Examiner a letter which he has received from Wil-
liam Smith O'Brien. It is dated " New Norfolk,
Van Diemen's Land, N0v.20, 1852," and the unfortu-
nate writer makes the following allusion to political
matters, the newt of the last general election having
probably jut roadbed him :
At a pods& WINS Se any of the professed patriots of
Ireland ham pima thesseelvu to be bat mercenary minions
of Sagas\ berisa, it is matter of exultation that at least a
few Masse sd reorespnble representatives will now cater
the limas of osimmes with • Arm resolution to bold the
interests sf haled paramount over all selfish considera-
tions of mond ameandissmaat. Thugh I have n
often disappointed and &rival in the judgment whibchee I
have furred el men, I fed sawed that, in your cue, my
enti3ipatione will be realised, and that at the next dissolu-
tion you will be held up as a model for imitation by your
ad ouring and grateful fellow-countrymen. You will be
glad to hear that I am in excellent health, and, though I
never can be happy in this country, yet, oonddering all the
circumstances of my position, I am tolerably cheerful.
The subjoined correskiondence will be interesting
Ito those who an watching the of the pre-
parations for the Great Industrial ibition, which
opens in Dublin in some six weeks hence:

PkO Till NETItIILANDe.
The Hague Much 8, 1853.
My Lord,—l have the honour to transmit to your lord-
ship herewith • eopy of • note from Baron De Znylen de
Nyevelt, and likewise a copy of ay reply to his excellency,
relathas to eke •Wps taken by me, to übrdleure tu the in-
structions contained in Lord Wodehouse's letter of Jan. 29,
frr the purpose of furthering the objects of the mission which
Mr. Roney has undertaken on behalf of the Great Industrial
Exhibition of Dublin.-1 have, &c.,
(Signed) R. A. ABIRCROXBY.
The Earl of Clarendon.

- -----.
The Hassle, March 17, 1853.
As a supplement to this communication of the 6th inst.,
the undersigned, Min;ster of Foreign Affairs, has the
honour to inform Bir R. Abereromby that the Minister of
the Interior, after basing received from Messrs. Roney
and Winkworth the statement which they had been re-
quieted to furnish respecting the articles which could be
detached from the collections of Oriental curiosities exist-
ing in the Netherlands, as contributor to the Dublin Great
Industrial lixhibition, has resolved on acting in accordance
with the wishes expressed by these gentlemen. M. Van
de Harteele, Director of the Royal Cabinet of Curiosities in
this city, has been instructed to pack up with We the
articles selected, and to accompany them to Dublin.—The
undersigned, (Signed)Da
DI NTIVELT.
_ _

To his Excellency Sir
The Hague, March 8, 1863.
The undersigned has the honour to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of the note which his Excellency the Baron de &glen
de Nyevelt addressed to him on the sth instant, requesting
to be informed what articles from the collection of Eastern
Curiosities, belonging to the Netherlands government,
blners. Roney and Winkworth were anxious to obtain per-
minion to have sent to Dublin for exhibition at the ap-
proaching Industrial Exhibition in that city. The under-
signed, immediately on receiving the above communication,
informed Mr. Winkworth of his desire to see him, but that
gentlemen had already leg the Hague for Rotterdam. The
undersigned we., however, aware that Mr.-Winkworth was
to have had, by appointment on last Saturday morning, a
second interview with his Excellency the Minister of the
Interior, at which Mr. Winkworth would, no doubt,
have specified the objects which he wished to ob-
tain permission to exhibit at Dublin. That expedient
appears, from the contents of the note addressed to
the undersigned by his Excellency the Baron de Znylen,
dated yesterday, but received this morning, to have been in
part fulfilled; and it now only remains for the undersigned
to convey to his Excellency the Baron De Zuylen, in the
name of his government, his thanks for the prompt and
complete manner in which the government of his Nether-
lands Majesty have met the wishes of the government of her
Britannic Majesty in furthering the objects of the Great In-
dustrial Exhibition of Dublin, by contributing articles
unique in themselves, and so interesting, as showing the na-
ture and degree of perfection arrived at in the production of
eastern manufacture.—The undersigned,
(Signed) R. Anszczonay.
His Excellency the Baron Znylen de Nyevslt.
PROM PRUSSIA.

March 7, 1853.
My Lord,—With reference to Lord Stanley's despatch to
me of the 11th of October last, I have the honour to enclose
herewith the copy of a note from Baron Manteuffel, stating
the steps which had been taken by the Prussian government
to advance the objects of the Dublin Exhibition, and the
great interest which the King has been pleased to express for
the success of this great undertaking.—l have, dtc.,
(Signed) Bioossruma.
The Lord Wodehouse.
Berlin, March 5, 1853.
My Lord,—l have the honour to inform you that the
printed documents relating to the Dublin Industrial Exhi-
bition, which were inclosed in your lordship's letter of the
27th December ultimo, were forwarded to their excellencies
the Ministers of Commerce and of Public Instruction, who
forthwith transmitted them—the former to all the provin-
cial municipalities, chambers of commerce, and trade guilds,
the latter to the Academy of Sciences at Berlin, and to the
Fine Art Academies of Dusseldorf and Konigsberg. The
director of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory at Berlin has
besides been instructed to send contributions to the Exhibi-
tion. With respect to the Royal Iron Foundries at Berlin,
and Oleivrits in Silesia, it has not been found possible to
give a similar order to the directors of those establishments,
las at the present moment these manufactories have no arti-
cles prepared suitable for exhibition. In communicating
to your lordship the steps which have thus been taken, I
have much pleasure in being able to add that his Majesty
the King has declared his gracious intention of taking a
personal interest in the Exhibition. —I have the honour to
be, my lord, titc.,
(Signed) MANTZUPPEL.
To his Excellency Lord Bloomfield.
Fault TIM DUES OP DEVON/HMI.

London, March 5, 1853.
Sir,—lt gives me great pleasure to comply with the re-
quest contained in your letter received to-day, and I beg to
inform the gentlemen of the committee far the Great In-
dustrial Exhibition that my two pictures, by Sir E.
Landeeer and Mr. Collins, shall be at their orders at the
time required. Though extremely &ruched to these works
of art, I shall put entire relianco on the care and attention
whish I am persuaded will be given, by order of the com-
mittee, to preserve them, as far IN practicable, from injury
or aceident.—l have the honour to bo, sir, your most obe-
dient Servant, Divans's& I