The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-05 00:00:00

CHOLERA AND DIARRHEA RETURNS.

DEATHS REGISTERED ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2.
Population estimated
to middle
of 1866. Cholera. Diarrhoia.
West districts
North districts 686,021
Central districts ... 310,210
East districts 607,945
South districts

Total in London ... 3,037,991 11
General Register-office, Somerset-house, Nov. 3.

COLLISION ON THE SOUTH WALES UNION
RAILWAY.—On Saturday afternoon a collision took place
on the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway between
the down express train which leaves the Bristol terminus
at 12.45 o'clock awl a ballast train. The Bristol and
South Wales Union Railway, which is a short link line, to
connect, by means of a ferry across the Severn, Bristol
with the South Wales line proper at Portskewelt, is only a
single line, and is worked by the Great Western Com-
pany. On Saturday morning a ballast train was scut down
to the New Passage, with instructions (it is said) not to
leave upon the return trip until the express train had ar-
rived at that station, and had this arrangement been
carried out, the colbsion could not have taken place. In
the working of the line, however, there are some arrange.
ments about a staff which is sent backward and forward,
and is required to be at the Patchway station, where
there is a siding. By some accident this staff had on
Saturday morning been left at the New Passage, and after
the ballast train had been put upon the siding to await
the arrival of the down express, the station-master
directed the engine-driver to proceed to Patchway with
the staff. Ile Was proceeding on this duty at the
rate of about 20 miles an hour, when, on nearing
the tunnel at Over Bank, he heard the express
approaching. He immediately turned off his steam and
reversed the engine, and the driver of the express train,
who had been signalled by some workmen at the mouth of
the tunnel, did the same. But for this, the results must
have been ten times more disastrous. As it was a terrible
collision took place. Both engines were injured, the
carriages forced violently together, and the passengers
burled against each other and thrown into the greatest con-
fusion. The guard of the ballast train jumped off on to a
bank, and was merely shaken. Carpenter, the engineer of
the express, had one of his arms broken, and was also
bruised. Cox, the engine driver of the ballast train, re-
ceived some severe contusions, and the stoker attached to
the same engine had his ankles dislocated. The stoker
of the express train was cinch bruised and shaken. Mr.
Mack, the locomotive superintendent of the Great
Western Company, who happened to be iu the train, re-
ceived some severe hurts CM Lis knees, and many of the
passengers were bruised and shaken. As soon as sufficient
assistance could be obtained the parties were placed in a
truck and conveyed to the New Passage Hotel, where Mr.
Gardiner, surgeon, who had been brought down by an
express engine by Mr. Graham, the Bristol superintendent,
rendered them professional aid. The line was rendered
impassable for several hours, but is now at work again.
MURDER IN THE COUNTY OF MONAGHAN.

NEWnLims, Nuc. I.—Not since the barbarous murder or
Mr. Itateson, some eight or ten years ago, was anything
i.erpetrated in this county equal to the murder committed
on Monday evening hut, within a very short distance of
the town of Monaghan. A man named Patrick \V. Smyth,
residing near Scotstown, went to the market of the latter
place on Monday last. Returning home at a late hour,
he was set upon by some persons and murdered ir. a most
brutal manner. The morning patrol of the Monaghan
constabulary found the unfortunate man lying on the way-
side. The head was covered with wounds and bruises,
which must have been inflicted with sonic heavy weapon.
There were several wounds on different parts of the body,
any one of which would likely have proved fatal.
The police brought the murdered man into Monaghan, and
proceeded in search of two men who were seen in his com-
pany late in the evening, neighbours of his own. They
found them both in their respective homes. On minute
examination the marks of blood were found on their per-
sons ; in addition, • piece of cloth found on the road is
said to correspond exactly with the coat of one of the ac-
cused persons—in fact, there is a piece out of the collar of
the coat. At first it was said that robbery was the cause of
the murder. This, however, is not the case. Sometime
since there was a quarrel among the parties, and it is
thought that it was owing to this that the foul was
perpetrated. Mr. Waddell, county coroner, attended yes-
terday and held an inquest, which was adjourned in order
to give the police an opportunity of prosecuting an inves-
tigation into all the circumstances connected with this
most brutal case.—lrish Time,.
THE GREAT FLOODS IN THE FENS.—It will be
remembered that in May, 1862, a great flood in the fens
inflicted considerable damage in the neighbourhood of
Lynn. After a lengthened litigation it was decided that
the Middle Level Drainage Commissioners must make
good the pecuniary damage sustained, and it appears that
compensation claims have been sent in to the amount of
77,718/. The commissioners consider the claims made to
be much in excess of the damage sustained, and at present
only 14 claims have been adjusted. The commissioners
propose to raise on loan 138,0001. on the security of a
special tax, and an application will be made next session
for an act to sanction the arrangement. The income of the
commissioners on the general fund account for the year
ending April 6, 1866, was 36,605/., of which 20,1381. was
aboorbed in interest on existing loans.
LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY. —At a
meeting of the board of directors, yesterday, some plans for
the reorganisation of the capital of the company were
we believe, finally adopted. Before being finally embc:
died in the shape of a bill, a conferexce of the repre-
sentatives of the various dames of debentures and stocks
will, it is understood, take place. We are not informed
of the precise nature of the arrangements proposed, but
are justified in saying that they are conceived in a fair
and comprehensive spirit, and that if agreed to, the
scheme will place the finances of the company on a much
more intelligible footing, and give facilities for obtaining
the additional capital which is urgently required for the
development of the traffic oa the main line and its metro-
politan extensions.—Railway News.
DISPENSARY FOR Same DISEASES, 56, GREAT
iiAELHOROUGH-ISTREIT, Rienirr-airier.—One hundred
and sixty-three patients were relieved at this dispensary
during the week ending Nov. 3.
The Sunday Gazette says :—" There appears to
be • strange misapprehension regarding the despatch of
reinforcements to New Zealand. No reinforcements are
being sent out, and some of the mimeos., for which it was
said strengthening drafts were about to be embarked, are
at this moment in garrison at Portsmouth. So far from
any addition being n.ade to the troops in the colony, the
government have received • telegram to the effect
that three regiments were to of embarkation,
one for Anaisalin and two for