The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-03 00:00:00

RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT BIRMINGEAE.

In the wares of yesterday afternoon, a salient
°asks, wry *Aar in its chief features to that which
hipped sane eight or ten months ago, occurred is no
bona heft hen the Great Central Station, la New•enost,
an the lieu IreSey Nan
sneers that an Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhaum.
ton twin, which traverses the &our Valley line as far al
Deem Port, lift Allegation at the appointed tints, 2.16 pm.
Whoa mere then bell-way through the tunnel, the driver
soddenly peredvM some obstruction a few yards a head,
sad Ware be mesh do more than sound his danger signal
andwie Me break, a collision of a violent character
took It ilertunately happened that his train was not
tra at a very rapid rate, the upward gradient of the
maid beteg somewhat steep, and the tails slippery. On
this accent es damage was dons to the eat 5 or carriages ;
bat es way of this had beta gown with con-
aideeabie viohnee an. another, and as so one really
knew the extent the injury done, the meal alarm and
excitement MAIM to a railway °online, inteneilled by
the beak be a&A tunnel, maned.
hairept the passages was Mr. M'Connell, of Wolver-
Ice, end se eta se he bed madded himself that the train
was uninjured, he roared ft to be slowly backed into the
station. This was mealy done, and it was then found that
though a dozen or 14 persons, meetly females, were hurt In
various ways, no anions apparent injuries had been ens-
tatted. Mr. Robinson, the station master, at once sent off
foe Mr. Oliver Pemberton, the London and North Western
Company's surgeon, and that gentleman wee in attendance
on the starers in a few minutes. He found, fortunately,
that no limbo were broken, that in no instance was there a
cut or wound half an inch In length, and that the contu-
sions were not of a serious nature. Some of the husks
went sawing severely from the shock and fright, and two
of the, Mies homily lane Kendrick, at Stourbridge, and a
young woman named Taman, residing in Birmingham-
atreet, Dudley, were removed to:the Queen's Hotel, will*
they will probably be able to leave In the course of to-day.
There were the only persona who were unable to proceed
homewards during the afternoon. Mr. Henry Bellingham,
of Eltourbridge, who was somewhat shaken, and had also
received a contusion NW the left eye, was sent home la a
cab, se were also several others whose nerve was not mail
to a railway jonntey. In this and other respects Mr. Ro-
binson paid the utmost attention to the wishes and oordert of
the injured persons.
As far as we can at present kern the facie, the accident
would seem to have arisen from a somewhat extraordinary
oireumstanoe. About twenty minutes before the passenger
train started, a train of trucks laden with iron ore passed
up the tunnel. From some came or other the engine was
not equal to its tack, and the train came to a stand when
about three fourths through. The driver adopted the some-
what nnnsual and seemingly dangerous °Ririe of dividing
his train Into two parts, and having uncoupled three trucks
and a brake-van, he proceeded with the remainder up the
tunnel, intending to shunt the first half on a aiding simate
Sky or a hundred yards further on, and return sleben.
quently fur the carriages left. It so happened, however,
that se soon as he emerged from the tunnel, the signal-
man stationed at that end, unaware of what had taken
place, telegraphed as usual that the tunnel was clear ; and
before the driver of the mineral train could return with
his engine for the oarriegee, the 2.16 presager train had en-
tered the tunnel, and the collision we have deecribed was the
consequence. Supposing the facts to be as we have stated
them, we do not see how the driver of the mineral train can
maws being 'merely ceneured, if not also punished.—Man-
/dune Guardian of this day.